Semi intensive poultry farming is the best of both worlds, if there was such a thing. That is, of intensive (free range) and extensive poultry systems, since it is a hybrid of both.
Since this system sits right in the middle of intensive and extensive poultry systems, it inherits benefits and drawbacks from both. The next best alternative would be free range system. That is particularly if you are concerned about consumer perception and animal welfare.
Semi intensive poultry system is ideal when you want your birds to engage in natural behaviours and also want to supplement their diet. For instance if there is not enough pasture or for productivity reasons need to feed them.
Semi intensive poultry farming defined
A semi intensive poultry system is classified as an extensive system. However, that is like a misnomer. Essentially, semi intensive farming is a hybrid of free range and intensive systems.
In a semi intensive system, birds are housed but are allowed access to the outdoors from time to time. This provides you some flexibility on how you feed your chicken. Additionally your birds have the possibility of having a diet with a wide nutritional source. That is because, in addition to having chicken feed, they can feed on vegetation, bugs and other organisms.
Pros and cons in semi farming poultry system
Note that this contrast of the benefits and drawbacks in semi intensive system is not exhaustive. In addition to the factors mentioned, you will have to consider others to weigh the suitability of this system for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Birds have access to a wider nutrition source | Feed monitoring is required to ensure egg production is maintained |
| Birds engage in natural behaviours incl. locomotion, and dust bathing | Not most suited to scientific methods |
| Birds have access to the outdoors and direct sunlight | Extra care is required to ensure birds and eggs are safe from predators |
| Can result to lower feed costs | Requires land for pasture |
| Relatively healthier birds | |
| Positive consumer perception | |
| Good animal welfare rating | |
Keep in mind that these pros and cons are not equivalent on a one-to-one basis. Inescapably, you need to have some context of poultry farming to understand them. The following video will help you in that regard.
For the purpose of keeping this comparison updated, let us know if we missed something. In the meanwhile, you may be interested in similar contrast of other poultry systems: