May 22, 2010

Slow growing broilers upset Irish farmers

Broiler producers in Northern Ireland are frustrated at a loss of profitability from their broiler flocks following the introduction of slower growing breeds.

About 220 broilers, broiler breeders and turkey producers, who supply O'Kane Poultry, attended a meeting organised by the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) in Ballymena, County Atrim, last Thursday (May 20) with farmers also complaining of a lack of consistency in bird performance and feed quality.

"O'Kane Poultry need these growers and the growers need O'Kane. We are all in this together and it is imperative that we reach a consensus on a profitable way forward for the growers and the company," a representative said.

A previous meeting in early May, which attracted almost 70 producers, discussed concerns on low prices that were failing to cover growing costs.

O'Kane management said the performance issues related to longer growth periods owing to the use of a slower growing, higher welfare breed.

"We acknowledge that our poultry producers are experiencing some difficulties in relation to bird performance, this issue is linked to a certain strain of higher welfare bird bred specifically to grow slowly. We have written directly to our producers offering them an increase to their contract price in recognition of the difficulties they currently face," O'Kane Poultry managing director Tony O'Neill said.