Published on Dec. 12, 2022
Dekalb White - pure white magic in action at RG & JL Peate
Situated in Dan Y Derw Cyfronydd, in rural Mid Wales, RG & JL Peate is run by husband-and-wife team John and Nicola Peate.
They are one of the growing number of producers to join the Dekalb White 500 Club and are Dekalb White enthusiasts!
The 32,000 free-range Dekalb whites are managed in two 16,000 Fienhague multi-tier systems on one site at Cross Farm, and the first flock arrived on 6th April.
A lot of research was done into the breed type we wanted, and whites seemed the obvious answer - long life cycles, less turnarounds, strong birds and not too many in the market. With the potential to keep the flocks in production for up to 100 weeks, 3 flocks are managed in the same time as 4 brown flocks, making an overall saving
Diversification
Looking to a way for John to be based at home, and to allow him to spend more time with his family, rather than contracting and working long hours away from the farm, the family explored ways to diversify the existing farm. With two young boys he wanted to see growing up, John and Nicola concluded that poultry was the answer.
The beef and sheep partnership on the farm was previously a father and son partnership, but now all the business is run as a husband-and-wife team with part time staff to help with the egg collecting, allowing John’s father, Geraint, to concentrate on his other business. Also, an FBIS grant become available which aided diversification.
The farm where the poultry shed is sited is 49 acres and located on higher ground. This restricts the type of farming that can be done, both due to the small acreage of the site and the type of farming that can be carried out, but it was the perfect size to fit a 32,000 free range laying unit.
Attention to detail and close observation
John and Nicola give the birds as much attention as possible, keeping diaries of patterns of bird behaviour and working out what may cause changes.
Dekalb White layers respond well to consistency and routine, and so everyone at Cross Farm always wear the same colour overalls to walk the birds, and stick to the same times, with 5 walks daily. Music is played in the shed to aid calmness, and as Nicola puts it “We love them”.
