Poultry top stories POULTRYEgg sector in big push to oppose impending cage banThe UK egg sector is mounting a major push to resist government plans to phase out enriched cage systems for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers. The ongoing Defra-led consultation,… LAYERSUK egg sector faces housing investment gapThe UK egg sector is facing a serious investment gap in new housing, with ageing sheds and a sharp slowdown in construction raising concerns over future production, according to a… LAYERSHow free-range egg diversification solved labour dilemmaLabour is one of the biggest costs associated with running a business and can be a barrier to farmers becoming employers. For Aberdeenshire farmer Bruce Irvine, it was integrating a… POULTRYNew bird flu cases confirmed as UK remains on high alertFresh cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 have been confirmed in England and Scotland within 48 hours of each other, marking a February cluster that keeps the UK… POULTRYEgg industry criticises low-quality imports from UkraineBritish egg industry leaders have accused the UK government of undermining domestic producers and misleading consumers after agreeing to extend tariff-free imports of Ukrainian eggs. Chris Bryant, minister of state… POULTRYHow bokashi is helping a poultry farm's nutrient managementAt Woodend Farm on the Scottish Borders, manure produced by the farm’s 32,000 free-range hens is mixed with woodchip, chopped straw and an inoculant rich in microbes. By sealing this… POULTRYBenefits of premium turkey contract for beef and sheep farmGrowing turkeys is allowing a Powys farm to earn an additional income stream from its beef and sheep sheds at a time of the year when they would otherwise have… MARKETS AND TRENDSOutlook 2026: Poultry assessment may help safeguard futureThe past 12 months have seen a significant turnaround for the UK poultry sector, for both meat and eggs. Most poultry businesses are now turning some form of quantifiable profit… POULTRYBenefits of premium turkey contract for beef and sheep farmGrowing turkeys is allowing a Powys farm to earn an additional income stream from its beef and sheep sheds at a time of the year when they would otherwise have… POULTRYConcerns raised over €30m aid for Ukrainian agri-food giantUkraine-based agri-food giant MHP has been given a €30m (£26.4m) boost by the UK government, sparking concern among industry stakeholders over equivalence of production standards. The Ukraine Recovery Conference, held… HEALTH AND WELFARETurkey shortage fears played down as bird flu acceleratesCases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are continuing to spread across the country, though consumers have been reassured that Christmas turkey and egg supplies are secure. Defra confirmed further cases… FEED AND NUTRITIONNew organic feed rules for 2026 confirmed by DefraNew organic poultry and pig feed rules will apply across Great Britain from 1 January 2026 after Defra confirmed changes to long-standing derogations. Defra said it had amended and extended… HEALTH AND WELFAREWorst year for avian influenza expectedHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is on track for its worst year yet, with cases of the H5N1 strain across the UK likely to surpass the 2024-25 total. Defra has… POULTRYTips for new entrants from a 16-year-old entrepreneurStarting a new farming enterprise can be challenging at any age. Lewis Thomas was just 13 when he launched his own business, producing free-range eggs from a flock of layers… Poultry news MEAT MARKETS AND PRICESKFC to boost British poultry purchases by £10m a yearFast food giant KFC has said it will boost its contribution to the British poultry sector by £10m a year, upping its intake of chicken from British farms from 30%… POULTRYConcerns raised over €30m aid for Ukrainian agri-food giantUkraine-based agri-food giant MHP has been given a €30m (£26.4m) boost by the UK government, sparking concern among industry stakeholders over equivalence of production standards. The Ukraine Recovery Conference, held… HEALTH AND WELFARETurkey shortage fears played down as bird flu acceleratesCases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are continuing to spread across the country, though consumers have been reassured that Christmas turkey and egg supplies are secure. Defra confirmed further cases… HEALTH AND WELFAREWorst year for avian influenza expectedHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is on track for its worst year yet, with cases of the H5N1 strain across the UK likely to surpass the 2024-25 total. Defra has… BroilersSee all POULTRYPoultry housing underinvestment threatens food securityPoultry housing in the UK needs urgent upgrades and investment if producers are going to meet animal