Deadline looms for Freedom Food changes
Freedom Food registered egg producers and pullet rearers have until mid-September to implement new welfare standards, following a review of the scheme by the RSPCA.
Producers were contacted in June about the changes, but there are concerns that many have not yet responded to them.
“Many of the changes focus on housing and on the range,” explained RSPCA head of farm animals Julia Wrathall. “For example, we have gone for more enrichments and more natural cover. Latest scientific research shows this reduces the risk of injurious pecking and cannibalism.”
In particular, she cited the new Freedom Food requirement for hens to have access to the litter area within three days of arrival, rather than seven under the current rules. While this could increase the chance of floor eggs, it also encouraged natural foraging behaviour and minimised injurious feather pecking, she told Poultry World.
Similarly, the new standards require birds to have access to the range within three weeks of arriving on farm. In practice, this means most birds will have to go out at 19 weeks of age – two weeks earlier than currently stipulated.
Tom Willings, farms director with Noble Foods, expressed his concern that younger birds would be less able to cope with some of the disease challenges out on the range.
But Ms Wrathall said this was a compromise against the risk of injurious pecking if birds did not learn to range properly, adding that all the changes had been agreed in consultation with producers, vets and equipment manufacturers.
She also highlighted a new requirement for droppings pits to be checked daily and a record kept. And it was recommended that aerial perches should be at least 50cm above the slats to discourage vent pecking.
From 19 September, there should be at least two items of environmental enrichment, such as knotted ropes or plastic bottles, in the house for every 1,000 birds. And the new standards suggest dividing larger flocks into smaller, separate colonies.
Overall, the changes were an important step to avoid welfare problems arising should the government press ahead with a ban on beak trimming in 2016, said Ms Wrathall – something the RSPCA and Freedom Food hoped would be achievable.
The new standards and guidance notes will be published in full on 19 September, with separate booklets for layers and pullets.