The Poultry Network Podcast

Poultry Network's latest podcast hears from Rose Hill's Dave Hodson Jr, who argues that strong layer performance starts with getting the basics right – and that vaccination only delivers if it is applied properly. Speaking on a technical episode focused on the laying sector, Mr Hodson drew on decades of experience working with commercial flocks and said producers should think less about vaccination as a routine task and more about whether every bird is genuinely receiving a live, effective dose. He said that in free-range egg production especially, disease pressure can build quickly if detail is missed. While older cage systems were designed to reduce challenges such as worms and coccidiosis, modern free-range systems have reintroduced many of those risks, alongside greater contact with wild birds and more variable range conditions. That makes good vaccination programmes important, but also means they cannot be looked at in isolation. Mr Hodson said flock health depends on controlling several areas at once, including respiratory disease, parasite burden, water quality and the condition of the range. A key point from the discussion was that vaccine handling and administration matter just as much as the product itself. Once a live vaccine is mixed, it begins to lose viability, meaning storage, mixing and delivery through the water system all need careful attention. He also highlighted tongue staining as a practical way of checking whether birds have actually taken in the vaccine, alongside serology and close monitoring of flock performance. Infectious bronchitis was one of the main examples discussed, with Mr Hodson warning that vaccination intervals still need to be right even when administration is good. Push protection too far, he suggested, and flocks can still be left vulnerable. The conversation also widened into the broader management picture on free-range units. Red mite, poor water quality, worm burden and weak range management were all identified as common factors that can undermine performance, regardless of how well a vaccination programme looks on paper. Throughout the episode, the emphasis was on stockmanship. Mr Hodson argued that the best producers are those who know what normal looks like in their birds, spot changes early and deal with problems before they become expensive. For UK egg producers, the message was not about chasing one silver bullet. It was about building consistency – one flock after another – through better vaccination, better observation and tighter control of the everyday factors that shape hen health and output. Make sure you subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode.

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony for a timely discussion following the NFU Conference. Aimee reflects on nearly a decade with the NFU and explains how the poultry sector is working to raise its profile within wider farming and government policy.  The conversation explores the key themes from this year's poultry breakout session, which focused on resilience, horizon scanning, and the opportunities and pressures shaping the future of both poultry meat and egg production. Topics include the continuing challenge of planning permission for new poultry buildings, the growing influence of welfare and environmental policy, and the need to balance rising expectations with affordable food production.  She also discusses how the NFU engages with stakeholders across the supply chain and why the sector must do more to tell its story proactively rather than simply reacting to criticism or misinformation. The episode also looks at new shed age survey data from the laying hen sector, revealing the age profile of infrastructure across the industry and why that matters for future investment.  Aimee shares insight into regional differences, the implications of the cage consultation, and what the data means for the sector's ability to modernise. There is also discussion of the latest developments within the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, including new biosecurity visit support for poultry producers in England, and a wider reflection on food security, sector resilience and the policy choices that will shape the future of British poultry production. Aimee closes with a reminder of several important deadlines, including the colony cage consultation, National Poultry Board elections, and the National Planning Policy Framework consultation. A useful episode for anyone wanting a clearer view of the policy landscape, the current pressures on the sector, and the work being done to make sure poultry producers are heard. If you farm broilers or hens, or work in the broader poultry sector, subscribe to the Poultry Network newsletter at poultry.network for weekly news, insight and analysis.

UK Poultry Briefing: Better Chicken Commitment pullback, enriched-cage ban consultation & new farm tech grants This week's Poultry Network podcast reviews three issues with direct impact on UK producers, integrators, egg packers and the wider poultry supply chain. 1. Better Chicken Commitment (BCC): UK Hospitality says a group of 18 major foodservice brands (including KFC and Nando's) will step away from the BCC—often linked to down-stocking (lower stocking density) and slower-growing breeds. The episode explores why: sustainability trade-offs (more feed/water), plus the operational reality of spec-driven cuts/weights, carcass balance and continuity of supply. The group says it will instead create a "Sustainable Chicken Forum" to pursue practical welfare and sustainability progress. 2. Laying-hen cages consultation: discussion turns to the government consultation on banning enriched colony cages. The hosts argue the proposal leans heavily on public perception rather than welfare science, and warn that a five‑year timeframe could remove around 14% of UK egg production (and potentially 15–20% of capacity), with European imports likely to fill the gap—raising "level playing field" concerns if European timelines are longer. The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) asks stakeholders to: (a) write to your MP, (b) respond to the consultation, and (c) tell BEIC what action you've taken. The consultation closes 9 March (as referenced in the episode). 3. Funding window: from the NFU conference, the hosts flag that the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund opens on 17 March (match funding), plus wider support cited at £120m (£50m for equipment/tech and £70m for the Farm Innovation Programme). Grants can support welfare and efficiency upgrades (e.g., sensors, curtains, split feeding, lighting, drinkers, egg packing equipment).

Tom Woolman and Tom Willings welcome back their first repeat guests to the Poultry Network Podcast: Kelly Grelier (Chief Commercial Officer, RSPCA Assured) and Kate Parks (Senior Scientific Officer, RSPCA). After the hosts' earlier coverage, they set out RSPCA Assured's perspective on the revised hatchery standards, now in force from 16 February. The updated standard applies across poultry sectors—laying hens, broilers, turkeys and ducks—and is positioned as a refresh of a document last published in 2017, rather than a wholesale rewrite. The most substantive strengthening is in the section covering humane killing: RSPCA Assured reviewed current best practice and incorporated relevant guidance, including Humane Slaughter Association material, alongside clearer expectations on contingency planning. Other updates include additions intended to be consistent across species, such as a section on wild animal control. Consultation is a central theme. Because hatcheries span multiple species schemes, the guests explain that proposals have historically been worked through the relevant species Standards Technical Advisory Groups (STAGs) and targeted meetings with affected members. They point to a focused 2023 session involving laying-hen hatchery members and BEIC representation, and acknowledge that an unusually long gap between sign‑off and publication—linked to a wider pause on standards releases—may have created a perception gap about how much engagement took place. Looking ahead, RSPCA Assured has convened a dedicated hatchery STAG to give hatchery-specific issues more focus. For businesses assessing compliance and supply chain risk, Kelly and Kate emphasise that the revision was issued with a three‑month notification and they are not aware of major new requirements that should disrupt operations; where bigger changes are needed, longer lead times would normally apply. The discussion also highlights the egg sector's sensitivity, given the small number of assured laying-hen hatcheries underpinning end‑to‑end continuity. Finally, they unpack the document's "iBoxes"—forward‑looking signals on areas such as in‑ovo sexing, AI use and potential future expectations for feed and water provision in hatcheries. The message to operators is to engage early on innovation and investment so welfare aims and practical delivery can be aligned. RSPCA Assured reiterates its welfare‑only focus and cites YouGov research indicating 85% of consumers look for welfare assurance.

Tom Willings and Tom Woolman return to The Poultry Network Podcast with an update on the new-look newsletter (and a reminder to add it to your safe sender list so it drops every Friday around 9:30am).  Then they're joined by Rachel Evans, Director for Wales at the Countryside Alliance, to unpack the Alliance's punchy research into where chicken served in Welsh school meals is sourced from. Ms Evans says the findings are "atrocious": some councils reported the vast majority of school chicken coming from outside the UK/EU, including Merthyr Tydfil (99.35% from Thailand and China), Conwy (94% outside the UK/EU), Gwynedd (87.62% from Brazil, Thailand and China) and Caerphilly (87.32%).  Anglesey said 100% of its chicken is British, and Anglesey and Bridgend said none comes from outside the EU.  Crucially, Ms Evans says not one of Wales's 22 local authorities could state what percentage of their chicken was sourced from Wales. The conversation ranges from tight school budgets and affordability to assurance schemes (many citing Red Tractor), the per-meal value rising to £3.40 after an £8m funding increase, and the climate-policy contradiction of importing food "from the other side of the world".  Ms Evans calls for an urgent review of Welsh Government procurement frameworks and an annual, public sourcing report so parents can see exactly what's on children's plates.  The full report and dataset are available on the Countryside Alliance website.

UK egg consumption is climbing again, but welfare reform, planning and trade policy will determine whether domestic supply keeps up. Tom Woolman and Tom Willings speak with BEIC CEO Nick Allen, eight months into the job after a career in soft fruit, on what the Government's animal welfare strategy means for the sector. Mr Allen sets out the BEIC's remit across 11 trade bodies and the Lion Food Safety Scheme, then previews a £1.5m consumer campaign for 2026 aimed at health, protein and convenience, with millennials a key audience. The demand signals are strong. UK sales hit 13.6 billion eggs in 2024 (around 26,000 a minute) and per‑capita consumption is put at 209 eggs a year, up from 199. Kantar points to roughly 5% volume growth through 2025. On enriched colony cages, the consultation's preferred 2032 end‑date (options range to 2038) raises feasibility questions. Replacing 6–7m hens could mean around 200 standard 32,000‑bird free‑range units and 2,500–3,000 hectares of land, on top of £400m+ already invested in the last transition out of conventional cages to colony. Trade equivalence is the other pressure point. Ukrainian egg product imports have risen to around 11,000 tonnes in the year to Sept 2025, largely into manufacturing and foodservice and typically around 20% under UK equivalents. The UK is extending tariff‑free access from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2028, while the EU runs a tariff‑rate quota. Also covered are beak trimming progress via the Laying Hen Welfare Forum and why "zero‑day" in‑ovo sexing is the key milestone for male chicks. Sponsor message — Morspan Construction. UK market leader in clear‑span steel‑framed poultry buildings, handling planning, design, project management and construction. https://morspan.com [https://moorspan.com/] | 01291 672 334

Campylobacter on supermarket chicken may have slipped from the headlines since the Food Standards Agency (FSA) surveys of 2014–15, but it hasn't gone away.  In this Poultry Network Podcast episode, hosts Tom Willings and Tom Woolman revisit one of the poultry sector's biggest food‑safety challenges and ask why Campylobacter remains a leading cause of gastroenteritis — with an estimated ~500,000 cases a year in the UK and a cost to the economy of over £1 billion. Joining them is Professor Brendan Wren (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), Co‑Director of the Vaccine Centre and Co‑Director of the GlycoCell Engineering Biology Mission Hub.  Brendan explains why Campylobacter is so well adapted to birds (optimum growth around 42°C), how tiny doses (around 100 cells) can cause severe illness in humans, and why the "Campylobacter conundrum" persists: the bacterium is oxygen‑sensitive and doesn't generally spread person‑to‑person, yet seems ever‑present in the food chain. The conversation explores a provocative "missing link" — free‑living amoebae. Brendan's research suggests amoebae can act like a Trojan horse, sheltering Campylobacter inside durable cysts and potentially making it more invasive when it emerges. If that's true, it could reshape on‑farm thinking about prevention, surveillance and water hygiene. Key topics include: • What changed after the FSA findings — boot barriers, thinning practices and supply‑chain controls • Why Campylobacter peaks in summer (and why it's not just barbecue season) • PCR‑based detection of Campylobacter within amoebae, and what it means for understanding transmission • Practical interventions: drinking‑water filtration, UV, improved hygiene and targeted anti‑amoebae approaches • Next steps: systematic farm sampling (including free‑range) to test the hypothesis and refine control strategies Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Friday.

In this episode of The Poultry Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined again by poultry consultant David Mark to discuss what it takes to develop new broiler units (or expand existing broiler sites) in today's UK poultry industry. Drawing on his work with growers (including many in Lincolnshire), David sets out where the opportunities are, what the biggest blockers tend to be, and how to approach the process with a clear commercial plan. Inside the episode: • Broiler sector outlook: demand for chicken, improved efficiency and the need for continual reinvestment in housing and equipment • Partnership in an integrated supply chain: why contract growers matter to integrators (including Moy Park and Avara) and the role of the British Poultry Council (BPC) in pushing the case for new capacity • Choosing your operating model: contract grower vs managed contract (including outsourced farm management) vs farm business tenancy / fully repaired lease — and how risk and margin differ • People and performance: how to keep control as you scale, the role of farm managers, and practical options for stepping back from day‑to‑day work • Planning and permits: site selection, separation from neighbours, pre‑application advice, and building a "pipeline" so you're ready when planning starts to move • Expanding existing sites: how stocking‑density changes and existing permissions can sometimes unlock additional shed capacity • Biosecurity and public confidence: avian influenza risk, why farms can feel "closed", and how open farm events and viewing access can help • Nutrient management and poultry litter: treating litter as a storable by‑product, plus solutions such as biogas/biomethane, CO₂ capture and turning digestate into balanced fertiliser If you're in the UK researching broiler sheds, broiler farm expansion, planning applications, environmental permits, contract growing or managed broiler production, this conversation will help you focus on the decisions and the conversations that matter.

