The Poultry Network Podcast

In this episode of the Poultry.Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Jake Davies sit down with Emily Neate-Wynne (Evans Vanodine) and Kelly Anderson (Lohmann GB) to talk about careers, community and the fast-growing Women in Poultry initiative.

Both guests share how they “fell into” poultry – from family egg farms and weekend egg collecting to technical roles in biosecurity, pullets and sales. They reflect on why so many people stay in t...

Tom Woolman and Tom Willings take a slightly lighter approach this week, but there’s still plenty of business in the mix.

They start with a quick catch‑up, a livestock update from Tom’s small sheep flock, and a chance encounter with the “poet of Paddington” who delivers an impromptu chicken-themed poem on the station concourse.

The main focus is on what’s coming up for UK poultry producers over the winter: key conferences, dinners an...

In this episode of the Poultry.Network podcast, Tom Willings and Tom Woolman talk to Aaron McKenna, Head of Broiler Operations UK at Pilgrims Europe.

Aaron outlines his route into poultry – from a small mixed farm in Northern Ireland with a strong interest in dairy, through a graduate scheme at Moy Park, to his current role. 

He also explains how the business supported him through a doctorate focused on Campylobacter, working wi...

THIS week, the Poultry Network Podcast recorded a last-minute episode to consider the latest avian influenza situation – particularly the Welsh government's reluctance to declare a housing order.

With Professor Ian Brown warning that this season could be the worst yet, England has extended a mandatory housing order nationwide, while Northern Ireland follows suit. 

Wales, however, has not (yet) announced a housing order. 

Tha...

This week the Toms unpack two fast-moving issues with real commercial consequences for UK poultry businesses: the regional housing order for avian influenza and industry rumblings over how “seconds” are classified at egg packing centres.

AI: early season, uneven policy, real market risk.

A regional mandatory housing order takes effect on 30 October across much of northern England and the Midlands/East Anglia, but excludes Wales, sout...

The “Two Toms” – Tom Willings and Tom Woolman – return with a relaxed but purposeful take on what’s moving the poultry sector. 

After some road-warrior and makeshift-office banter, Tom W reports back from the Dutch Pork & Poultry Expo in ’s-Hertogenbosch: a wave of robotics and AI, a colossal chicken/turkey harvester, and a spotlight on feed form innovation. 

He flags AgriFirm’s “Crunch” – a mash/crumb hybrid – to open ...

In this episode of the Sustainability Hub podcast, host Tom Willings is joined by three veterinary voices connected to Elanco Animal Health: Jackie Skelly (Head of Veterinary Technical Services, UK & Ireland and ESG lead), George Gould (Technical Advisor, International Poultry Team) and George Tice (former Elanco leader, now consultant after 28 years with the company).

Together, they map the practical route from ESG intent to on...

A chilly house, ten uncooperative sheep, and some serious industry talking points.

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, hosts Tom Woolman and Tom Willings catch up on the latest from Aviagen’s producer roadshows and discuss why UK broiler performance is comparing favourably with results seen elsewhere in Europe. While some of the improvement may reflect down-stocking, they note that good margins are allowing reinvestment ...

The Poultry Network Podcast welcomes Julian “Jules” Sparrey, Group Technical Director at LiveTec, to unpack what producers should expect from avian influenza (AI) this winter and how to harden farm resilience.

LiveTec, prime contractor to government for AI outbreak response, now puts most of its effort into prevention — its “four Ps”: Prevention, Protection, Planning and Prediction. 

Having worked on nearly 300 UK outbreaks in t...

In this episode, hosts Tom Willings and Tom Woolman speak with Dr Paul Hurley (University of Southampton) and Dr Pippa Simmons (University of Gloucestershire) about Tri-SoMe CHICKEN — a three-year, UKRI-funded project examining the resilience of the UK’s chicken meat system. With chicken now accounting for around half of UK meat consumption, the team argues that understanding where the broiler sector bends or breaks under pressure ...

This week on the Poultry Network Podcast, host Tom Woolman is joined by editor Jake Davies for a special post-Poultry Network Live edition. Two weeks after the conference at Harper Adams, the pair introduce an exclusive: Professor David “Professor Food” Hughes’ keynote, captured on video by our on-site filmmaker Finn. The episode sets up that talk and why it matters now—then hands the mic to David.

Prof Hughes opens with the big pic...

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, host Tom Willings is joined by editor Jake Davies.

Their guest is Wayne Olbison, Head of Sales for UK and Ireland at Lanxess Biosecurity Solutions, who discusses the company’s role in agricultural hygiene and offers practical biosecurity advice in light of recent avian influenza outbreaks.

Wayne introduces Lanxess as a global chemicals business, with the Biosecurity Solutions division f...

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, hosts Tom Willings and Tom Woolman welcome Graham Atkinson, an experienced poultry professional who recently founded Grange Consultancy after nearly three decades in the sector, including 14 years at Noble Foods.

The conversation begins with talk of Yorkshire weather before turning to Graham’s transition from corporate employment to independent consultancy.

He reflects on the nerves of ...

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings speak with Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, about the UK’s shift toward a cage-free future.

Tracey outlines the progress so far – 82 % of UK laying hens are now cage-free, compared with 50 % in 2016 – and the 2025 commitments made by major retailers. The conversation covers Iceland’s recent U-turn on its orig...

In this episode, Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Jake Davies, editor of Poultry Network, to preview this year’s Poultry Network Live conference — taking place on 4 September at Harper Adams University.

Jake outlines this year’s theme — growth, optimism and ambition — and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what’s in store for delegates, including:

• A keynote from Professor David Hughes, exploring global protein trends a...

In this episode of the Poultry Network podcast, co-hosts Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Kelly Grellier, Chief Commercial Officer at RSPCA Assured, and Kate Parkes, Senior Scientific Officer at the RSPCA, to explore the updated laying hen welfare standards.

The conversation opens with an explanation of the relationship between the RSPCA and RSPCA Assured. 

The RSPCA is responsible for writing the welfare standards, in...

In this episode of the Sustainability Hub podcast, host Tom Willings is joined by Dr Harriet Walker and Jim Wynne from Alltech to explore how science, data, and nutrition are driving both performance and sustainability in poultry production.

Dr Walker shares her journey into the poultry industry, from an academic project in broiler nutrition to her current role as poultry technical specialist at Alltech. 

She discusses the compa...

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, hosts Tom Woolman and Tom Willings are joined by Bex Tonks, CEO and farmer at St. Ewe Free Range Eggs, for a wide-ranging conversation on growth, values, and future vision in the egg sector.

Bex reflects on a milestone year for the business—winning Packer of the Year at the National Egg & Poultry Awards, a Grocer Gold Award nomination, and recognition by the Sunday Times as one of ...

In this episode of the Poultry Network Podcast, Jake Davies, editor of Poultry.Network, steps in for regular host Tom Woolman to interview one of the most recognisable names in UK agricultural planning: Ian Pick of Harrison Pick.

Described as "planning royalty" in the poultry world, Ian shares insights from nearly two decades of experience helping producers across the UK navigate an increasingly complex planning system.

Responsible f...