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by Jake Davies
Welcome to The Poultry Network Podcast, hosted by Tom Woolman and Tom Willings — your insider guide to the UK’s poultry meat and egg production sectors. From farm to fork, we bring you expert insights, latest trends, and stories that shape the food on our plates.
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- 4 days ago22 min
Ep 66 | Poultry Network Podcast: Live from EPIC 2026
Powered by Premier Nutrition.Tom Willings and Tom Woolman catch up at Celtic Manor for a special episode from the 2026 Egg and Poultry Industry Conference, sharing their highlights and some frank reflections on the challenges facing British poultry.With planning, activism and public perception recurring throughout the day, the pair ask whether the industry is making progress on its reputation — and what needs to happen beyond familiar calls to “tell our story better”.They discuss Paul Kelly’s message about understanding what customers value and having the confidence to charge for quality. Alongside that, they reflect on Barney Kay’s account of how Noble Foods communicates the nature and biodiversity benefits of organic egg production.Changing consumer habits are another major theme. Drawing on Rabobank’s Julia Buech’s presentation, the Toms consider what the uptake of GLP-1 weight-loss medication could mean for food spending, demand for protein and the opportunities for poultry and eggs. Europe’s ageing population adds another dimension to the discussion about future demand.The conversation then turns to John Alistair Clarke’s presentation on geopolitics, European agricultural policy and potential changes to welfare rules. From cages and stocking densities to trade, feed imports and Ukraine’s place in European food production, the hosts consider what the direction of EU policy could mean for British producers.There is an optimistic finish with the Derek Kelly Future Leaders Discussion. Egg producer Ryan Dakin, broiler producer Will Oliver and Avara Foods hatchery manager Emilia Cojocaru leave the Toms encouraged by the enthusiasm, practicality and pride coming through the industry.Plus: the minister’s visit, Paul Kelly’s familiar conference humour and Tom Woolman’s latest strategy for recruiting podcast subscribers.Chapters00:14 — Welcome from EPIC at Celtic Manor02:19 — Paul Kelly: selling on value and quality03:39 — Noble Foods and the story behind organic eggs04:13 — Planning, reputation and telling poultry’s story07:56 — Stephen Morgan’s visit and the missing audience Q&A09:08 — Weight-loss medication, food spending and protein11:51 — Europe’s ageing population and future demand13:38 — European welfare policy, trade and agricultural priorities16:51 — Ukraine’s role in European food production19:44 — The Derek Kelly Future Leaders Discussion21:28 — Subscribe before Tom catches you at dinnerFollow the Poultry Network Podcast for weekly conversations from across the poultry sector, and visit Poultry Network for the latest news.
- 1 weeks ago33 min
Ep 65 Bestico's Nick Davies: Red mite, flies and the bugs that fight back
In this 'Halloween special' of the Poultry Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Nick Davies, general manager of Bestico, to explore biological control of red mite and flies on poultry farms.Nick explains how predatory mites, tiny parasitic wasps and predatory fly larvae can help tackle pests at different stages of their life cycles. He discusses how these beneficial species are introduced into poultry houses, why starting early matters, and how other treatments can affect them.The conversation covers the practicalities for laying farms, including repeat applications, keeping manure pits dry, reducing feed spillages and broken eggs, and the differences between traditional flat-deck housing and multi-tier systems. Nick also explains where biological control has limitations and why farmers may still need corrective treatments.On costs, Nick gives indicative averages of around 12p per bird for a season of fly control and 35p per bird for red mite control over a flock cycle, with programmes tailored to individual farms.After the interview, the Toms reflect on the challenges of investing in prevention and invite listeners already using biological pest control to share their experiences.In this episode00:14 — A Halloween special: introducing biological pest control04:57 — Meet Nick Davies from Bestico05:28 — Using natural predators to tackle red mite08:27 — When to start, how to apply the products and compatibility with other treatments13:09 — Parasitic mini-wasps and the fly life cycle16:57 — Getting ahead of the fly season19:01 — Cleaning routines, biosecurity and different housing systems21:26 — Biofly: larvae that feed on pest-fly larvae22:56 — Rearing beneficial species, quality control and UK uptake25:22 — Practical steps to support fly control27:06 — Indicative costs per bird28:26 — Tom and Tom’s reflections on prevention and adoptionProducts and species mentionedFor anyone trying to keep up with the Latin names:ProductSpeciesRole discussedAndrolisAndrolaelaps casalisA predatory mite that actively hunts red mite.TaurrusCheyletus eruditusA predatory mite Nick describes using around nest boxes and other areas where red mite congregate.BiowaspMuscidifurax raptor and Spalangia cameroniTiny parasitic wasps that target fly pupae.BioflyHydrotaea aenescens, also called Ophyra aenescensA fly whose larvae feed on pest-fly larvae.Find out moreBestico’s poultry pest-control informationContact BesticoPoultry NetworkAlready using biological pest control on your farm? Tom and Tom would like to hear how it fits into your management programme. Get in touch at editor@poultry.network.