Two-part special: Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by veteran food technologist and consultant David Mark. In Part 1, David looks back on a career that started in a Northern Ireland dairy co-op in 1979, moved through the marketing board, a stint as a McDonald's franchisee (from cleaning toilets to Hamburger University), liquid egg processing, and senior technical roles with O'Kane Poultry and Moy Park. He explains what drives survival and growth in a consolidating industry: governance, compliance, and the institutional memory carried from businesses like Padley's (farm discipline and hygiene) and Dove Valley (customer focus). David also shares how workplace culture has shifted - from smoking in canteens and meetings, and strict hierarchies and dress codes, to more open day-to-day leadership. The trio discuss why board training matters if farmers are to play a bigger role in modern governance, and the importance of partnership: no integrator without growers, and no chicken without farmers. They highlight one of the most positive changes in David's time: women moving from support roles into technical and senior leadership, influencing everything from factory management to HR and how people work together. Subscribe today to make sure you never miss an episode!

Tom Woolman and Tom Williams are back for 2026 with a quick New Year catch‑up (including Tom's other life in the Backwood Redeemers… on accordion), then they dive into the biggest policy headlines that landed over the festive break. This episode focuses on the government's new animal welfare strategy (described as "the most ambitious in a generation") and what it could mean for UK livestock — with a poultry‑first lens.  They also reflect on how the announcement was timed and packaged alongside other news, and why the media attention landed where it did. Key topics:  • Egg sector: the direction of travel on colony systems, the future of infrared beak treatment, and the momentum behind in‑ovo sexing.  • Meat sector: how to interpret government language on moving away from fast‑growing broiler breeds, and the practical uncertainty for the supply chain.  • The big missing piece: trade. If UK standards tighten, how are imports handled, and can welfare ever be a meaningful lever in trade policy? (They discuss the view that WTO rules don't treat welfare as a straightforward "distinguishing factor".)  • Joined‑up policy: why welfare strategy, the National Food Strategy and farm profitability need to be hand‑in‑glove. To close, they look ahead to 2026's big unknowns - geopolitics (Ukraine/Russia) and what any shift could mean for commodities, energy and feed markets - with the usual reminder not to make purchasing decisions based on podcast chat. Follow/subscribe for more weekly insight from across the poultry sector.

In this Christmas episode of The Poultry Network podcast, hosts Tom Willings and Tom Woolman close out 2025 with a sector roundup, alongside festive banter about their non-jumper fleeces, the cat walking out mid-recording, and a sheep update ("the ram is out and two are lame"). Avian influenza dominates the conversation. Housing orders are framed as a recurring strain on the industry – birds finally going out around 15 May, then heading back in from late October/early November.  The discussion also touches on how AI has complicated the cage-free transition, including the January 2025 outbreak at Griffiths that removed 1.3 million birds (layers and pullets) and put extra pressure on barn supply. Iceland's brief wobble on its cage-free commitment is revisited too, followed by a swift reversal after campaign pressure, including Joanna Lumley's involvement and support from Compassion in World Farming. On eggs, the focus shifts to tight supply in the UK and across Europe, plus the wider context of expected laying-hen reductions in the Netherlands (talk of another 5–6 million birds exiting in 2026).  Per-capita consumption is flagged as a growth opportunity, with the UK at around 200 eggs per person versus roughly 220–250 in parts of Europe. Broilers get a more upbeat report card: 2025 is described as a standout year for physical performance, with the first UK crop hitting 500 EPEF and more following. Strong prices and lower feed costs also feature, with feed easing by roughly £20–£25/tonne over the year. The episode also takes in structural change and deal activity: the PD Hook/Two Sisters joint venture split (and PD Hook's hatchery plans), 2Agriculture's move to acquire two feed mills, and a run of egg-sector M&A including Eurovo's investment in Two Chicks, the Griffiths/Eureden joint venture, Noble Foods' acquisition of Just Egg, Bumblehole's sale to the Hardeman Group, and Sunrise's sale to Latvian firm Agrova.  In the meat sector, Gressingham's majority sale to France's LDC is noted, alongside a broader discussion about why European investment is still flowing into the UK despite post-Brexit friction. The year ends on a lighter note with the South West Chicken Association Christmas dinner (4 December): an auction prize to guest-edit the podcast raises £250 for South West air ambulance charities (bought by Robert Lanning) – before festive wishes and a sign-off until 2026.

