MICHAEL WILSON of Wilson Cordon farm, Abernethy, has come under fire from animal activists over his proposals to build a new free-range egg production business.

Mr Wilson hopes to expand his current arable farm by diversifying into free-range eggs to meet a surge in public demand for high-welfare food, and as such has been surprised by the welfarist opposition.

In response to a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals petition which has raked up over 2500 signatures against his planning application, Mr Wilson has denounced animal cruelty claims levelled at him and insisted that the highest welfare standards would be adhered to.

“The public wish for higher welfare standards for all food production and this is exactly what my plans will provide,” he said.

With welfare standards one of the hotly contested topics around the Brexit debate in farming, public support for higher welfare regulation for all food production is a hot topic. But PETA's position is that there is no such thing as welfare-friendly egg production, and it has repeatedly attacked the free-range egg industry, arguing that its standards are little higher than intensive farming units. The organisation makes no bones about its wish to see more people adopt vegan diets.

Mr Wilson responded: “The birds will be cared for under the RSPCA Freedom Foods welfare standards, which is the highest free-range egg standard in Europe, if not the world.

"The birds will have access to grass pasture and woodlands every day they wish, and if the weather is bad and they don’t want to head outside, there are lots of perches and scratching areas inside for the birds to enjoy. I hope to feed the birds on a ration made up from wheat and barley grown on the farm making a very sustainable egg.”

The proposals for the new facility are now under consideration by planning officers at Perth and Kinross Council.