Eggs - The Lakes, UK
Inputs and Operations
Tree planting
David encourages suppliers to plant trees to cover over 20% of the hen range and provides a financial bonus to suppliers who achieve this. The tree planting is carefully planned by FWAG, with consideration given to local site variations and characteristics, and with both fast-growing and traditional tree varieties being planted, ensuring optimal benefit to both the hens and to the native wildlife.
The primary benefit of the tree planting programme is improved bird welfare. The trees provide cover for the birds, which encourages them to range (roam) outside the buildings. Research clearly links increased ranging behaviour to improved bird welfare.
The secondary benefit of the tree planting programme is environmental; the programme provides increased biodiversity and helps in the reduction of greenhouse gases. In addition, on David’s farm, trees have also been planted in areas which are difficult to farm with conventional machinery and techniques (such as awkward field corners and steep banks), ultimately increasing the biodiversity of the farm and surrounding area.
Over 200 acres of trees have been planted across The Lakes as a company, and over 6,000 acres of Cumbria are part of structured biodiversity planning through the efforts of The Lakes and its suppliers.
Tree planting enables birds to exhibit natural behaviours whilst also providing environmental benefits.
Reducing stress for the birds
The Lakes is dedicated to the welfare of the birds, and work to reduce stress to the animals from the early stages of bird production, by using only well-reared birds and practices that minimise stress.
We are really supportive of all the work McDonald’s is doing to improve the welfare of laying hens. We have already given McDonald’s a Good Egg Award for its commitment to free-range egg sourcing and we’re really pleased it’s working closely with FAI and suppliers like Lakes Farm to highlight best practice such as giving hens tree cover. We’re also really pleased to see such a well known brand profiling welfare as a priority alongside other its other responsibilities to the environment and communities. Animal welfare is rated as one of the top consumer concerns in the UK and we’re proud that McDonald’s is responding by showing it off to its customers and the wider industry.
Steve McIvor, Director of Food Business, Compassion in World Farming
David sources all his pullets from DMS (pullets) Ltd as their rearing sites are small, well managed and they provide birds which are reared specifically with David’s production system in mind. The pullets receive a comprehensive vaccination programme and a rearing plan is in place, allowing the birds to grow for a longer period of time, before being despatched to the layer units. The rearing units are sited within a two-hour travelling distance of the laying units which minimises stress on the birds. Once the birds arrive on the laying units several aspects of feeding and management are similar to the pullet rearing facilities which again reduces stress. David uses wheat straw on a section of the building floors which allows the birds to scratch and peck. Once the range area is made available to the birds they are able to walk around outside in planted areas which encourage ranging activity (see Tree Planting).
Operational practices are adopted that minimise stress on the birds.
Building design and construction
The Lakes requires that suppliers’ buildings are constructed so that they are multi-purpose and can be used for storage, or for housing livestock, should the commercial climate change. This gives farmers a sound investment while not tying them in to egg production on a long-term basis. There are no complex electrical systems as the houses are designed to be naturally ventilated - giving a reduction in energy usage of up to 70%. Extra pop holes are also constructed which makes it easier for birds to go outside.
One very important consideration in laying bird housing is red mite control. The use of concrete panels instead of wood in The Lakes suppliers’ buildings discourages mites. Drinking and feeding systems are also selected on the basis of not providing areas for red mite to flourish.
Buildings are designed to be multi-function, require minimal artificial ventilation and promote animal welfare.