Top tips for a good range management plan

The RSPCA farm animal department are offering Range Management Plan (RMP) advice for all Freedom Food egg producers - since an annually updated RMP is now a compulsory element for all free range flocks.

The aim of the RMP is to help improve the quality of the range and its use,” says Alice Clark from the farm animal team. “It’s also to make it easier for producers to show how they are meeting the free-range standards. We’ve received a number of enquiries about completing the process and seen some good examples of RMPs, so the following guide could be helpful for other egg producers.

A good Range Management Plan (RMP) includes:

• General details about the range – total available area, number of birds and stocking density
• Protective overhead shade/shelter – type (natural/artificial), amount
• Natural cover – type, amount (expected area if not fully grown)
• Enrichment areas for dustbathing/perching/foraging – type, number, management
• Range use – e.g. ‘corridors’, shelters/enrichment rotation, other species (see R 1.7 info. box)
• Strategy for heavily worn and poached areas
• Strategy to minimise build up of parasites/disease
• Details of any planned rotation of range areas
• Details of management of the area directly outside the popholes
• Procedure before new flock is placed – plan for heavily contaminated areas
• General comments, observations of range use and any future plans
• Map – total range area, location of shade/shelters, natural cover, enrichment, rotated areas