Poultry top stories LIVESTOCKWhy rearing organic poultry is good fit for dairy farmGrowth in retail sales of organic poultrymeat could present new revenue opportunities for UK farmers. In both volume and value, the market for organic food is increasing year on year,… LIVESTOCKPoultry housing order to be lifted in England and WalesFree-range poultry producers are being urged to start preparing now for their birds’ impending return to the big outdoors, with Defra signalling an end to the mandatory housing order in… LIVESTOCKHow drying poultry manure can deliver for the bottom lineChicken manure does not always receive the best press – blamed to varying degrees for water pollution, obnoxious smells and general unpleasantness. But for north-east egg producer and regenerative arable… POULTRYShell Shocked report reveals growing threat of imported eggsPressure is growing on the UK government to tighten controls on imported eggs, as industry leaders raise concerns over food safety, animal welfare and the future of domestic production. A… POULTRY4 year-round biosecurity focus areas to combat bird flu riskPoultry farmers can enhance year-round biosecurity to prevent avian influenza by focusing on vermin control, water management and human activity. Wild waterfowl such as geese, swans and ducks, are the… LAYERSWhy egg producer includes humic acid in layer rationsThe latest cycle of hens at Glanalders in Radnorshire produced 14 eggs a bird more than the breed average, worth an additional revenue of £37,300 across the flock of Burford… HEALTH AND WELFARENewcastle disease risk to UK poultry raised as disease spreadsVeterinary experts at Defra have raised the risk status for Newcastle disease in poultry from “low” to “medium” as the disease continues to spread in continental Europe. Newcastle disease is… HEALTH AND WELFARENewcastle disease risk to UK poultry raised as disease spreadsVeterinary experts at Defra have raised the risk status for Newcastle disease in poultry from “low” to “medium” as the disease continues to spread in continental Europe. Newcastle disease is… POULTRYBird flu vaccination trial under way in turkeysDefra has announced the start of a new 24-week vaccine trial in turkeys as it steps up the fight against avian influenza. The research, which gets under way on Thursday… 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… 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%… Poultry news POULTRYBreeding ducks in Lincolnshire confirmed with avian influenzaHighly pathogenic avian influenza has struck again, with a farm housing breeding ducks in Lincolnshire the latest to succumb to the disease. The outbreak, confirmed on Saturday (11 April) on… 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… BroilersSee all LIVESTOCKWhy rearing organic poultry is good fit for dairy farmGrowth in retail sales of organic poultrymeat could present new revenue opportunities for UK farmers. In both volume and value, the market for organic food is increasing year on year,… LIVESTOCKPoultry housing order to be lifted in England and WalesFree-range poultry producers are being urged to start preparing now for their birds’ impending return to the big outdoors, with Defra signalling an end to the mandatory housing order in… 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… LayersSee all LIVESTOCKPoultry housing order to be lifted in England and WalesFree-range poultry producers are being urged to start preparing now for their birds’ impending return to the big outdoors, with Defra signalling an end to the mandatory housing order in… LIVESTOCKHow drying poultry manure can deliver for the bottom lineChicken manure does not always receive the best press – blamed to varying degrees for water pollution, obnoxious smells and general unpleasantness. But for north-east egg producer and regenerative arable… POULTRYShell Shocked report reveals growing threat of imported eggsPressure is growing on the UK government to tighten controls on imported eggs, as industry leaders raise concerns over food safety, animal welfare and the future of domestic production. A… LAYERSWhy egg producer includes humic acid in layer rationsThe latest cycle of hens at Glanalders in Radnorshire produced 14 eggs a bird more than the breed average, worth an additional revenue of £37,300 across the flock of Burford… 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… Other poultry LIVESTOCKPoultry housing order to be lifted in England and WalesFree-range poultry producers are being urged to start preparing now for their birds’ impending return to the big outdoors, with Defra signalling an end to the mandatory housing order in… 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… 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