In this Poultry Network Podcast, hosts Tom Woolman and Tom Willings speak with Angela Curtis, CEO of RoboScientific – whose presentation at the BFREPA conference created a real buzz – about how "electronic nose" technology could change flock health management. RoboScientific has spent around 10 years developing a system that samples the air in poultry houses and analyses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – the chemicals that make up smells – to detect disease. Each shed is monitored using a compact box (about 18 inches cubed) containing 24 sensors. Different combinations of those sensors respond to different conditions, producing a distinctive "digital fingerprint" for specific diseases or challenges. Rather than continuous streaming, the system draws shed air for around an hour, often between 5–6am, pulling roughly 3,000 litres across an adsorbent pad before analysis. This concentrates VOCs from across the whole building, giving a much more representative picture of flock health than boot swabs or individual bird checks. Once processed, results are sent to the cloud – or via Bluetooth where connectivity is limited – and presented to the farmer through a simple dashboard or smartphone alert. A major advantage is that VOC changes are not dependent on visible symptoms. RoboScientific's broiler trials suggest the system can identify disease one to two days before clinical signs, and in the case of viruses such as Newcastle disease or avian influenza, potentially two to four days earlier. Alerts are designed to be practical and actionable for farmers, for example "likely infectious bronchitis – check this shed", or a general prompt when something unusual is detected. A deeper veterinary dashboard is also in development, enabling flock-history analysis and tracking of disease progression, such as the transition from coccidiosis to necrotic enteritis. The technology has shown strong performance in broilers and is now moving into layers. Early work is focused on diseases such as erysipelas and Mycoplasma, and RoboScientific is exploring whether VOC patterns could even detect red mite infestation levels. APHA trials are planned to confirm early detection windows for key notifiable diseases. Commercial rollout for broilers is expected by the middle of next year. Work in layers, hatcheries and rearing units will follow as disease signatures are mapped, with layer deployment anticipated around 2027 once validation and on-farm trials are complete. Units are expected to cost £7,000–£8,000, with one or two typically required per broiler shed depending on size and airflow. Angela encourages producers and vets interested in the technology to get in touch or visit RoboScientific's website or LinkedIn page. The episode highlights how rapidly developing sensing technologies could reshape flock management, enabling earlier intervention, better decision-making and a more complete understanding of flock health than traditional sampling methods can provide.

In this episode, Tom Willings is joined by Jake Davies to unpack a hugely successful British Free Range Egg Producers Association (Bfrepa) conference and awards. Industry momentum on full display Both presenters note the strongest footfall in years, with a striking increase in farmer attendance and a noticeable uplift in the professionalism and investment seen across trade stands. Senior figures from government, major retailers, integrators and industry bodies were visible throughout the day – a clear signal of the event's growing influence. Award highlights The hosts run through this year's winners, noting standout performances from: * Chippendale Foods – multiple category wins including Marketing Initiative, Chuckle Eggs, and Best Trade Stand * Stonegate and Noble Foods – strongly represented across categories * James Baxter – recognised by the British Egg Association for a decade of service as Bfrepa chairman * Martin Troop – awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions across both the egg and meat sectors Hatchery Standards: a new storm brewing The conversation shifts to the RSPCA Assured hatchery standards, announced with minimal notice and due to take effect in February. Key concerns raised include: * Lack of sector consultation, echoing frustrations from the 2023 Laying Hen Standards rollout * Operational uncertainty for the very small number of hatcheries underpinning the entire RSPCA Assured supply chain * Ambiguity around new concepts – such as definitions of viable chicks – and unclear expectations across several technical areas * A wider set of future topics flagged by RSPCA (AI, in-ovo technologies and more), prompting questions about the organisation's methodology and communication approach The hosts express a willingness to openly discuss the standards and extend an invitation to RSPCA Assured and the Pullet Hatcheries and Breeders Association (PHBA) to appear on the podcast. What's next on the podcast Angela Curtis of RoboScientific will join a future episode to discuss real-time flock monitoring using VOC detection technology. Listeners are also reminded of the Southwest Chicken Association dinner, where a guest editorship of the podcast will be auctioned.

