HEREFORD MEP Anthea McIntyre visited one of the county’s chicken farmers and a Hereford based supplier of poultry products as part of her ‘Farm to Fork’ initiative.
The first visit was to Stuart Perkins of Upper House Farm in Moreton-on-Lugg. Stuart and his team raise 265,000 chickens approximately every 40 days.
As they grow the birds are free to roam and forage throughout the rearing house, eating and drinking as they wish.
The birds are given a scientifically formulated diet, clean water, a comfortable temperature and fresh air in well lit surroundings, with good space for movement.
Trained personnel inspect the birds in the house every day, usually checking two or three times and utilising their experience to pick out any birds which require attention.
Strict hygiene control, known as biosecurity, is a key part of all poultry farming with stringent procedures in place throughout the life of the flock to prevent or control disease entering the flock.
Once at the optimum weight the chickens are taken to Hereford based Cargill Meats Europe, a major buyer of poultry products raised in the county and surrounding areas.
Cargill offer their clients both primary and further processing facilities and employ the latest techniques to ensure the quality and traceability of the food-stuffs they provide.
“Seeing each stage of the process, from the rearing through to processed meat ready for sale was fascinating and I am particularly grateful to John Reed, agricultural director of the British Poultry Council for arranging these two visits for me," said Anthea McIntyre.
“Herefordshire’s diverse farming and food processing sectors are critically important and these visits once again demonstrated the care taken to ensure the highest welfare standards at every stage of the cycle.”