News Cattle feed
SGP jumps into the breach for organic laying poultry farming
The SGP wants the European Union to temporarily set higher standards for organic sunflower seed expeller as animal feed. Due to the war in Ukraine, there is a shortage of these raw materials, partly due to redistribution, and organic feed suppliers are unable to supply sufficient flakes to organic laying poultry farmers. Lack of this can lead to feather pecking and cannibalism.
MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP): "Sunflower seed expellers are necessary for healthy and vital laying hens. The best solution, in our view, is that the European Commission temporarily allows non-organic sunflower seed expellers." The sector thinks it will temporarily need 20% non-organic sunflower seed expellers.
SGP has asked the European Commission in writing whether it is prepared to immediately add non-organic sunflower seed expellers to the list of authorized feed materials. The party also asks whether Member States may have already applied for an exemption for this and whether they may grant a provisional exemption themselves to use non-organic sunflower seed expeller as feed material.
Redistribution issue
Traders in organic raw materials report that the organic laying poultry sector is the victim of a 'redistribution issue'. According to them, no organic sunflower flakes from Ukraine have been supplied and processed in the Netherlands for a long time because of a certification discussion. Until now, European sunflower flakes have been processed, but the supply has dried up. That is the result of the war in Ukraine. Because the supply from there has dried up, other buyers are now using the European sunflower husks and the laying hen sector is suffering the consequences.
In addition to via SGP, the request for a temporary exemption has also been submitted Copa Cogeca and the European Organization for Organic Farming ifoam filed with the European Commission.
Alternative Resources
Sunflower flake is according to research center Schothorst Feed Research not the only biological source of protein for poultry, but it is the source with a relatively high proportion of methionine. And that is an essential amino acid for laying hen feeds. There are biological alternatives, but the question is whether they can be available on time and in sufficient quantities, and whether they are also affordable. Schothorst points out that sesame seed flakes also score very high in the proportion of methionine. Other parties point to ingredients from organic soy.
Klaas van der Horst
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