In this episode of the Poultry.Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Jake Davies sit down with Emily Neate-Wynne (Evans Vanodine) and Kelly Anderson (Lohmann GB) to talk about careers, community and the fast-growing Women in Poultry initiative. Both guests share how they "fell into" poultry – from family egg farms and weekend egg collecting to technical roles in biosecurity, pullets and sales. They reflect on why so many people stay in the sector once they arrive, and how varied the career paths can be. The discussion then turns to the origins of Women in Poultry. What began as a dinner for ten women in May 2023 has quickly grown into a national network of more than 200 members, supported by sponsors including Aviagen, Lohmann GB and Premier Nutrition. Emily and Kelly explain how the group moved from a WhatsApp chat to a formal committee, with in-person workshops and online sessions. They outline what the initiative is trying to achieve: – creating a safe space to swap experience and contacts – supporting women who can feel isolated in on-farm or field-based roles – offering practical learning on topics such as gut health and mental health – making events accessible around busy work and family lives There's also discussion of a recent online session with Herefordshire charity We Are Farming Minds, looking at mental health in agriculture from the partner's perspective; how employers have responded to Women in Poultry; and the broader value of visible, structured support networks in retaining talent in the industry. Finally, Emily and Kelly explain how to get involved, how membership works, and why the initiative is very deliberately open, non-clicky and not "anti-men" – with anyone in the sector welcome to engage, attend events, and support future activity. A practical, people-focused conversation that underlines how much quiet work is being done to support the next generation of talent in UK poultry.

Tom Woolman and Tom Willings take a slightly lighter approach this week, but there's still plenty of business in the mix. They start with a quick catch‑up, a livestock update from Tom's small sheep flock, and a chance encounter with the "poet of Paddington" who delivers an impromptu chicken-themed poem on the station concourse. The main focus is on what's coming up for UK poultry producers over the winter: key conferences, dinners and technical meetings that shape discussion in both the egg and broiler sectors. They also talk about the value of these regional events as a barometer for confidence in the industry – and where the mood feels to be as 2025 draws to a close. Tom and Tom explain a new charity auction prize for the South West Chicken Association Christmas dinner: the chance to guest‑edit an episode of the Poultry Network podcast. The winner will be able to choose the topic and guests, with the team doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. The episode closes with an important bit of governance news: NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead has stepped down, with vice chair Will Raw stepping in on an interim basis. The hosts reflect on the workload that comes with NFU roles and the value of members who give up time alongside running their own farms and businesses. In this episode: * Welsh housing order now in place  * Key dates for the diary: BFREPA Live, regional dinners and the Northern Broiler Conference * How the "guest editor" podcast auction prize will work * NFU Poultry Board leadership change and what it means for representation

