Bendele Organic Poultry Farm: Certified Organic Poultry
Our Partnership with Bendele Free Range Farm
At Australian Organic Meat Co, we are on a mission to inspire more Australians to purchase organic meats such as certified free-range poultry. Choosing to eat more organically is proven to have positive impacts on human health, animal welfare and environmental health.
That is why Australian Organic Meat Co is so proud to work with Bendele Farm. Their certified organic chicken farm, is family-owned and operated in Kilkivan, Southeast Queensland. Fred and Sarah do an amazing job at producing true certified organic, free range poultry. Unlike the general industry's use of the term free range, which often includes free range chicken and 'free range chickens' that may spend most of their lives indoors, Bendele Farm ensures their poultry truly roams freely in natural conditions.
The flocks have access to roam and forage in their natural environment all day long and are put into secure pens at night to keep them safe. These birds consume the natural environment and vegetation while roaming around the property.
They are also supplemented with certified organic feed when needed. The demand for free range eggs and organic chicken has grown significantly, and Bendele Farm meets the highest standards for free range practices, ensuring their hens have outdoor access and live in conditions that allow them to exhibit 'natural behaviours' like scratching, foraging, and dust bathing.
The birds are exposed to natural sunlight and fresh air all day long living a natural, happy, and stress-free life as nature intended. Bendele Farm's approach contrasts sharply with conventional cage eggs production systems, where egg farmers may adhere to practices that do not prioritise animal welfare. By maintaining a maximum stocking density that allows free range hens to thrive, Bendele Farm ensures the health and happiness of their poultry, which is reflected in the quality of their products.
All birds are hand processed on the farm to avoid any stress in transportation which not all poultry organic producers do. Transportation impacts poultry the most due to the smaller size of the animal. The vibration, noise, and temperature alone during the transportation of poultry causes a higher mortality rate. The stress causes alterations in the biochemical and physiological cell of the bird, reducing the quality and nutritional value of the meat.
Why Choose Free Range Organic Chicken
Certified Organic poultry contains higher amounts of omega 3 essential fatty acids and is free from any hormones and antibiotics. Not only do hormones and antibiotics cause havoc on our health, they also impact the animal and affect the animals quality of life.
When hormones are injected into an animal to speed up the growth process, the synthetic hormones interact with the animals’ natural hormones and have been proven to cause aggressiveness, swelling and chronic stress conditions which is poor treatment for the animal and is also reflected in the quality of meat.
The use of hormones and antibiotics in poultry can also lead to increased human consumption of antibiotics unknowingly through the food we eat. This can reduce human tolerance to antibiotics and reduce their effectiveness over time. Additionally, research indicates particular pesticides and herbicides have links to wider human health issues. Choosing to eat organic meats can eliminate these risks altogether and ensure you are eating whole, clean, and high-quality foods.
Supporting family producers like Fred and Sarah from Bendele Farm ensures more poultry is produced in an ethical and sustainable way. They put a lot of love and hard work into ensuring these chickens live a natural, happy and stress-free life as nature intended.
Explore some of our favourite meals to cook using Bendele Farm’s organic poultry on our blog. This includes delicious meals full of flavour such as ‘Gut Healing Soulful Chicken Soup’, ‘Oven Baked Mediterranean Chicken Maryland with Cauliflower Mash’ and ‘Chicken, Bacon & Roast Veggie Traybake’. Or elevate your meal’s flavour and complement your organic poultry with a tasty sauce or broth from our deli.
