Too much red tape could prove a disincentive to expansion
Following confirmation that the EU ban on battery caged production will come into effect as scheduled on 1st January 2012, many Free Range producers are now looking to the long term and, recognising the need to increase capacity within their industry to meet future demand, are once again calling for restrictive rules on stocking density to be relaxed to allow more birds per hectare.
Throughout the EU, stocking density for Free Range birds on the range is set at 2,500 birds per hectare. However, UK producers who subscribe to the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme are currently limited to a maximum of 1,000 birds per hectare unless land is used in rotation, when 2,500 birds per hectare are permitted. Such is the success of the Freedom Food scheme – which is promoted as setting higher standards of both food safety and animal welfare than currently required by UK or EU law – that it has become a benchmark both within the industry and amongst British consumers. The Lion Code of Practice mirrors the Freedom Food code, and consumers have great confidence in the Lion symbol. The vast majority of Free Range producers are committed to operating within the Lion and Freedom Food parameters, and firmly believe in its value.
At the same time, however, there has been a growing recognition of Britain's need to compete with Europe's other Free Range producers, particularly France and the Netherlands who already have an established foothold as importers into the UK marketplace. Producers know that the UK Free Range industry must expand if it is to continue to thrive in the face of keen competition from abroad, and are increasingly feeling that the 1,000 bird rule puts them at a disadvantage.
Steve Carlyle is a strong advocate of relaxing the 1,000 bird per hectare rule: "We need more Free Range production in this country. There are a lot of producers who want to expand and who would be prepared to invest in another house, but who can't, because they simply do not have any more land available. If we could put more birds onto the limited amount of land we have, we could increase production very significantly.
"For instance, at a stocking density of 1,000 birds per hectare, a producer with a 20 acre block of land is restricted to one 8,000 bird house. At 2,500 birds per hectare he could have two 10,000 bird houses. That's a big difference. It would put Free Range producers in this country on a level playing field with our competitors abroad, whereas at the moment we are at a disadvantage – and it's not far between here and France."
The question was raised at a recent BFREPA Council meeting, where some members were of the view that there are minimal welfare benefits in allowing 1,000 birds per hectare instead of, say, 2,000, since birds rarely use the further end of the range, instead remaining concentrated in the area close to the house. Following lengthy discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the stocking level set by Freedom Food, a vote was taken, and a vast majority of members present were in favour of relaxing the 1,000 bird rule.
Alice Clark, an RSPCA farm animal scientist, confirmed that the Society is very aware that this debate is going on. She explained that the decision to limit stocking density to a maximum of 1,000 birds per hectare was based on welfare issues, and that there are two reasons for adhering to this limit: firstly, to reduce the risk of disease, and secondly, to improve the quality of the range. Behaviour is not a factor in the decision. Range management is seen as a key issue, and the RSPCA is actively looking into ways of maintaining better cover and improving the overall quality of the range; it has recently agreed to fund research to be carried out by Bristol University into this topic. "Any change would have to be based on new evidence and information," she said. However, she also confirmed that this topic will be brought up at the next Working Group later this month, where it will be open to debate by representatives from all sectors of the industry, vets and research scientists.
A related issue that arose at the BFREPA Council meeting was the question of internal stocking density. Regulations were changed in 1999, and since then there has been a slightly anomalous situation in that installations set up prior to this date have so far been allowed to continue stocking at 11.76 birds per square metre, whilst sheds built after this date have had to stock at 9 birds per square metre as per the new regulations. It has now been decided that from 1.1.2012 everybody will be required to stock at 9 birds/square metre. Consequently, producers who are currently stocking at the old levels will have to either increase the size of the shed, or keep fewer birds. This potential reduction in capacity within the industry has compounded fears that there may be an egg shortage following the withdrawal of the battery cage sector, and there have been suggestions that it might be preferable to delay extending the 9 birds/metre restriction to those currently stocked at 12 birds/metre for a limited period. Again, following a full discussion, a vote was taken amongst Council members present at the meeting, and – rather surprisingly – the majority voted against seeking a delay. All those members who are still operating under the old regulations will therefore need to decide how they will adapt their installations to comply with the new internal stocking limit.
