Diversify your routes Agroforestry, an asset for the landscape and poultry farming

Agroforestry combines planting trees, crops and/or animals on the same agricultural plot, on the edge or in the open field. Large windbreaks can be planted in a north-south direction. In the east-west axis, it is better to prefer windbreaks of medium height because their shadow is less great. It is recommended to plant with a density of 30 to 50 trees per hectare.

What trees to plant and what maintenance?

In Chalosse in the Landes, plane trees, marsh oaks, wood lime trees, poplars, maples, cherry trees, false acacia locust are recommended. Establishing mixtures of species increases diversity and reduces the risk of disease spread.

The Landes Chamber of Agriculture estimates the cost of establishment at seven euros per tree (seedlings, protection, establishment), or two hundred and forty-five euros for thirty-five trees on one hectare.

As early as 1996, Jean-Luc Dubroca, a label rouge poultry breeder in Samadet (26,400 chickens per year), planted American oaks, hazelnuts and prunus on his breeding route, to provide shade for the animals and protect the wind building with a hedge. Regularly, he uprooted those that could not resist the attacks of bark-biting guinea fowl and looked for the most suitable plant species, such as laurels and pines.

“On the maintenance side, I devote 3 to 4 hours once a year to pruning the 150 m of hedges and the course. It's low maintenance, but be careful what species you plant. It is better to avoid prunus which grow quickly and whose shade prevents other species from developing properly,” says Jean-Luc Dubroca.

“In the year after planting, you have to water for good rooting, especially with the heat waves. The first three years, you have to plan the training pruning allowing the trees to grow”, adds Christophe Tauziet, today a breeder of ducks ready to force-feed in Samadet.

“A clean cut last winter allowed our hedge to grow. We took the opportunity to make BRF (fragmented ramial wood) which is used for the organic mulching of the farm, in the vegetable garden… It is a recoverable product, therefore a source of income for the farm. But the industry is in its infancy. It is an intervention to be considered every ten years”, he specifies. Count approximately 11 € HT per linear meter.

To learn more about agroforestry

Very positive benefits on breeding

With a tree-lined pasture, “poultry are less stressed and their consumption index is improved by 10 to 15%,” observes Jean-Luc Dubroca. Christophe Tauziet observes that “the ducks spread out better over the course, suffer less from the heat and the course is healthier. With less puddles, they have better feather cover on summer lots and each duck weighs 100-150g more. In strong heat, I drain the water lines. Trees keep the water troughs in the shade, the water remains fresh and guarantees healthier animals. There is less biofilm deposit in the pipes, therefore less potential diseases. The animals are also calmer and safer from predators”. Jean-Luc Dubroca explains: “I add plant cover so that the chickens peck at the greenery as they leave the course. I have sported my course over time. Between 2000 and 2005, I planted laurels which have the advantage of having leaves all year round and pines. Now there are about 50 trees on one hectare,” he says. The two breeders have invested in agroforestry because they are convinced of the well-being brought to chickens and ducks. But they also did it to improve the landscape aspect of their farm. "These trees help to give a better image of our agriculture", they both testify.

"Reconciling animal comfort, image and environment"