- 2 weeks ago34 min
Ep 64 | Mark Rooza, Gafoor: British chicken: imports, independent growers and the fast food boom
British chicken: imports, independent growers and the fast food boomTom Woolman and Tom Willings explore the UK chicken market with Mark Rooza, who works with Gafoor, the poultry processor in Preston.Mark contrasts last year’s tight supplies with a more competitive market in 2026, explaining how imports influence prices, buying decisions and demand for growing space. He also describes Gafoor’s growth from processing around 800,000 birds a week after Covid to 1.2 million today, serving customers across food manufacturing, wholesale, meal kits and restaurants.The conversation looks at how Gafoor works with independent growers, why customers outside the supermarket sector still value Red Tractor chicken, and what the expansion of American-style chicken restaurant chains could mean for British poultry producers.In this episodeThe chicken market in 2026: Mark’s assessment of supply, demand and competition from imports.Stocking densities and the “race for space”: How different customer requirements shape demand for chicken and farm capacity.Working with independent growers: Contracts, farm support and the freedom to make decisions on feed purchasing.Serving different markets: How a broad customer base helps Gafoor manage changing demand and find outlets for different cuts.The growth of chicken restaurants: Opportunities in quick service restaurants, including demand for British and halal chicken.The outlook for producers: Whether pressure for more growing space has eased, and what could change that.After the interview, the Toms discuss what the growth of takeaway and delivery means for consumers’ connection with farming, and why provenance, food assurance and consumer confidence matter across the poultry sector.Sponsored by Evans VanodineThis episode is sponsored by Evans Vanodine, which has been developing products and providing technical support for the poultry industry for more than 40 years.In this week’s sponsor message, Nick Evans introduces the company’s poultry hygiene range, including GPC8 disinfectant and products for water systems, hatcheries and processing facilities. He also explains the practical support available from its poultry specialists, from advice on cleaning and disinfection to farm visits and help with biosecurity programmes.Find out more at evansvanodine.co.uk.Chapters00:15 – Welcome03:48 – Introducing Mark Rooza and Gafoor05:45 – The chicken market in 202608:39 – Imports, price and provenance10:10 – Stocking densities and the race for space11:52 – Serving different markets14:46 – Working with independent growers18:58 – The growth of chicken restaurants21:33 – Balancing demand for different cuts22:31 – Opportunities for British chicken24:05 – The outlook for growing space25:52 – The Toms reflect on provenance and assuranceFor more poultry news, market analysis and interviews, visit poultry.network.Subscribe to the Poultry Network Podcast for a new episode each week.
