The high cost of feed remains the biggest problem facing organic and free range poultry producers. In an attempt to curb this expense, which could seriously affect the sector’s profitability, the Organic Centre Wales is looking at alternatives to imported feed.

The centre has recommended the use of varieties of oats and other cereals that are particularly suitable for poultry feed as well as protein crops including peas, beans, lupins and lucerne. It is also exploring more novel approaches to farming including enhancing the range with cover crops to supplement the birds' diet.

The Organic Centre Wales has organised an open day set for Friday 29 July, as part of the Farming Connect Organic Development Programme, to help producers grow more of the ration on the farm. The event brings together producers, researchers from IBERS and a poultry nutritionist to look at some of the latest developments in this area.

Tony Little, the event organizer at Organic Centre Wales, said: “This is a very timely event. Organic poultry feed will get more expensive as the derogation to use up to 5% of non-organic ingredients is removed at the end of this year, and organic soya is getting harder and harder to source. We need to move towards a more resilient and more sustainable way of producing poultry meat and eggs, and growing our own feed - or at least sourcing it more locally – has a major role to play.”