In this episode of the Poultry.Network podcast, Tom Willings and Tom Woolman talk to Aaron McKenna, Head of Broiler Operations UK at Pilgrims Europe. Aaron outlines his route into poultry – from a small mixed farm in Northern Ireland with a strong interest in dairy, through a graduate scheme at Moy Park, to his current role.  He also explains how the business supported him through a doctorate focused on Campylobacter, working with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Queen's University Belfast and AFBI. The conversation then turns to the move from Moy Park to Pilgrims Europe.  Aaron sets out what the change in name and structure has meant on the ground and how the integration of several large businesses is going.  Recent group results have highlighted the European division as a strong performer, which has helped underline that the new structure is working. On farming, Aaron talks about Pilgrims Europe's long history of producing at 30kg/m², particularly in Northern Ireland, and how that experience meant they were more confident than most when the wider GB market moved to lower stocking densities.  He argues that 30kg/m² is a good balance between welfare, efficiency and affordability.  He shares recent figures from 2025, including an average EPF over 470 across three weeks and more than ten flocks exceeding EPF 500, alongside improving FCR and low mortality. The episode also covers grower relationships and investment.  Aaron describes how liveweight prices and on-farm returns have improved, helping farmers reinvest in sheds and infrastructure.  He gives examples of new builds on contract farms in England and a major redevelopment of a company-owned rearing site, replacing older buildings with modern houses. On sustainability, Aaron explains how lessons from projects such as Beech Farm – with rainwater harvesting, solar and battery storage, heat exchangers and ground-source heat pumps – are informing what should become "standard spec" on new builds.  He also updates listeners on Pilgrims' Tully 1 anaerobic digestion plant, which runs on poultry litter and supplies heat and power to local homes, and plans for Tully 2, which will allow all NI broiler litter to be directed into AD and nutrients recovered into fertiliser products. Looking ahead, Aaron says the priorities for the next 12 months are to maintain current performance levels and to work with planners and regulators to unlock new poultry development, so the sector can continue to invest and keep pace with UK chicken demand, which he estimates is growing at around 5–6% a year.

THIS week, the Poultry Network Podcast recorded a last-minute episode to consider the latest avian influenza situation – particularly the Welsh government's reluctance to declare a housing order. With Professor Ian Brown warning that this season could be the worst yet, England has extended a mandatory housing order nationwide, while Northern Ireland follows suit.  Wales, however, has not (yet) announced a housing order.  That divergence is creating headaches for free-range farmers and packers who are weighing biosecurity, welfare and insurance realities against inconsistent policy lines. On EPIC, the mood was wary but not bleak. Recognition for sector leaders (including Turkey Producer James Chalmers and Young Poultry Person of the Year Hannah Cargill) underlined how collaboration and openness still cut through in a tough year.  We also touch on the conference theme, the long-range consumer picture - yes, even GLP-1 drugs - and what shifting demand could mean for poultry by 2050. Finally, we unpack a striking trade statistic: summer shell-egg imports were at record levels, with a sharp recovery from EU sources.  For processors and packers, this hints at supply tightness, stock rebuilding, and changing sourcing dynamics as disease risk rises.

This week the Toms unpack two fast-moving issues with real commercial consequences for UK poultry businesses: the regional housing order for avian influenza and industry rumblings over how "seconds" are classified at egg packing centres. AI: early season, uneven policy, real market risk. A regional mandatory housing order takes effect on 30 October across much of northern England and the Midlands/East Anglia, but excludes Wales, southern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The hosts question the geographic carve-up given the pattern of wild-bird positives and recent outbreaks nearby. It's noted that it's unusually early in the season, and case numbers have accelerated in the past week. Producers - particularly in Wales - face operational uncertainty and potential divergence between national administrations. Commercially, recent culls in the UK and mainland Europe (notably the Netherlands and Germany) tighten supply just as the market was edging back towards balance. For eggs, the combination of early AI pressure and seasonal demand could turn sentiment quickly; for turkeys, significant sunk costs as the risk heightens in the run-up to Christmas. Egg grading: pressure on what counts as a 'second' Separately, egg marketing inspectors have been visiting packing sites amid indications that guidance on external faults may be applied more strictly. The discussion focuses on two recurring triggers: dust (largely a farm-origin hygiene issue) and albumen "glazing" that can occur downstream when a shell breaks on the grader and residue contacts subsequent eggs. Operators note that graders are configured by humans within tolerance bands, and inspector spot-checks sit against standards that can feel subjective in the grey areas. If thresholds tighten materially, more eggs could move from Class A to B. That would reduce retail-grade output, increase commercial friction over liability (farm vs packer), and exert inflationary pressure on Class A pricing. At a national level, a lower Class A yield risks pulling in more imported shell and product - potentially with different assurance profiles. Episode takeaways: * Volatility ahead in Q4. Early avian-influenza pressure, uneven regional policy and EU flock losses point to a tighter market and higher operational risk. * Layers and packing. Pay close attention to how grading guidance is applied in practice; even small shifts in "seconds" criteria can move Class A yield, producer settlements and retail availability. * All species. Keep biosecurity audit-ready and tighten comms discipline, as policy lines may shift again with November data. The episode ends on a sober note: the picture is fluid, and the next few weeks are likely to set the tone for the winter.

