Ayrshire Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Upperville, VA |
| Products | Chicken, turkey, pet food |
| Website | www.ayrshirefarm.com/AyrshireFarm/Poultry.html |
| Market Area | Virginia |
| Total Score | 570 |
Ayrshire Farms did not participate in Cornucopia’s investigation despite evidence showing they are a diversified farm with Certified Humane (HFAC) and Predator-Friendly farm certifications.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1800) | 570 | 2-Bird Rating | Fair |
Family Farms and cooperatives receive the most points. Corporations and companies with poor or negligible farm oversight receive the fewest points. Ownership structure | 100 | No response; research indicates diversified farm |
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100% organic brands receive the most points. Split operations receive fewer with increased penalties for poor segregation at the processor and farm level. Dedication to Organic Production | 50 | No response, research indicates diversified organic farm |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure | 0 | Did not respond to survey or participate in our investigation |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certifier | 75 | Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) |
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To receive full points, flocks must number 500 birds or fewer (200 for turkeys). Flock size | 50 | No answer, flock sizes appear moderate according to research |
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No more than 1.5 lbs of bird per square foot is required for full points. Stocking Density | 50 | No answer, stocking density appears moderate with a focus on good welfare according to research |
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Mobile housing receives the highest number of points. Housing Style | 45 | Non-responsive, but research shows broilers are likely confined to static houses while turkeys get some legitimate outdoor access |
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Heritage varieties receive the highest number of points. Strain and/or Breed and Slaughter Age | 0 | No answer, meat birds appear to be Cornish X type with unknown slaughter age |
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Birds must spend 3/4ths or more of their lives outdoors for full points. Timing for Outdoor Access | 0 | No response |
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Enrichments include but are not limited to shade structures, water, novel feedstuff (greens, mealworms, sprouted grains), and dust baths. Enrichments (outdoor and indoor) | 30 | No response, research shows turkeys at least get legitimate outdoor access |
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Points awarded for labels that go above and beyond organic. Other Labels/Standards | 60 | Certified Humane (HFAC); Predator-Friendly farm |
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Maximum points given for high quality, rotated pasture. Non-rotated pasture adjacent to fixed housing with lower than 90% vegetative cover receives fewer points. Outdoor Management | 40 | No response, research indicates that turkeys appear to have legitimate outdoor access |
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100 points for on-farm production and/or milling of feed. Fewest points given to feed that cannot be verified as domestic and/or birds get poor or no supplementation from outdoor foraging. Feed Sourcing | 0 | No response, unknown feed sourcing for broilers |
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Methionine needs met by outdoor foraging receives 100 points. Synthetic supplementation receives 70 points. Synthetic Methionine | 0 | No response, unkown level of synthetic methionine supplementation |
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Under 5% cull and death rate required for full points. Cull/death Rate | 0 | No response, unknown |
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Chicks and poults that are certified organic since hatching, or are hatched on-farm receive 100 points. Off-farm or conventional chicks and poults receive 70 points. Chick and Poult Sourcing | 0 | No response |
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No physical alterations required for full points. Permitting beak tipping results in fewer points. Physical Alterations | 0 | No response, research indicates they are not de-BEAKED but non info on beak trimming |
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Measures farm oversight. Farmer owned brands, or daily visits by management required for maximum points. Farm Support | 70 | Appears to be a farmstead, with owners on site |
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Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Slaughter Method (non-scoring) | Unknown | |
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Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Soy Free Ration? (non-scoring) | No. Soy is fed. | |
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Maximum transparency, sharing of the organic systems plan, and/or novel practices that sets the brand apart from the rest of the industry can result in extra credit points. Extra Credit | 0 | None |
