A team of researchers are embarking on a pioneering project to explore the practicalities and sustainability of dual-purpose, pasture-raised poultry as an integrated enterprise for UK farms.
The project team, led by Dr Annie Rayner and farmer Clare Hill, have secured initial funding and are seeking partners to fund, scale and bring further expertise to the project.
The initiative has been awarded funding as part of DEFRA’s Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. The project is a collaboration with researcher, Dr Elizabeth Rowe from the University of Reading and Mike Theodorou of Biosource Consulting, who also holds an Emeritus Chair at Harper Adams University and serves as Innovation Manager for the project.
The average Brit consumes 25 kg of chicken meat and 200 eggs annually.
At Planton Farm in Shropshire, Rayner and Hill have already introduced pasture-based laying hens and summer pasture broilers. This project aims to further investigate the viability of dual-purpose breeds—birds that can serve both as egg layers and meat producers. By bringing value to male layer chicks, which are typically culled, the researchers say dual-purpose breeds offer a more ethical and sustainable approach to poultry farming.
The project will combine desk-based research with small-scale trials to explore key components of pasture poultry systems including feed systems, housing and brooding designs and breed availability.
Chicks will be placed in the spring, with males processed for meat in the summer and hens beginning egg production around the same time. The research will monitor productivity, cost of production, and egg and meat yields, while also assessing the impact on pasture health and biodiversity.
“Our goal is to create a practical, scalable model for regenerative dual-purpose chicken farming that integrates seamlessly into existing UK farm systems,” said Dr Rayner. “By addressing both environmental and ethical issues in poultry production, we hope to offer a more sustainable solution that benefits farmers, consumers, and the planet.”
Building on the initial funding from DEFRA, Planton Farm is launching a funding consortium of food business’ to expand the scale and impact of the project.
This consortium and its complementary funding will bring valuable expertise, knowledge and reach to the project allowing for deeper exploration of key topics, and faster progress in answering the fundamental question: What does truly regenerative chicken farming look like in the UK?
“We’re excited to grow this project beyond its initial scope,” said Rayner. “The consortium will not only accelerate our research but also create a dynamic community of expert stakeholders committed to pioneering sustainable and regenerative poultry farming in the UK and beyond.”