West Country farmer Ken Cottey is celebrating his decision to move into egg
production — winning an award for his first flock of free range layers.
The flock of 6500 ISABrown layers at Higher Buckland Farm, Buckland St Mary,
Chard, Somerset, won the trophy presented by Deans Foods for the top free
range flock in the region.
The award is based on performance analysis covering data on all eggs
graded by Deans over a flock’s life and related to total egg value / bird.
Mr Cottey’s flock laid 317eggs / bird to 72 weeks of age, which amounted
to an egg value of £17.96 — £1.25 over the Deans standard.
"This was an impressive performance and a model flock," says David
Stephens, regional sales manager for Deans feed division. "Mr Cottey and
his family were always willing to listen to advice but in the final analysis the
success is down to their good day-to-day management."
Mr Cottey moved into egg production after sustaining an arm injury while
spectating at a motor cycle scramble and being advised to move into lighter
work than his heavy engineering business.
"We live on a small dairy farm and my heart was always in farming, so it was
an easy decision," says Mr Cottey. "I sought help from Mr Stephens and
others in the free range business, and it’s amazing how genuine and friendly
everybody has been."
With this advice, he designed the house himself and was working on the
foundations with his arm in a sling. Tom Barron ISA supplied the pullets at
16 weeks of age and their local technical salesman Winston Westcot, who
lives nearby, was on hand to help get the flock off to a flying start.
"It’s very much a family business and we couldn’t have achieved this without
the help of my wife Deborah, mother Sylvia and also our boys. It’s a lovely
reward for all the effort we’ve put in."
A second flock of ISABrown layers is now in production while a further
house for 5900 birds is stocked with ISA Warrens.
