Significant changes in the UK broiler and egg sectors

Andersons’ annual Outlook report, published this year, highlights a period of change for the UK broiler and egg sectors. One of the key innovations is the reduction in stocking densities for broilers to the Red Tractor standard. All major retailers except Asda have joined the voluntary initiative to reduce stocking densities from 38kg/m² to 30kg, which represents a 20% reduction in chick placements. While this has brought welfare benefits, such as improved growth rates and reduced rejects, it has not had a significant impact on the carbon footprint per kilo of meat produced. Despite the welfare benefits for chickens, domestic chicken production is challenged by a lack of space for rearing, environmental licensing issues and a shortage of new building permits. In addition, the cost of investing in new facilities has increased significantly over the past five years, making it harder for broiler producers to achieve financial sustainability. The reliance on chicken sales to support ...