The Importance of a Good Game Farm

As we look ahead to another season, I am often asked what makes the greatest difference to how a shoot ultimately performs. There are many moving parts in the build-up to a season, but if I had to single out one, it would, as perhaps expected, be the choice of Game Farm and just as importantly, the relationship you have with it. 

In recent years, circumstances beyond anyone’s control have reinforced just how vital trust, transparency and consistency are within the supply chain. A strong relationship between shoot and game farmer allows challenges to be dealt with quickly and sensibly, rather than reactively. Open communication, shared responsibility and a long-term outlook are what I believe underpin success, particularly in seasons where pressures are higher than usual. At Central Game, based in the Cotswolds, we operate a strictly closed flock. This is fundamental. By maintaining full control of our breeding stock, we significantly reduce the risk of disease introduction and ensure consistency in the quality of our poults year after year. It is a system that requires discipline and investment, but we believe it pays dividends for the Shoots we supply.

The quality of the poult is absolutely critical. Strong, well-reared birds that are correctly developed, well-feathered and accustomed to good early husbandry, are far more likely to go on to thrive once released and eventually offer a truly sporting bird. Everything we do at Central Game is geared towards producing poults that are not only healthy on the day they leave us, but resilient enough to adapt to their new environment. Disease control sits at the heart of that process. We are fortunate to have a vet on site twice a week throughout the rearing period, monitoring health, development and biosecurity. Every batch of birds is checked thoroughly prior to despatch, ensuring that only poults meeting our standards leave the Farm. This level of scrutiny gives our clients confidence and gives us accountability for what we supply. Importantly, our responsibility does not end at the gate. Follow-up is something we place huge value on. Our vet will visit Shoots within the first week or two of release if required, offering reassurance, guidance and practical support where needed. That early oversight can make a real difference and often helps to identify and resolve small issues before they become larger problems.

In my view, choosing the right Game Farm is not simply a transaction, it is more of a Partnership. When that Partnership is built on trust, consistency and shared standards, it sets the season up on the strongest possible footing. The birds are better, the outcomes are more reliable, and everyone involved can approach the season with greater confidence. It is all well and good spending vast money on ensuring everything else on the Shoot is set up and running as you wish, but ultimately, the birds are the most fundamentally important part of any Shoot, so it simply is not worth taking shortcuts here.