Latest News from SmallHolderFeed.co.uk

The Royal Norfolk Show

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:35:45 GMT

The Allen & Page stand at the Royal Norfolk Show is a great place to find out more about the Smallholder Range. This fantastic event is local to the Shipdham-based company and provides a great opportunity for the team to help you out with your feeding queries. The Royal Norfolk Show takes place on 30th June & 1st July on the Norfolk Showground and is the largest two-day agricultural show in the country. The show is packed with events to interest everyone; from the latest farm machinery and livestock to sampling some of Norfolk’s finest produce.

For those of you with a passion for poultry, the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) will be on the stand to talk about their work with re-homing ex-battery hens. The group will bring along some of their feathered friends too, so why not come along to stand 465, avenue 16 to have a look?

Hundreds of prizes still to be won!

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:06:16 GMT

Congratulations to Clive Bowell - winner of two tickets for the ‘All about Chickens’ course at the famous River Cottage in Devon.

Clive is one of many who have found a golden egg hiding in their sack of Natural Free Range Layers Pellets, our claim line rings frequently as another lucky customer finds a Golden Egg containing a fabulous poultry prize.

So far, winners have claimed: 1 Galvanised Poultry Feeder, 2 Galvanised Poultry Drinkers, 4 ‘Choosing & Keeping Chickens’ books, 39 feed vouchers, 5 Organic egg trays, 1 Fancy Fowl Magazine subscription, 1 Brinsea Mini Eco Incubator and 1 set of tickets to a River Cottage course.

There are still literally hundreds of prizes to be won. All you need to do is pop down to your local feed merchant to pick up a sack of Natural Free Range Layers Pellets and check for a Golden Egg inside.

Clive and Judith Bowell with Emily and duck Bentley, Alex with chicken Gloria and eldest son James alongside some of the team at AE James in Bristol where the prize-winning sack was purchased

Success for the Smallholder Festival

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:55:44 GMT

Thousands of people visited the Smallholder and Garden Festival at Builth Wells over the weekend, enjoying a mixture of animals, events and spectacles.

From falcons to folk dance the festival was a real success, with thousands of people enjoying the mixture of farm animals, horticulture and events. The Smallholder Range stand was very busy, with nutritional advisers giving out plenty of good advice on feeding a range of animals. Several new features appeared at this year’s show, among them scurry driving, blacksmithing and farriery competitions, making it a fantastic weekend for all.

Job opportunity at Allen & Page

Thu, 06 May 2010 12:14:25 GMT

Allen & Page has an opportunity for a talented and enthusiastic Area Sales Manager to cover the South West and Wales areas. The ideal candidate will be based in the Bristol/Somerset area and be target driven, self motivated and passionate about feeding animals naturally. To find out more and to download a job description and application form click here. Closing date for applications: Friday 28th May 2010.

Welfare charity re-brand

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:49:47 GMT

The British Hen Welfare Trust has recently consolidated its position as the leading hen welfare charity that works to promote a strong British free range egg industry. Formerly known as the “Battery Hen Welfare Trust”, it has recently undergone a name change and re-brand to more accurately reflect the organisation’s wider scope.

Now called the British Hen Welfare Trust, the charity is well-known for its level-headed approach and willingness to work with farmers to find solutions; a recent Country Life ranking of the people with most influence on those who live in the countryside put the charity’s founder, Jane Howorth, 82nd, just two places behind David Cameron. The article described the charity as one “which educates the public about the egg industry in a remarkably sensible and non-hysterical way.”

In anticipation of the proposed EU directive banning conventional battery cages and the introduction of an enriched cage system in 2012, the British Hen Welfare Trust, in collaboration with South-West MP Colin Breed, has tabled two Early Day Motions (EDMs) calling for clear labelling of the production method used on all products containing eggs or egg derivatives, widely used in processed foods. This would allow consumers to distinguish egg products from hens housed in the enriched cage system which offers improved hen welfare, from those produced from the battery cage system which will continue to be used outside of the EU. Chief Exec Jane Howorth explains: “It is important that farmers who are investing in improved welfare systems are supported by the government, the retailers and the public. Consumers are showing a preference for animal products raised to higher welfare standards and clear labelling will allow them to give British farmers – and the laying hen – their backing, and not drive cheap, lower welfare imports of battery eggs from overseas.”

The British Hen Welfare Trust’s new name and logo, with the strap line “For a free range future”, are designed to acknowledge the changing industry and to better reflect its work encouraging consumers, retailers and farmers to go free range.

The British Hen Welfare Trust’s Devon farm will be featured in the BBC documentary ‘The Private Life of Chickens’ on BBC2, April 28th. For more information or to support the work of the charity please email info@bhwt.org.uk , log on to www.bhwt.org.uk or tel: 01769 580310

The Smallholder and Garden Festival

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:19:51 GMT

Come and see us at the Smallholder and Garden Festival on 15th and 16th May at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, Builth Wells.
There is no place like the Festival for encouraging those with a passion for ‘The Good Life’ to take the crucial step. The event provides a brilliant showcase for the smallholder way of life and provides a wealth of knowledge for everyone interested in this rewarding area. New this year is a Spring Poultry Show, so come along to the Festival for some fun and fresh air, and we will be on hand to answer any feeding queries.

