June 14, 2007

Half of UK's eggs may be free range in five years
 

Reflecting the drive towards better animal welfare, experts are saying that half of the eggs produced in the UK may come from free range chickens in the next five years.

Currently, one in three eggs in the UK comes from free range chickens. This is expected to increase to one in two after the EU laws restricting the use of hen cages are effected in the next few years.

This would mean as much as nine million free ranging hens in British farms.

The greater numbers meant more land would be needed for the chickens. The demand for more space for the chickens is already causing problems with planning authorities, said the National Farmers' Union poultry board chairman Charles Bourns. He added that this could prove to be a major stumbling block for the industry.