Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    3. June 2025
    4. 2025 Innovation supplement
    5. May 2025
    6. April 2025
    7. March 2025
    8. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    9. February 2025
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    20. June 2024
    21. 2024 Innovation supplement
    22. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    23. May 2024
    24. April 2024
    25. March 2024
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    31. October 2023
    32. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    33. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    By Chloe RyanJuly 1, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement

    July 1, 2025

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    June 9, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
News

New project to bring dual-purpose poultry for laying and meat to the UK

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanFebruary 11, 20253 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

A team of researchers are embarking on a pioneering project to explore the practicalities and sustainability of dual-purpose, pasture-raised poultry as an integrated enterprise for UK farms.

The project team, led by Dr Annie Rayner and farmer Clare Hill, have secured initial funding and are seeking  partners to fund, scale and bring further expertise to the project.

The initiative has been awarded funding as part of DEFRA’s Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The project is a collaboration with researcher, Dr Elizabeth Rowe from the University of Reading and Mike Theodorou of Biosource Consulting, who also holds an Emeritus Chair at Harper Adams University and serves as Innovation Manager for the project.

The average Brit consumes 25 kg of chicken meat and 200 eggs annually.

At Planton Farm in Shropshire, Rayner and Hill have already introduced pasture-based laying hens and summer pasture broilers. This project aims to further investigate the viability of dual-purpose breeds—birds that can serve both as egg layers and meat producers. By bringing value to male layer chicks, which are typically culled, the researchers say dual-purpose breeds offer a more ethical and sustainable approach to poultry farming.

The project will combine desk-based research with small-scale trials to explore key components of pasture poultry systems including feed systems, housing and brooding designs and breed availability.

Chicks will be placed in the spring, with males processed for meat in the summer and hens beginning egg production around the same time. The research will monitor productivity, cost of production, and egg and meat yields, while also assessing the impact on pasture health and biodiversity.

“Our goal is to create a practical, scalable model for regenerative dual-purpose chicken farming that integrates seamlessly into existing UK farm systems,” said Dr Rayner. “By addressing both environmental and ethical issues in poultry production, we hope to offer a more sustainable solution that benefits farmers, consumers, and the planet.”

Building on the initial funding from DEFRA, Planton Farm is launching a funding consortium of food business’ to expand the scale and impact of the project.

This consortium and its complementary funding will bring valuable expertise, knowledge and reach to the project allowing for deeper exploration of key topics, and faster progress in answering the fundamental question: What does truly regenerative chicken farming look like in the UK?

“We’re excited to grow this project beyond its initial scope,” said Rayner. “The consortium will not only accelerate our research but also create a dynamic community of expert stakeholders committed to pioneering sustainable and regenerative poultry farming in the UK and beyond.”

 

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleEgg industry launches £1 million marketing campaign
Next Article Comment: I’m so terrified of avian flu I’ve stopped walking the dogs in the fields
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

News

Comment: Focus on the things you can control

July 3, 20253 Mins Read
News

Fridays wins Court of Appeal judgment on business rates

July 1, 20252 Mins Read
New Products

New disinfectant offers breakthrough in coccidiosis control

June 26, 20252 Mins Read
Latest News

Poultry farmers frustrated as avian flu insurance tied to scheme membership

July 3, 2025

Comment: Focus on the things you can control

July 3, 2025

Empowering the workforce

July 2, 2025
Sponsored Content

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025

Maintain stable and continuous coccidiosis control amidst stocking density reductions

November 1, 2024
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.