By Charles Bourns, broiler grower, Gloucestershire
I am going to start my article with a plea. Thanks to the unexpected middle east war between America and Iran, the price of oil and many other items have increased at the same time interest rates are frozen. The Fishmonger and Poulters Charity does have a limited fund to pay out small sums to help anyone who has worked in the poultrymeat industry either on the farm or in the processing side. At present we struggle to pay out our income, so if you know of anyone who might benefit please either help them or ask them to apply on the charity’s website.
It is the Conference season and I went to the SWCA Conference in Devon in March. It was great to catch up with so many people see so many trade stands there with many new products. I used to get carried away by these but now my son runs the farm I can relax and tell him about them but he has to decide if we try them. It was interesting to hear from Patrick Hook that they are now using blue light in the hatchery and chick lorries. it apparently helps reduce the stress on the chick. What I could not find out was whether on the farm we should also use blue light when the chicks are tipped it. It would mean us putting in a new lighting system but if it improves chick welfare we might be able to get a grant.
One farmer I called on many years ago took me to a shed on the farm opened the door and said look inside. He said it was full of good ideas he had tried and taken out I think we are all guilty of that!
It is also that time of year when we judge the entries National Egg & Poultry Awards, and I for one realise just how good some people in the industry are at the job. So, although I end up with a huge inferiority complex it does me good as due to avian influenza and also the lack of people coming onto the farm it is often difficult to keep up to date.
This crop at home we vaccinated for cocci and had plain food. It seems to have worked so we are going with it next crop again. The vet says we should do it for three crops or until they use Nicarbazin again in the starter crumb. I do not know yet what our physical or financial results are like yet.
We did have some good news that our liveweight price has be increased by just over 3.5%. I just hope the input costs do not take it away. It is obvious talking to everyone that our industry is beginning to stagnate thanks to the difficulty in getting planning permission and I am told in some instances money. Both the poultrymeat and the egg industries are suffering which I feel is criminal. What is the point of people talking about more British product in Westminster? It is about time they stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. We produce a fantastic, safe value for money product in high demand thanks partially to the new diet products now. All we ask is they take the brakes off us. Where I live they allow hundreds of acres of solar panels on good productive land. Why not a few more poultry houses?
This month I am taking our local discussion club up to see a farm in Suffolk. I was talking to them the other day and was told they were glueing the soil down as it is sandy to stop the sand blowing and cutting off the onion seedling. This is something I had never thought about .
And lastly at the SWCA conference we did a personality quiz. I came out as critical, blunt but could be fun. I will leave it to your judgement!