Egg size matters in free-range egg production, and it can be influenced by the farmer from the moment the pullets arrive on farm.
In episode eight of the Wynnstay Agri-Hub Podcast, my colleagues: Fiona Hunt, Steve Marriott and I joined host Tony Morris to discuss how egg size can be controlled through flock management in free-range egg production.
With UK supermarkets pledging to move away from caged eggs, a new 16,000 bird shed will need to be built each week until 2025 to meet consumer demand. This creates an opportunity for farmers looking to diversify their business by producing free range eggs.
The egg market has a strong future, however getting started in free range egg production is a big investment, both financially and in terms of time associated with obtaining planning permission and managing the shed building.
There are three key considerations for farms looking into setting up a free range system.
As summer approaches and temperatures increase, the threat of red mite increases. Costing European poultry producers €360 million each year, red mite is not an issue to be swept ‘beneath the slats’. In this blog I share my insight into how to stop red mite impacting flock performance through prevention, monitoring and treatment strategies.
