Under the new Broiler Welfare Directive, training will be legally required for all staff working with poultry raised for meat. To prepare broiler producers for the changes, LandSkills is providing 70 per cent and in the West Midlands 80 per cent funding towards progressive poultry courses delivered by MVP training.

Lantra's Agricultural Industry Partnership Manager, Laura Biddick-Bray, said: "We want poultry producers to take advantage of LandSkills and start the training now, because once the directive comes into place we will not be able to fund it."

Available in autumn 2010 in various locations across Yorkshire and Humber and the Midlands, the progressive poultry courses will look at areas such as veterinary health including bird anatomy, disease recognition, biosecurity, welfare, vaccination and medication, post mortems, housing and the environment, food and supply chain, insect and pest control, vermin control, fire awareness and health and safety.

Director of MVP Training, Alastair Johnston, said: "The training available will ensure that poultry staff attending these courses will gain the required standard of knowledge under the new broiler welfare directive."

To register your interest, contact MVP Training on 01904 709007 or email [email protected].

For more information about LandSkills, click here.