Remember to order less birds, says Defra

Defra is advising free range producers to take into account changes to EU stocking rate rules—due into force from the start of 2007—when it comes to ordering replacement flocks.

While a derogation exists on internal stocking rates allowing farms which were in operation on 3 August 1999 to continue at 11.7 birds per square metre until 2012, all producers who started up for the first time after this date must be down to nine birds per square metre by 1 January 2007. Those who came in after 1 January 2002 should already be operating at the lower rate.

Defra’s egg marketing inspectorate says it has received enquiries from producers asking whether the new lower stocking will only apply to any flock housed after 1 January 2007. In other words, can a flock be housed before that date at 11.7 and be allowed to run through after 1 January 2007 at the higher level?

“In short, no,” says chief egg marketing inspector Bruce Pattern. “Our interpretation of the regulation is that the house will have to be stocked at nine birds from January 2007 regardless of the age of the flock.”

In effect, that means that pullets being housed later this year may have to be stocked at nine birds if the depletion date extends beyond 1 January 2007. Defra is writing to producers to clarify this point.

But the BEIC is currently lobbying the European Commission for an indefinite retention of the 11.7 birds stocking rate, and says that evidence points to no welfare benefit to stocking at the lower rate. A decision on this is expected to come out when the Commission publishes its review of the Welfare Directive, expected early next year—more than twelve months behind schedule.

If the UK egg industry has been successful in its lobbying, then the BEIC says that producers who have already dropped down to nine will have the option of restocking at the higher rate, although this could involve having to fit additional equipment.

January 2007 is also the deadline for all producers—regardless of when they first started in production—to be meeting the EU rules on feeding, drinking and nest box space, along with the provision of litter. A full 15cms of perch for every hen must also be provided from this date but again publication of the Commission’s review of the Directive is eagerly awaited to see if it defines a perch. Defra currently allows perch space to be incorporated in the slatted floor.