British free range egg producers have expressed strong disappointment after the UK Government extended its current trade agreement with Ukraine for a further two years, without introducing quotas on egg imports.

The UK government has officially opened an eight-week public consultation proposing to phase out the use of enriched colony cages for laying hens, pullets, and breeder layers, with a complete ban on existing systems by 2...

On the morning of the eve of the September Equinox Fluffetts Farm were amazed to discover one of our girls here in Wimborne St Giles Dorset had laid a very special egg.

Key public bodies are insufficiently prepared for a major animal disease1outbreak and would likely struggle to cope with one, the latest report from the National Audit Office finds.

New data from the European Commission has shown a dramatic rise in egg imports alongside moderate export growth.

Laid In Britain met with the Food Standards Agency in January for our slightly belated annual review.

The UK public is regaining confidence in the quality and standards of food in the UK, halting three years of declining trust after the pandemic and during the cost-of-living crisis.

Farming organisations have expressed alarm after the chancellor Rachel Reeves said she would reform Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.

Egg producers and packers will no longer need to change how eggs are labelled during an outbreak of avian influenza under measures announced by the Government.

The importance of upholding and increasing the nation’s self-sufficiency levels to help bolster food security was highlighted last month.

The Olds family has been farming at Cornhill Farm in West Cornwall since 1912. Today, Len and his son Pete represent the third and fourth generations managing the farm. Historically focused on cropping, the farm expanded...

Producers of British eggs and poultry meat face an uncertain future without greater government support and supply chain reform, the NFU has said, following a survey of its poultry members.

Poultry and eggs from Ukraine will be able to be imported to the UK without tariffs for an additional two years, after the government extended a commitment put in place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ag...

As reported in December’s Hotwire, following a rise in cases of Salmonella linked to poultry products imported from Poland, the FSA has now issued advice to consumers about safe handling and cooking.

The Animal Welfare Committee of the Welsh government has published a report outlining alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industry.

Egg producers in the EU will no longer lose their free-range status after 16 weeks in the event of a housing order.

Several outbreaks of Salmonella linked to Polish eggs and poultry products are being investigated by the Food Standards Agency and UK Health Security Agency.

Autumn is upon us and with it an increased risk of avian influenza (AI). Rodents are a well-known source of disease so controlling pests as the weather cools is a crucial part of any farm’s AI control measures.

Scientists have successfully used gene editing techniques to limit the spread of bird flu in chickens.

In January ’22, David Spackman wrote about the Pacific trading situation and the UKEP/LIB and industry concerns about the import of eggs from other countries that would not meet our high standards or our production regul...

Members will be pleased to learn that the “Laid In Britain” Assurance Scheme had it’s first full review by the Food Standards Agency very recently, after a few “covid delays”, which was successfully completed to the sati...

Sadly, almost half of all babies are not fed eggs – partly due to the needless fears of nursery staff, say researchers. The findings of a new study have raised concerns among experts who point out that evidence demonstra...

The Chief Veterinary Officer has announced that mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 ...

Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

Our friends at The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) are urging all businesses and individuals involved in free range and organic production to sign its new Egg Pledge.

The eggs in the major supermarkets continue to fluctuate, with 5p or 10p being added here and there, and even occasional lines being offered at discount on loyalty cards.

None of this benefits the producer, and in most ca...

The move towards solving the male layer chicks problem is gaining pace in Europe.

Hatcheries in both Germany and Holland have installed the SELEGGT system, described in an earlier Hotwire.

On 6^th July, Nature Scotland closed its two island national nature reserves, Noss and Isle of May, to the public, to give the seabird colonies the best chance of survival and recovery.

Dead seabirds have been found on the...

The Met. Office are suggesting further outbreaks of very hot weather this Summer. Following reports received of increased mortality in flocks, both FR and enriched cage, in the recent spell, it seems advisable to remind ...

Export of grain continues, but at a very low rate, through Poland and Romania. This is principally due to the need to transfer from the Ukrainian railway system to a different sized European system.

Researchers at Peking University at Beijing, together with at Oxford University, have reported on studies on the association of eggs with cholesterol in the @Life journal.

There is a rumour going around that the major retailers are already looking at importing eggs, especially if the possibility of a severe contraction of the UK supply comes about, given the dire warning of producers givin...

Research into the way food is prepared for picnics, barbecues and camping has revealed gross deficiencies in the care people are taking to maintain a good level of safety in the food they prepare.

Farmers all over the country are finding mines buried in fields. Some are unlucky.

One near Chernibiv a 42 year old was killed when the tractor ran over a mine.

Appeals from several sources, made to the supermarkets to improve prices paid for their eggs, fell, in the main, on stony ground. Their responses were deafening in their silence.

By the time you read this Hotwire, the compulsory housing orders will have been lifted, and free-range eggs can again be labelled as such.

Egg producers in Ukraine have not been without their difficulties before the Russian invasion.

April 1^st will not be a day of amusement for egg producers. It is the day in which energy prices are set to rise by 54% average. This will be on top of the estimated 40% increase already imposed over the last year.

This w...

With so many people in the UK offering to take in refugee families from Ukraine, at no inconsiderable cost to themselves, and with over £40 million being raised in one evening on Red Nose Day, it is difficult to come to ...

This is a dynamic situation, with changes occurring every day.

This report will be somewhat different, as it will be written as the month of March progresses, and so, items towards the end, may be conflicting or counterac...

Although outbreaks are lessening as we start the new year, there is sufficient virus still circulating to ensure that biosecurity is kept to the highest level.

This doesn’t just mean whole site biosecurity, but also house...

Eggs seem to be moving out of the “commodity” category, and entering a new phase of popularity.

The Times has featured them amongst 9 items that must be sought out in 2022. Amongst others were watermelon, sea vegetables, ...

Having looked at the original eggs, perhaps, at the beginning of a New Year we should briefly remind oneself of the virtues of the chicken egg. It is a healthy, natural wholefood that contains a wide range of important n...

The question that’s been bothering generations – “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” may finally have been answered.

Some years ago, a businessman obtained a collection of broken and intact dinosaur egg from a nes...

Producers are only guaranteed to maintain a free-range egg premium price for up to 16 weeks of being housed, taking us up to 16th March 2022. After that, the risk of free-range eggs being downgraded to 'barn' is a real r...

On 24^th November the Government announced UK wide housing measures, due to the current avian influenza situation. It has instructed poultry farmers and bird keepers to house all birds and comes into force from Monday Nov...

Further to that reported in Item 5, there have been several other outbreaks of AI in the UK.

1. a) H5N1 on a premises near Wrexham, on 2^nd
2. b) H5N1 on a premises in Angus, Scotland on 2^nd
3. c) There have been multiple outbr...