- 3 weeks ago19 min
Ep 63| From the Dutch Pork and Poultry Expo: Profits, batteries and bird health
Poultry Network editor Jake Davies joins Tom Willings and Tom Woolman after a visit to the Dutch Pork & Poultry Expo in Hardenberg, reporting on the mood among producers and the innovations on the trade stands.The team discusses the buoyant outlook Jake encountered, how Dutch poultry profitability compares with the UK, and the questions surrounding farm buyouts and future production.Energy was a particularly prominent theme. Jake shares what exhibitors told him about investment in battery storage, making better use of solar power and opportunities for on-farm electric vehicle charging. Could the same trends become more visible at UK poultry events?On bird health, there is a look at Tiergesundheit Emsland’s approach to creating a physical barrier against red mite, alongside a catch-up with Jacco Rubens of Stronger Flocks about its work on keel bone damage.Jake also reports on his conversation with Veetality, which is developing digital poultry houses that use cameras to monitor flock behaviour, with ambitions to connect what happens inside the house with disease risks outside it.Finally, a visit to camera-based poultry weighing business ChiCams provides another opportunity to test the hosts’ chicken knowledge. Jake scored seven out of ten on its stand quiz — can the two Toms do better? Expect questions about colour vision, recognising names and communication before hatch, plus the beginnings of a Christmas poultry pub quiz.In this episode00:14 — Introductions and Jake’s “chicken holiday”02:05 — Arriving at the Dutch Pork & Poultry Expo03:08 — Producer confidence, profitability and farm buyouts07:02 — Battery storage, solar power and on-farm EV charging09:11 — A different approach to red mite control10:40 — Stronger Flocks and keel bone damage12:32 — Veetality: Digital poultry houses and flock monitoring15:28 — Looking ahead to EPIC and BFREPA15:54 — ChiCams and the chicken quiz18:26 — A Christmas poultry pub quiz?Companies and events mentionedDutch Pork & Poultry ExpoTiergesundheit Emsland — red mite controlStronger FlocksVeetalityChiCams — camera-based poultry weighingSubscribe to the Poultry Network podcast wherever you listen, and join us again next week.
- Oct 9, 202617 min
Ep 62 | Upright catching, bird flu and chicken for breakfast
Tom Woolman and Tom Willings mark World Egg Day with a discussion of poultry catching, animal welfare and the week’s news.The Netherlands’ move towards upright catching prompts a look at what changing practices could mean for UK broiler and egg producers. Tom Willings shares his experience of trialling the method, including the practical challenges in multi-tier laying houses, while the pair consider the implications for labour, costs and the potential role of mechanical catching.They also discuss the first bird-flu outbreak of the 2026/27 season on the Isle of Lewis, lessons from Tom Willings’ animal welfare officers’ course, and whether chicken belongs on the breakfast menu as Tom Woolman gives his verdict on McDonald’s chicken and egg McMuffin.Along the way, there’s home butchery, an impromptu poultry quiz and news of the podcast’s unsuccessful bid for an award at the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists’ Harvest lunch.In this episode00:16 — Welcome, kitchen aprons and home butchery02:03 — Animal welfare training and lessons from the abattoir05:17 — A poultry quiz for World Egg Day07:04 — Upright catching: welfare, costs and practical challenges10:07 — Bird flu on the Isle of Lewis11:20 — Chicken for breakfast: the McMuffin verdict13:18 — Agricultural journalism and the podcast awards16:04 — Subscribe and keep in touchFollow or subscribe to the Poultry Network Podcast on your usual podcast app to hear each new episode.For poultry industry news and our weekly newsletter, visit poultry.network.
- Oct 2, 202637 min
EP 61 | Agri Farm Data: Better data, better broilers? Making benchmarking work on farm
Knowing how your flock compares with other farms is one thing. Understanding why it performs differently — and what to change — is another.Tom Willings and Tom Woolman are joined by Patrick Snodgrass and Iain Campbell from AgriFarm Data to explore how broiler growers can make better use of the information collected in their sheds. Patrick explains how frustration with benchmarking that showed differences without explaining them led to the development of the business. From environmental controls and feed records to flock performance, the discussion looks at bringing information together, reducing paperwork and comparing results through anonymised benchmarking. Who owns that data, and how should farmers share it with vets, consultants and the wider supply chain? There is also a closer look at recent performance trends, including increased mortality recorded among growers using the platform. The guests explain why these observations need further investigation rather than immediate conclusions about chick quality or the effects of summer temperatures.And does better technical performance always mean better profits? Patrick discusses the influence of processor payment models, energy costs and the risk of chasing performance while losing control of expenditure. Looking ahead, the team considers how predictive analysis could help growers tailor management to their chicks, feed and shed infrastructure. In this episode05:04 — Why AgriFarm Data was created07:37 — Bringing shed, feed and flock information together10:22 — Farmer ownership of data and relationships with processors16:14 — How anonymised benchmarking and permission-based sharing work18:11 — Growth, feed conversion and recent mortality trends21:23 — Technical performance versus financial returns23:56 — Predictive analysis and the next steps for farm data28:41 — The hosts’ reflections: interpreting results and understanding the limits of a dataset Stay connectedEnjoyed the episode? Follow or subscribe to the Poultry Network Podcast in your usual podcast app. You can also sign up to the Poultry Network newsletter for updates from across the sector, delivered to your inbox every Friday. This episode is sponsored by LANXESS Biosecurity SolutionsWayne Olbison shares practical reminders for autumn and winter cleaning and disinfection: clean thoroughly at turnaround, check that products work at the temperatures you will be using them in, and follow instructions on compatibility, application rates and contact time.For coccidiosis control, he encourages growers to ask suppliers for specific efficacy evidence and compare the cost of treating the whole house — not just the price of the drum. Always follow the product label and safety instructions.
