Day-old chicks in short supply

Independent broiler producers are facing cutbacks in the number of chicks supplied to their units, despite new DEFRA figures pointing to a rise in chick placements nationally.

David Kynaston, who operates near Welshpool in Powys, told Poultry World he had suffered a 15% reduction in the latest delivery to two of his four units.

“I either had the choice of taking fewer chicks or leaving the sheds empty for another 10 days. I have chosen to downstock, as the birds will at least perform better.”

Mr Kynaston said he believed hatchability was the issue, with some hatcheries not getting the performance they expected. With a shortage of day-olds it was inevitable that they would prioritise their integrated growers and it was the independent sector that was suffering, he said.

NFU chief poultry adviser Robert Newbery said it was little surprise that the independents – who account for about 20% of the market – were seeing a shortage. The demand for chicken meat was expanding and there was not the capacity at the breeding end to keep up with it.

“We are also suffering from the ‘Hugh and Jamie’ effect,” he added. Following the push for less intensive production two years ago, the breeding companies had gone for slower growing birds, meaning there were less “commercial” day-olds available.

A spokesman for one of the main hatcheries confirmed there had been an imbalance in the market.