When the present investigation was completed,
production was regulated by a set of standards
at the national level [5] inspired by European
Union regulation 1894 [6] that came into
force in August 2000. These rules stipulated the
use of chicken genetic lines with slower growth
(maximum growth capacity: 30 g/d), a minimum
age of 81 d before slaughter, daily access to
roughage, organic feed without coccidiostats,
and access to outdoor areas. Additionally the
participating farmers followed rules stated by the
National Board for Organic Farming, a Danish
organization for organic farmers [7]. At that
time, the rules included demands for perches,
access to outdoor areas covered with pasture,
restrictions on the stocking rate (indoor: maximum
25 kg/m2 or 40 kg/m2 in mobile houses,
outdoor: minimum 2m2/broiler), and restrictions
on the number of birds in one group (maximum
2,000 broilers).