Natural shade provision is key for ranges
Increasing free-range stocking rates might sound like a great idea – but how can you meet the new Freedom Food requirements on your range? Olivia Cooper finds out
Many free-range egg producers are considering expanding their units to meet the new higher stocking density limits allowed by RSPCA Freedom Foods and Lion Eggs.
But the change in the rules also comes with a number of extra Freedom Food requirements, not least providing a minimum of 5% natural shelter for the birds. “The whole idea is to enrich the range and encourage the birds to roam more evenly and widely, to better protect range quality,” says Alice Clark, senior scientific officer at the RSPCA.
This means growing vegetation like trees and shrubs, in addition to the established 8sq m of year-round overhead protection per 1000 hens – which can be artificial shelter. “It is a good idea to have a variety of cover on the range to encourage the birds out to places that they feel safe.”
Furthermore, producers stocking hens at more than 1000/ha must develop a range management plan, and provide designated dust bathing or perching areas. They must also actively manage the range to encourage the birds to use it fully; prevent poaching, especially outside popholes; and minimise build up of pests and disease.
“In total there are 11 new requirements, which aim to encourage birds’ use of the range, help to maintain vegetation quality and offer protection and shelter,” says Miss Clark. Producers should ideally design the range to provide a corridor of vegetation or shelter leading away from well-drained pophole areas, to encourage the birds away from the house.
However, the RSPCA is trying not to be too prescriptive, as each unit is different and will find individual solutions.
To increase stocking rates, producers must first be reassessed by the RSPCA to ensure compliance with new and existing standards. A one-off visit costs £52 + VAT, or it could be incorporated into the annual inspection. The natural cover must be in place on the range at the time of the visit. However, allowances can be made for the time of year and growth stage – 5% cover is required in summer months, and should be achievable within a couple of years of planting, she adds.
So what are the options? Those with ranges in existing orchards may need to do very little. But tenant farmers and organic producers with mobile sheds could struggle to meet the requirements. If landlords are hesitant over allowing permanent tree or hedge planting, tenants could instead opt for smaller shrubs, which can be easily removed. Miscanthus or other crops are another option, although thought must be given to year-round cover.
“People need a bit of leeway to do what they can on their sites – it can be very site specific. But it may be that increasing stocking densities and meeting the new requirements are not suitable for everyone,” says Miss Clark. However, a number of farmers have already introduced the changes on their farms, and the RSPCA expects its assessors to be in strong demand in the coming months.
Some of the new regulations could ultimately become part of normal Freedom Food standards, she hints. “We are looking much more at the quality of the range, particularly outside the popholes. Assessments will become more stringent, but we will also be able to offer more advice.”
Stocking rate change
The new rules were introduced last October, following a previous change in the Lion code of practice to raise the stocking limit from 1000 birds/ha to 2000 birds/ha – still below the EU limit of 2500 birds/ha. With the ban on conventional caged egg production looming in 2012, the industry saw an urgent need to expand free-range production in the UK, or face the threat of imports to fill demand.
As planning permission is generally easier to obtain for adding buildings to existing units than build new ones, the industry decided increasing stocking rates would be the most practical way to boost egg production in the short term.
A survey carried out by the British Free Range Egg Producers Association revealed that members would create up to 640,000 extra bird places if the rules were changed, with 83% of respondents wanting to expand. But for most of last year they were stalled by the RSPCA’s refusal to increase its Freedom Food stocking limits. However, after careful consultation, the RSPCA gave the green light in October, subject to a number of extra range provisions.
Enrichment is key for quality ranges
Richard Kempsey from Stonegate says range quality and enrichment is becoming increasingly important. “Trees are the long term objective if we can achieve it – but if it’s not achievable on an individual unit then we’re looking at providing equivalent cover. Particularly with our Waitrose producers, we are looking at a whole range of enrichment plans, rather than being very prescriptive.”
However, Mr Kempsey does not believe as many producers will opt to increase stocking rates as was initially predicted. “I can count on one hand the number of people who have requested an increase in stocking rate. Land is a relatively small part of the cost structure of egg production – and it can be difficult to get the sheds in the right area.” Those with mobile units or planting restrictions will also struggle to provide the natural cover required, he adds.
About half of Stonegate’s producers supply Waitrose, which has kept to a stocking limit of 1000 birds/ha in mobile sheds. But Mr Kempsey does not foresee a shortage in British eggs when the cage ban comes into force. “I don’t see it being as big an issue as some people are saying. We are happy with the forecast supply coming into us at Stonegate.”
That said, better range management is set to stay, he claims. “The more we can encourage the birds out of the shed the better it is.” Waitrose is now requiring all producers to develop a five-year range enrichment plan, following a site assessment of flora and fauna by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). Ultimately, a goal of 10-20% tree cover on the range would be ideal. “The objective is to provide cover and get the birds to range better. But I do feel that there is a degree of common sense to it – we each have a goal to meet and want to work to achieve it.”
Sainsbury’s also requires 20% tree cover for ranges producing its woodland eggs. Planted close to the house, they should ideally be adjoined with shrubs like hawthorn, hazel and holly to create a graded edge to ensure maximum wildlife benefit.
* For advice on meeting the new Freedom Food standards, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1230014 or speak to your local egg packer.
Trees improve ranging
The Food Animal Initiative uses a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees on its organic free-range hen enterprises at Wytham, Oxfordshire. It discovered that hens on plots planted with trees ranged significantly more than those without. Hedges of hawthorn, dog rose and elder divide the ranges for easy rotation, and are flanked by herbs and cover crops such as kale, marigold and chicory for shelter and medicinal benefits.
Young trees should be guarded, while ranges should be sown with a hard-wearing grass. Other top tips include siting sheds in the middle of a field with popholes on both sides, for flexible pasture rotation, and installing drainage or stones outside popholes to prevent poaching and litter problems.