A group of farmers across England are trialling a selection of heritage chicken breeds that could cut emissions, end the culling of male chicks, and build economic resilience, in a new Innovative Farmers field lab.
For decades, poultry farming has focussed on breeding for specialised systems – layer breeds for eggs and fast-growing broiler breeds for meat. While efficient, the intensive productivity of these birds has made them dependent on imported, high protein feed and prone to stress and health issues. Egg production wants female chickens only, so males are routinely culled at birth.
Pioneering a sustainable alternative among a group of small-scale producers is Mike Mallett, an organic egg producer and mixed arable farmer from Suffolk. He and five other farmers have teamed up with a researcher through an Innovative Farmers field lab to test resilient ‘dual purpose’ breeds suitable for both egg and meat production.
Mallett said, “After the Ukraine war began and organic feed prices soared, we started looking for a way to step off the treadmill. Instead of relying on high-protein imported feed, we wanted to explore whether lower-stress birds could thrive on homegrown protein sources.”
Dr Annie Rayner, from Planton Farm, Shropshire, is the researcher supporting the trial. She thinks this approach could help tackle the heavy carbon footprint of conventional poultry feed.
It could also address the ethically controversial issue of male chick culling. This practice is already restricted in some European countries and could face regulations in the UK within the next five to 10 years.
Rayner said, “Dual-purpose breeds may require less protein, which could mean greater reliance on homegrown feed rather than imported soy. We need to address waste across the food system. By making use of male chicks and reducing imports, this approach could have real benefits.”
How to stay profitable
Recent years have been tough for small-scale poultry producers, with rising feed costs and avian flu making it harder to stay in business.
Mallett said, “A huge number of small producers have left the sector. If this model works, it could offer an alternative and help stem the decline.”
Rayner said the potentially lower-protein requirements of dual-purpose breeds could help farmers build resilience in the face of climate change.
Feeding homegrown protein reduces dependence on long supply chains, and the robust nature of the breeds could make them more adaptable to changing weather conditions than their specialised counterparts.
Better welfare
Dual-purpose birds are thought to be naturally better suited to a low input pasture-based system than modern hybrid breeds, which means there are also benefits to their health and welfare.
Mallett said, “The theory is they’re much more resilient. that doesn’t mean they’re immune to issues like avian flu, but they should be less prone to some common health problems.”
Rayner believes that selecting for productivity in both eggs and meat, rather than extreme specialisation, could make a real difference. Because these birds are bred for both functions, they’re under less pressure to grow at unnatural speeds or produce excessive eggs, which could mean fewer welfare issues overall.
Dual-purpose breeds are typical in parts of Africa and Asia and are making a comeback in European countries where regulations have restricted the culling of male chicks. However, they remain uncommon in the UK. This trial will assess how well they perform in British farming conditions and whether the meat products from this system are likely to be accepted by consumers. Anecdotal feedback on the taste and quality of meat will also therefore be assessed.
The trial is being run as a field lab through Innovative Farmers, allowing farmers to test ideas in real-world conditions.
Innovative Farmers trial coordinator Sam Packer said, “This trial will show practical examples of dual-purpose poultry in action. Our results could help bring confidence to other producers looking to move to small-scale poultry or existing producers tackle sustainability or welfare challenges they face.
“The community of practice we are building as part of this trial is as important as the results themselves. By coming together, testing and learning we can begin to build an alternative to the challenges of the current system.”