No imitations, thanks – we’re British

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:20:32 GMT

Mr Fitzpatrick, hosting a celebration of foods with Protected Food Name status at Downing Street, urged more producers to stand up for their food and more consumers to support local produce.

The event showcases UK foods which have Protected Food Name status – a scheme which highlights regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed. Under the system a named food or drink registered at a European level will be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU.

Speaking at the event, Mr Fitzpatrick said:

“We produce excellent food in this country, but we’re not always great about speaking up about it.

“Local produce that is traditionally made, unique and authentic attracts people from all over the world for its taste and its quality – it’s good for local businesses and local communities. And that’s something that deserves protection.

“Through this scheme, we have a way to stand up for local producers and protect their products. So I’m calling on more British producers to get their food protected and for their communities to get behind them. It’s not something that can be done overnight, but it’s worth it, in terms of the protection it gives the producer and the opportunities it creates for their renowned products.

“Ultimately, I want to us to be up alongside France and Italy who among them boast more than 300 protected foods – our food is just as good, if not better, as any other European country’s. I want to see the UK’s regional foods on the world map.

“The EU Protected Food Name Scheme means farmers, producers and shoppers all know that the special foods we’re buying are authentic. And it protects all these small businesses that help keep our rural areas alive.”

There are 38 products currently registered in the UK, including Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, West Country Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese and Whitstable Oysters which serve as major tourism draw cards for their home regions.

In addition, we have submitted 15 applications for protection to the European Commission.

For more information on the EU Protected Food Name Scheme visit: www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/industry/regional/foodname/products/

(As reported by the Defra website)

Defra receives key report on the future of farm animal veterinary services

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:13:47 GMT

The report was commissioned by Defra on behalf of a Government/Industry Steering Group which has been considering whether there is a shortage of farm animal veterinarians in Great Britain.

The report concluded that there was no such shortage nor a lack of interest in veterinary graduates pursuing a career in farm animal veterinary work. The report identified the potential for veterinarians to increase their role as providers of expert advice to the farming and food industries.

Responding to the report, Alick Simmons, Defra’s Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer and Chairman of the Steering Group, said, “I thank Professor Lowe for his work on this report. It provides important new insights into the role of the farm animal veterinarian and I encourage all interested parties to carefully consider the report’s conclusions and how these might be taken forward.”

The report recognises that in terms of the number of animals they look after and the public significance of their work, no group of veterinarians is more important than those involved in farming and food production.

A recurring theme in the report is the need to better align farm animal veterinary services to meet the changing needs of the livestock industries. Professor Lowe recommends the creation of a Veterinary Development Council as an appropriate forum for bring the suppliers and customers of farm animals veterinary services together.

Defra will now carefully consider Professor Lowe’s report and is due to meet with other Steering Group members in November.

For more details see our website: http://www.defra.gov.uk

(As reported by the Defra website)

Organic is better for the animals - and for you, too

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:04:04 GMT

Compassion in World Farming strongly supports organic as the best form of humane and sustainable agriculture. For us, organic means first and foremost high animal welfare standards. For chickens, laying hens, pigs and cows it means a better and longer life, mainly with outdoor access, a balanced diet and freedom from stress.

Organic chickens, for example, are usually of slower growing, more natural breeds. Their life is usually almost twice as long as the one of an intensively reared bird.

Pigs reared in organic systems are weaned much later than standard ones, at 40 days rather than 28. The Soil Association advises its farmers not to wean until they are eight weeks old.

Calves born on organic farms are not exported to the continent, have a natural milk diet and outdoor access.

Organic is not only good for animals, but for people and the planet, too.

Conventional food production makes wide use of pesticides, which can pollute water and the environment, as well as pose a threat to human health. Organic food, instead, is produced with natural fertilisers, less energy and more respect for animals that provide it.

As far as nutrition is concerned, research shows that organic chickens can contain 25% less fat than intensively reared chickens (standard chicken). Scientists say that free-range chickens offer a more beneficial fatty acid composition compared to indoor raised chickens. This is they because free-range and organic birds grow more slowly, are likely to eat grass and exercise more.

Finally, intensive animal husbandry relies on a greater use of antibiotics to treat stressed, disease-prone animals. Resistance to antibiotics is a well-known consequence of such misuse. The spread of the MRSA super bug is probably the most eloquent example.

John Callaghan, Director of Programmes at Compassion in World Farming, explains: “MRSA is yet another potential example of how harmful factory farming is for animals and people. Pigs reared intensively often live in stressful conditions, subject to painful mutilations, unable to express their natural behaviour and prone to diseases. Factory farms where animals are unnaturally crowded and stressed, even with careful management, are always likely to need drugs to keep infections at bay. We should eat less, but better meat- coming from animals that have lived a happy and healthy life”.

For more details see our website: http://www.ciwf.org.uk

(As reported by the Compassion in World Farming website)

Radio Opportunity for Scottish Smallholders

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:09:06 GMT

BBC Radio Scotland is looking for the new generation of people who have turned their back on the fast-paced life of the city to live the good life as a smallholder, or a greenshifter!

Have you been prompted by the credit crunch to swap the office for the garden?

BBC Radio Scotland is looking for families, couples or individuals who are either Scottish or have moved to Scotland to follow their dream in the last two years.

To pursue this please call Rebecca Smith on 01463 702728, or email rebecca.smith4@bbc.co.uk