Page 10 - National Poultry Newspaper

2017 Nuffield Scholar Jessica Pitkin at Baiada Poultry, Branxton.
Breaking down barriers to a more innovative poultry industry
TAKING a more proac- tive approach to regula- tion, research and edu- cation is the only way to ensure the Australian poultry industry is at the forefront of innovation, particularly while issues such as animal welfare and biosecurity are seen as the catalyst for prac- tice change.
That’s according to a report released recently by Jessica Pitkin, a small- scale poultry breeder based in the Hunter Val- ley of NSW.
With support from Ag- riFutures Australia, Mrs Pitkin used her 2017 Nuffield Scholarship to research the connections between regulation and industry standards, and more innovative on-farm practices in the poultry industry.
Wanting to identify which circumstances im- pacted a producer’s ap- petite and ability to in- novate, Mrs Pitkin trav- elled across Brazil, Chile, America, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy and New Zealand interview- ing industry organisa- tions, producers and re- searchers.
“Despite there being vast amounts of new tech- nology and modern prac- tices available to the poul- try industry to improve productivity, shedding ef- ficiency and animal wel- fare outcomes, the adop- tion rate of these technol- ogies across Australia and worldwide is generally
low,” Mrs Pitkin said. “My research found that in many instances, regulations and industry guidelines set a minimum standard, which can actu- ally act as both a driver
and barrier to innovation. “Well-written and in- sightful regulation can promote innovation and practice change, but regu- lation or standards that are based on consumer trends or outdated meth-
ods can do the opposite.” The report finds the of- ten static nature of regula- tion and industry stand- ards can inhibit future
innovation.
Travelling in Ontario,
Canada, Mrs Pitkin ob- served an instance of the limiting potential of gov- ernment policy.
“In many counties, there are standards that man- date bedding depth in sheds to allow soft bed- ding for birds that absorbs moisture and creates a mi- crobially beneficial envi- ronment for birds to dust bathe and display other natural habits,” Mrs Pit- kin said.
“I visited a poultry farm in Ontario, which had two separate shedding facili- ties – one old and one new.
“The new shed was equipped with a modern underfloor heating sys- tem, which the producer found ran most efficiently with no litter on top.
“While the method of keeping birds warm with underfloor heating is in-
novative and highly ef- fective, adoption rates are low because many coun- tries mandate a minimum litter depth on shed floors, which makes the heating inefficient.”
Another key factor in- fluencing innovation adoption in the poultry industry is the diversity of farm ownership.
“Historically, most poul- try farms were family owned and operated busi- nesses,” Mrs Pitkin said.
In some cases, they were debt-laden and unable to invest in more inno- vative practices, or they were involved in intergen- erational transition, which can lead to difficulties in making changes on farm.
“Today, we are seeing a shift towards more corpo- rate investment, with large companies able to fund the construction and op- eration of more innovative operations.”
However, in some in- stances, standardised equipment and practice guidelines in larger, cor- porate poultry businesses can also stifle innovation.
“Several larger business- es in the US use standard- ised production methods and equipment because it lets them easily compare and benchmark differ- ent farm and employee performance,” Mrs Pitkin said.
“This can inhibit inno- vation or practice change on the individual level, as farmers are locked into the company approach and less agile in adopting new methods.”
Ultimately, the adoption of more innovative prac- tices will help drive the industry towards a more prosperous future.
“Being proactive will deliver a more profitable and sustainable Austral- ian poultry industry well into the future,” Mrs Pit- kin said.
“Communication, edu- cation and the exchange of ideas within the indus- try will be key to open- ing up understanding of current practices and rais- ing awareness of the new, improved practices that will ultimately drive the industry forward.”
Mrs Pitkin was support- ed by AgriFutures.
Page 10 – National Poultry Newspaper, July 2019
www.poultrynews.com.au
Laying hens at Baiada Poultry, Branxton.