Page 4 - National Poultry Newspaper

Ian Wilson, Alannah MacTiernan and Australian Eggs managing director Rowan McMonnies.
THERE have been many developments within industry over the past 12 months, with an in- creased focus on animal welfare having implica- tions for egg farmers and other intensive farming industries throughout Western Australia.
In response to this, the Commercial Egg Pro- ducers’ Association of Western Australia hosted an industry sundowner on July 17 at the Aloft Perth inviting producers, stakeholders and govern- ment representatives to meet and listen to vari- ous speakers addressing industry concerns.
CEPA president Ian Wil- son chaired the sundown- er, introducing guests to speakers Rowan McMon- nies (managing director, Australian Eggs), John Dunn (CEO, Egg Farmers of Australia) and Alannah MacTiernan (Minister for Regional Development, Agriculture and Food).
Rowan McMonnies pro- vided those in attendance with new information on the Australian Egg Indus- try Sustainability Frame- work recently launched by Australian Eggs.
Rowan also touched on a new research program in the early stages of devel- opment, the Animal Wel- fare Research Program, which has been developed in response to growing community interest in the industry.
Australian Eggs will be broadening its research program to go beyond the physical condition of hens and will be looking into developing new tech- nology to measure stress in hens and identifying value-based elements in animal welfare science.
Australian Eggs hopes to contribute to a more productive debate around animal welfare issues and explore new ways to meas- ure welfare outcomes.
EFA CEO John Dunn
spoke on the national Poultry Welfare Stand- ards and Guidelines con- sultation and WA industry implications of the pro- posed changes to the Ani- mal Welfare Bill.
Highlighted were the possible consequences for the WA industry if it were the only state to phase out standard cages, with EFA mentioning this would have devastating effects on local industry.
Providing those in at- tendance with a govern- ment perspective, Minis- ter MacTiernan addressed EFA’s and industry’s concerns with the ongo- ing consultation process of the National Standards and Guidelines.
The Minister posed the question to those in at- tendance of the implica- tions of the phase-out of standard cages in prefer- ence of enriched cages by 2027, adding a ‘grandfa- ther’ clause could also be used for farmers.
Minister MacTiernan recognised and offered support to WA egg farm- ers battling low cost sales and answered questions from those in attendance, and then spent time with producers after the for- malities of the sundowner had ended.
The sundowner facili- tated an informative and insightful session for egg farmers, industry repre- sentatives and government stakeholders, providing updates on new initiatives and the opportunity for guests to network over canapes and drinks.
CEPA would like to thank the speakers and those in attendance and recognise special guests Jim Chown, Shadow Minister for Re- gional Development; Rick Mazza, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers; and Ralph Addis, Director General, Department of Primary In- dustries and Regional De- velopment.
www.eggswa.com.au
Page 4 – National Poultry Newspaper, August 2018
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The Commercial Egg Producers’ Association of Western Australia industry sundowner
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CEPA president Ian Wilson addressed guests.