To some people Eggs are just Eggs! They think 'what does it matter' ? Thankfully, Australia is a place where we have free choice (except slack labelling laws often mean that buyers are not getting the product they think they are paying for). Customers can choose cage, barn laid or free range eggs ...but what are the benefits of Freeranger Eggs
Why Freeranger Eggs?
· The nutrients in every egg you eat only come from the feed available to the chickens. · Ingredients fed to the hens make a profound difference to the quality of each egg produced. · Our hens are free to roam at all times, grazing on predominately native pasture and eating whatever seeds, insects, bugs, worms etc. they find - they can only do this because they have full beaks. Most egg farms, even those which claim to be 'free range', do not have fully beaked birds. They choose to de-beak or beak trim their hens to avoid potential aggression problems within their flocks because they have too many hens. Aggression within flocks is only an issue on intensive farms. If a problem of aggression within the flock arises, either the farmer has bought the wrong type of hens - or he (or she) has too many!! We provide a supplementary grains-based ration containing no meat meal to satisfy all the nutritional requirements for our hens to maintain good health and an excellent lay rate.
How are Freeranger Eggs different?
Our free range hens spend as much time as they like outdoors grazing on pasture and doing what they do naturally - scratch around for bugs and worms. There is no need for them to be locked up as birds in each flock are protected from predators 24 hours a day by their Maremma guard dogs.
· Our feed is supplied by a certified feed mill which uses precise nutritional information to formulate a diet especially for us which ensures a superior, tasty, natural egg. · We feed our hens a diet containing a balanced selection of grains with no colouring additives. · This vegetarian diet is made up of carefully selected natural ingredients high in specific nutrients: OMEGA 3, VITAMIN E, FOLATE. The paddocks used by our hens contain a range of fodder plants, including native grasses such as Microlaena Stipoides, shrubs such as Kangaroo Apple and we encourage plant species like Purslane. Some strange people regard Purslane as a weed. But Purslane contains more omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular) than any other leafy plant. Purslane has 0.01 mg/g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid found mostly in fish, some algae, and flax seeds. It also contains vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, and some vitamin B and carotenoids), as well as dietary minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron.
Choose freeranger eggs because they give you and your family real nutritional benefits:
OMEGA 3
Published studies have shown that an average serve of free range eggs (2 large) provide 114mg of long chain Omega 3 unsaturated fats - a major portion of the recommended daily intake - making eggs a good source of Omega 3 fats. This is particularly important for ovo-vegetarians and people who do not eat seafood.
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends an increase in Omega 3 consumption.
VITAMIN E · Assists in promoting healthy skin and acts as a powerful antioxidant useful in mopping up excess free radicals generated by today's lifestyle. An average 55g egg contains 8mg Vitamin E.
FOLATE · This B Group Vitamin is essential for a healthy body especially for women planning a family. · Prior to and during pregnancy 400µg of Folate is the recommended daily intake and the normal recommended intake for an adult is 200µg per day. An average 55g serving (one freeranger egg) contains 55µg of Folate which is 27% of the recommended daily intake.
Eggs are a nutrient dense food with a high percentage of vitamins and minerals compared to the amount of energy provided. Nutrient dense foods have been shown to assist with a number of health issues as well as helping with weight loss programs.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
It has been demonstrated in testing conducted in the US that eggs from hens raised on pasture, are nutritionally superior to those laid by hens on intensive farms. Real free range eggs contain:
• 1⁄3 less cholesterol • 1⁄4 less saturated fat • 2⁄3 more vitamin A • 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids • 3 times more vitamin E • 7 times more beta carotene
A freeranger egg and a glass of fruit juice will give you all the nutritional value you need to start your day - the juice is for the Vitamin C - the freeranger egg will give you the rest!
All these benefits are quite apart from our sustainable farm practices, our animal welfare ethos, our food safety standards and our food miles policy which minimses our carbon footprint.