- Sep 25, 202636 min
EP 60 | How resilient is the UK poultry sector to Avian Influenza?
Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Dr Pablo Alarcon and Dr Mat Hennessey from the Royal Veterinary College to discuss the pressures shaping poultry’s response to avian influenza — and why some of the biggest challenges cannot be addressed through farm biosecurity alone. As part of the Flu Trailmap project, the researchers have mapped poultry supply chains and spoken to people across the industry about their experiences. They explain what this work reveals about the connections between farms, hatcheries, processors and egg packers, and how disruption in one part of the system can affect businesses elsewhere. Insurance is a major part of the conversation, from the difficulty of obtaining cover to whether premiums could better reflect disease risk and biosecurity. The guests also explore an idea raised by interviewees: a levy supported by government and industry to help share the financial risk of outbreaks. They discuss the questions this would raise, including who should contribute, rather than advocating a particular scheme. On planning, the discussion turns to a fundamental question: where will the extra poultry housing come from? Lower broiler stocking densities and the move away from enriched colony cages require more space to maintain domestic production, yet interviewees repeatedly described difficulties securing permission to build or extend. The researchers consider how local planning decisions and national priorities could be brought together more effectively. Finally, they discuss the case for a longer-term poultry strategy, bringing government and industry together to consider where production takes place, how it is financed and how the sector can be better prepared for future disease outbreaks.
- Sep 18, 202623 min
Ep 59 | From the Poultry Meat Conference 26: Water waste and heat stress: rethinking the broiler shed
Are broiler drinkers delivering more water than birds can actually drink? Ziggity Systems’ André van Rij made that case at this year’s Poultry Meat Conference, questioning whether recommended flow rates leave farms dealing with unnecessary spillage—and whether catch cups introduce more problems than they solve.Recorded at the event, Jake Davies and Tom Woolman discuss his argument for removing catch cups and getting drinker height right. It challenges a familiar setup on UK broiler farms, although, as Tom points out, there are reasons producers adopted cups in the first place.Heat stress is another focus, drawing on Alan Ball’s presentation for Slatehall Veterinary Services. He explained how birds lose heat and the limitations of misting during humid conditions or prolonged hot weather. Jake and Tom then add their thoughts on cooling pads and housing design, and why some changes need planning well before the next hot spell.P.D. Hook’s Carlos Paiva brought the hatchery perspective in Hatching My Way. His account of multi-stage incubation and producing millions of chicks gives Jake and Tom plenty to discuss, particularly the value of experienced staff and the personal responsibility Carlos described for the quality of chicks leaving his hatchery.There’s also discussion of Will Raw’s NFU industry update, including planning delays facing businesses ready to invest and concerns about standards for imported poultry. And, following chairman John Underwood’s remarks about communication, a reminder that emails and WhatsApp messages are no substitute for properly checking in with colleagues.
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About The Poultry Network Podcast
Welcome to The Poultry Network Podcast, hosted by Tom Woolman and Tom Willings — your insider guide to the UK’s poultry meat and egg production sectors. From farm to fork, we bring you expert insights, latest trends, and stories that shape the food on our plates.
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