The "Two Toms" – Tom Willings and Tom Woolman – return with a relaxed but purposeful take on what's moving the poultry sector.  After some road-warrior and makeshift-office banter, Tom W reports back from the Dutch Pork & Poultry Expo in 's-Hertogenbosch: a wave of robotics and AI, a colossal chicken/turkey harvester, and a spotlight on feed form innovation.  He flags AgriFirm's "Crunch" – a mash/crumb hybrid – to open a wider discussion on particle size, digestibility and early-life feed waste (including a mini-pellet revival). The Toms then turn to unpacking live legal and standards stories: the River Wye civil action (Leigh Day, Avara and others) and potential ramifications across the value chain; the Red Tractor TV ad that was pulled and what "farming with care" does – and doesn't – claim; plus welfare campaigning from Compassion in World Farming.  They tie these threads into the Try Some Chicken initiative – balancing welfare, environment and cost – and probe the gap between what we say as citizens and what we buy as consumers. A light sign-off rounds things out: weekend plans, and a nudge to catch the earlier episode and stay tuned for sector updates.

In this episode of the Sustainability Hub podcast, host Tom Willings is joined by three veterinary voices connected to Elanco Animal Health: Jackie Skelly (Head of Veterinary Technical Services, UK & Ireland and ESG lead), George Gould (Technical Advisor, International Poultry Team) and George Tice (former Elanco leader, now consultant after 28 years with the company). Together, they map the practical route from ESG intent to on-farm results. The discussion opens by grounding ESG in the realities of European and UK regulation: net-zero trajectories, corporate sustainability reporting, due diligence duties and finance-sector disclosure frameworks. The message is that measurement and reduction will be expected across supply chains, not just corporate offices. From there, the panel reframes poultry's opportunity. Chicken already delivers ~30% of global animal protein while accounting for a materially smaller share of livestock GHGs. Yet scale and scrutiny demand continuous improvement across three pillars – economic viability, animal welfare, and environmental footprint – without "solving" one by inflating the others. That trade-off mindset is replaced with a systems view: define the target precisely (FCR, welfare KPIs, carbon intensity), then choose interventions that move multiple pillars in the right direction. A critical insight for operators: 70–80% of a broiler's carbon footprint sits in feed, and ~80% of emissions occur off farm. Energy tweaks at the house may help resilience and costs, but carbon outcomes are won primarily through feed formulation and feed efficiency. Elanco frames its response as "inside the bird" (gut health and disease control that improve FCR) and "outside the bird" (formulation decisions that reduce the embodied carbon of the ration). Two technology tracks illustrate this. First, Hemicell (a beta-mannanase) breaks down beta-mannans that otherwise trigger a costly feed-induced immune response and raise digesta viscosity. By sparing energy and improving intestinal integrity, nutritionists can remove ~60 kcal from the matrix and maintain performance, enabling the substitution of higher-carbon fats/oils while maintaining output. Independent, ISO-aligned lifecycle assessment and modelling against representative European diets indicate ~2.5–3% reductions in carbon footprint attributable to Hemicell-enabled reformulation, alongside feed-cost benefits. Second, Elanco's anticoccidial programmes (e.g., Maxiban®/Monoban®) anchor coccidiosis control – a health prerequisite that also supports better FCR. Elanco commissioned ISO-conformant LCAs on the products and then collaborated with external experts to build a product-agnostic FCR-to-carbon calculator. Teams can input live parameters (country, target weight, feed price, baseline FCR) to estimate the carbon impact of a given FCR improvement under standard diets by market. It's a decision tool to rank scenarios before implementing and validating with farm-level measurement platforms (e.g., poultry-specific tools that include land-use change in feed footprints). Elanco's approach is to: * Keep investing in rigorous science and third-party assurance so customers can trust claimed impacts * Quantify hidden co-benefits of health technologies (welfare ↑, performance ↑, carbon ↓) * Develop the next wave of innovations designed explicitly for sustainability outcomes. For producers, integrators, nutritionists and veterinary advisors, this episode offers a practical takeaway: start where the carbon is (feed), protect gut health relentlessly, use modelling to prioritise interventions, then measure and report with defensible methods.