Free-range egg production in Wales is booming at a time when the poultry sector is gearing up for the end of cage systems in 2012, and this trend is partly a result of governmental assistance.

 

In 2006 there were just over 100 registered egg producers in Wales – now there are more than 300, housing some two million birds.

 

The trend has been primed by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) via its processing and marketing grants, which has delivered more than GBP1 million (US$1.5 million) to free-range projects in Wales.

 

Also, it has been boosted by private sector money which has brought the total Welsh poultry investment to GBP7.7 million (US$11.7 million) in the financial year just ended.

 

There are now proposals for further investments totalling GBP4 million (US$6 million), including GBP400,000 (US$607,000) from WAG. Another 27 planning applications for free-range units are currently under consideration.

 

Wales now produces more free-range eggs than any other EU country.

 

This sense of optimism was conveyed to NFU Cymru members at the union's poultry conference in Builth Wells. Tony Burgess, NFU Cymru's poultry group chairman, said, "All in all the future for eggs and white meat in Wales is looking good and assured."

 

"We do however need to ensure that future food labelling is clear for consumers to be able to identify home-produced food from imported," he said.

 

Mid Wales has seen the biggest increase in poultry production, with Powys accounting for 70% of recent projects, from installing new egg packing equipment to building new bird units.

 

With new commercial free-range units averaging 12,000-16,000 birds per unit, the Welsh free-range flock is predicted to rise over the next three years by around 400,000 birds.