welfare and environmental commitments, according to a recent NFU poultry shed survey. The… BROILERSHow litter can be treated on-farm to heat broiler shedsNew technology is offering a novel solution to the environmental and financial challenges associated with manure produced by intensive broiler units. Poultry litter is blamed for polluting rivers and waterways… BROILERSBenefits of increasing water oxygen content for broilersTechnology to intensify water’s dissolved oxygen content has been shown to reduce mortality and improve performance in broiler systems. A Ross 308 broiler trial, which involved 840 birds, showed 37.3%… POULTRYAnti-broiler chicken group accused of 'intimidating' farmersAnimal welfare group the Humane League has been accused of “intimidating farmers” and “stoking fear and confusion” after it wrote to broiler growers saying they may be breaking the law… POULTRYWhat it takes to join the Ross 450 club for broiler growersAsk broiler grower and consultant Chris Wright, Farmers Weekly‘s Poultry Farmer of the Year, what gives him the most satisfaction working in the poultry sector. He will freely admit it… POULTRYFree-range broilers to retain status during housing ordersFree-range broiler growers and processors will soon no longer need to alter labelling when mandatory housing measures are introduced during bird flu outbreaks. Currently, when housing measures are imposed to… LayersSee all POULTRYEgg sector in big push to oppose impending cage banThe UK egg sector is mounting a major push to resist government plans to phase out enriched cage systems for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers. The ongoing Defra-led consultation,… LAYERSUK egg sector faces housing investment gapThe UK egg sector is facing a serious investment gap in new housing, with ageing sheds and a sharp slowdown in construction raising concerns over future production, according to a… LAYERSHow free-range egg diversification solved labour dilemmaLabour is one of the biggest costs associated with running a business and can be a barrier to farmers becoming employers. For Aberdeenshire farmer Bruce Irvine, it was integrating a… NEWSBirds ordered inside in England as avian flu escalatesEngland’s poultry industry has been ordered into lockdown after the UK government imposed a national housing order to stem a worsening outbreak of avian influenza sweeping across the country. Under… POULTRYHow free-range layers complement electricity generationSix thousand hens range under the solar array on 16ha (40 acres) of former arable land let to egg producers Charlie and Laura Tomkins. The birds share the site with… LAYERSHow new RSPCA Assured layer standards affect egg producersAn overhaul of welfare standards for layers saw big changes introduced this summer. Farmers who market their eggs with the RSPCA Assured mark must now comply with a raft of… Other poultry POULTRYBenefits of premium turkey contract for beef and sheep farmGrowing turkeys is allowing a Powys farm to earn an additional income stream from its beef and sheep sheds at a time of the year when they would otherwise have… POULTRYLabelling rules for free-range poultry to be easedOutdoor-reared poultry that are compulsorily housed during an avian influenza outbreak look set to retain their free-range status, no matter how long they are contained. Currently broilers can only be… LAYERSHigh path avian flu case confirmed in YorkshireA new case of avian influenza has been identified in a commercial poultry unit near Driffield, Yorkshire. Defra said in a statement: “Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed… POULTRYPoultry producers win case for greater bird flu compensationPoultry farmers who have had their flocks slaughtered following an outbreak of avian influenza have been under-compensated and may have a right to further payments. That is the conclusion of… OTHER POULTRYWhy turkeys need managing differently to broilersFactors affecting choice of breed, age at slaughter, and brooding, rearing and disease management all have unique considerations for turkey production. Regarding turkeys simply as big broilers could put a… POULTRYWhy avian flu vaccine rollout would cost £1.5k/shed a monthVaccinating UK poultry flocks for avian influenza has been described as “cost prohibitive” because an EU surveillance requirement for swabbing and testing would set producers back £1,000-£1,500/month for every shed… Advertisements Poultry hot topics The benefits and uses of lucerne in poultry production Regen poultry: What scope is there to grow production? 4 tips for effective cleaning between free-range flocks 8 management tips to help prevent severe feather pecking A poultrykeeper's guide to spotting and controlling blackhead Advice on using water vaccination for broilers and layers
