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Farming Today: 22/09/20 - Chicken welfare, Scottish land sales, Agricultural college finances

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22/09/20 - Chicken welfare, Scottish land sales, Agricultural college finances

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 22/09/20 - Chicken welfare, Scottish land sales, Agricultural college finances

As supermarkets are urged to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment, we found out how much the breed of chicken impacts on welfare.

Fast-growing chickens are the standard birds used in the UK - slower growing breeds take longer to rear and end up costing around 20% more to produce. But scientists and animal welfare campaigners want supermarkets to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment, which would mean only slower growing birds are used. We find out what the differences are and how it impacts on welfare.

There's a growing conversation in Scotland about who should own the countryside. The Duke of Buccleuch owns more than 200,000 acres in the South of Scotland, but three major buyouts are currently in progress. We visit Newcastleton, where the community trust has recently bought 750 acres from the Buccleuch's Borders Estate... and hear more about the ongoing talks with community groups in Langholm and Wanlockhead.

Our focus on Agricultural colleges looks at finances. As with most further education institutions, they’ve faced financial constraints over the last decade. In East Anglia, Easton College near Norwich and Otley College near Ipswich, merged several years ago, because of financial pressures. The plan didn’t work and last December the colleges went their separate ways - we find out why.

And the slug killing chemical, metaldehyde, is to be banned for outdoor use from the end of March 2022 in England, Wales and Scotland. A decision will be taken by the Northern Ireland Executive shortly. 

Presented by Anna Hill
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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22/09/20 - Chicken welfare, Scottish land sales, Agricultural college finances

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