Egg Producer Calls for Stocking Density Rule
UK - John Bowler believes that UK producers should go continental with their stocking densities on the range, if the home market is not to be flooded with imports, writes Mike Parker in the Farmers Weekly Interactive web page.
7 March 2008
2 minute read
The founder of the free-range egg production franchise which bears his name told the January meeting of the East Midlands poultry discussion group that stocking on the range should comply with the EU maximum of 2500 birds/ha (1010/acre). This is more than double the RSPCA Freedom Food figure of 1000/ha (404/acre).
"We need the greater density if we are to meet the rapidly growing demand for home produced free-range eggs and prevent imports being sucked in to fill the gap in the market. We must be allowed to compete on a level playing field."
The thriving UK free-range sector which was, without doubt the largest and best run in Europe, was flying at the moment and nothing should be allowed to curb its progress. Producers need to lobby their MPs and the government on the issue to make sure that nothing did.
