Exploitation of free-range poultry in a solidary economy system: an analysis of the problems and environmental constraints of production in a cooperative of Paraiba

Abstract

The free-range poultry farming is an activity whose market is very promising, as long as, commonly,
the supply of this product is less than the demand. This work has begun with meetings
between professors and students of the Center of Human, Social and Agrarian Sciences of the
Federal University of Paraiba, with COPAF cooperatives, to identify their main problems, and
thus, to create ways to help them. Technical meetings were done based on a bibliographical
review about the problems that affect the free-range poultry farming. The production of COPAF
shows that the environmental impacts brought by poultry farming differ according to the stage
of its production chain. The aviaries do not require great use of water compared to other production
systems. However, the reuse of the waste produced is still a problem that has yet to be
solved, not only regarding to the aviaries but also the slaughterhouse.