evenly

Broiler preference for evenly spaced shade

ABOVE: Free-range chickens showed a preference for range areas in which the shade structures were evenly distributed. Photo: Inghams A recent study in Australia has revealed that free-range chickens prefer outdoor areas where shade is evenly distributed. This important research is part of a collaborative project aimed at enhancing the welfare of chickens in free-range…

chickens

Australian meat chickens need change

ABOVE: Inside Better Chicken Commitment-compliant farms in the UK. Photos: RSPCA UK Since launching in July, the Better Chicken Australia campaign has reached tens of thousands of Australian chicken consumers across social media and news outlets with the call for higher welfare standards. The campaign promotes the globally recognised Better Chicken Commitment as a way…

farmers

Aussie egg farmers take World Egg Day to Canberra

ABOVE: Michelle Landry, Minister Julie Collins and EFA CEO Melinda Hashimoto. Australian egg farmers celebrated World Egg Day at Parliament House in Canberra in October, with a breakfast event for members of Parliament and senators. Egg Farmers of Australia was able to highlight the message that eggs are among the most environmentally sustainable and affordable…

chicken

Australia’s meat chicken industry – Part 1

ABOVE: A modern broiler farm. Australia’s meat chicken (or broiler) sector has a relatively brief history when compared with other major Australian livestock industries. In this two part series, we look at that history, with additional insights into our meat chicken industry. There are currently more than 800 commercial meat chicken growers in Australia. Most…

bacteria

City birds found to be carriers of AMR bacteria

ABOVE: The new study found that wild birds living close to humans in cities are likely to carry bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Image credit: Viktor Keri: Unsplash Research from the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research at Oxford University has revealed that wild birds, such as ducks and crows, living near human populations—especially in…

chickens

Australia’s chicken love story

ABOVE: Its versatility and affordability make chickens a global favourite. Photo: Roman Odintsov, Pexels Historically, Australians didn’t eat chicken. As a nation we have gone from believing chicken meat to be a bit ordinary to gorging on millions of chickens each year. Data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development shows the average Australian…

biosecurity

$30 million biosecurity hub to safeguard Australia

ABOVE: Charles Sturt University has been working with DAFF since 2022, utilising the university’s teaching and research strengths to train more than 840 frontline biosecurity officers. Recently, Australia’s defence against crippling biosecurity threats was strengthened with the launch of the Charles Sturt University Biosecurity Hub, a co-investment in research and training of almost $30 million…

politically

Egg security risks when being politically trendy

ABOVE: Removing a safe and reliable system of egg production – cage eggs – from the market is impacting food security in Australia. We have all heard the term of being ‘politically trendy’ with regards to our politicians. But what does it actually mean? According to various definitions, the term refers to the fact that…

kemin

Kemin broiler chicken and turkey diets product approved

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, conducted extensive research that served as the basis for the US Food and Drug Administration Centre for Veterinary Medicine’s approval of the use of chromium propionate as…

laying hens

Effect of AM/PM diets for free range laying hens

ABOVE: Dr Amy Moss completed a study on the effect of AM/PM diets for free-range laying hens. Nutrient requirements change gradually to meet an animal’s needs throughout growth. However, the inherent assumption here is that there are no fluctuations within a day. But is this the case? To explore the nutrient requirements for laying hens,…