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Vol 4. No. 8 August 2021 National Poultry Newspaper PO Box 162 Wynnum 4178 Phone (07) 3286 1833 Email ben@collins.media
Standards and guidelines for Australian poultry
Water is a key element of natural duck behaviour and a major focus for welfare improvement, hence providing water in a safe and effective manner to commercial ducks will improve their welfare. Photo: Thalia Ruiz
Highlighting applied on-farm research
completed her project. With the recent releas- ing of the Australian An- imal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poul- try, the PHA team has been busy working to see how our programs and research will help to sup- port the industry through some of the transitions
THIS month we final- ised our 2021 research grants and I look for- ward to sharing these with you next issue.
For the industry to sus- tain itself in a time of social licenses, as well as grow and increase duck meat acceptance within Australia, it is impera- tive that welfare be ad- dressed in an objective manner.
However, I would like to take the opportunity to share with you a re- search project that we commissioned last year, ‘Assessing behaviour and welfare impacts of water provision via misters in commercial ducks’.
Research projects such as Dana’s can inform the industry on husbandry methods, enabling them to improve duck health and welfare.
required.
We are always looking
This project, led by Dr Dana Campbell, is a fantastic example of how applied research can hap- pen directly on farm.
iour and a major focus for welfare improvement, hence providing water in a safe and effective man- ner to commercial ducks will improve their wel- fare.
industry as world lead- ers in duck welfare and husbandry, and maintain the duck industry’s social license to operate.
Dana and her team have successfully set up the sheds and are currently collecting data through video systems and bird assessments.
for ways to support in- dustry and farmers and welcome any suggestions ofhowwecanbeofas- sistance.
The objectives of the research are to measure the environmental, be- havioural and welfare impacts of water provi- sion via a misting system for commercial grower ducks.
Dr Campbell’s research hasthepotentialtohigh- light the Australian duck
Duck research within Australia is currently very limited, particularly intheareaofwelfareand behaviour.
We look forward to providing an update once Dr Campbell has
If you have an idea or would like to chat all things poultry, don’t hesi- tate to contact our office at poultryhub@une.edu. au
Dana will achieve this via a combination of on-bird measurements, video recordings, farm production data and en- vironmental sensors.
Ducks are motivated to access water to maintain feather condition – pro- viding water to ducks on commercial farms is challenging as it may re- duce litter and air quality.
One of the environmental loggers installed at bird height – the yellow box attached to feeder line – another tool used to capture relevant research data.
One of the cameras installed to capture a por- tion of birds within one of the sheds for Dr Dana Campbell’s research project. A total of 16 cameras have been installed across four sheds.
Water is a key element of natural duck behav-
by TAMSYN CROWLEY Director
THE Australian Govern- ment is working with states and territories to develop and put in place nationally consistent standards and guidelines for farm animal welfare.
and information on indus- try practices and imple- mentation implications.
The ‘Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry’ will replace the ‘Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals Do- mestic Poultry’.
The panel acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort SAG members invested in providing these detailed comments.
The standards will be put into effect in state and territory legislation.
Since the conclusion of the consultation period, the panel have finalised the standards and guide- lines and are scheduled to present a final version to the Agriculture senior of- ficials committee in mid- August.
The guidelines will be voluntary.
It is intended that sen- ior officials will consider the standards alongside a regulation impact state- ment and determine next steps, including referral to agriculture ministers.
They will set out the best practice for caring for and managing poultry.
In March 2021, a draft of the revised standards and guidelines was sent to members of the stake- holder advisory group.
The terms of reference for the independent panel set out that the standards will:
The four-week consul- tation period proved ex- tremely beneficial as the panel received almost 900 separate specific com- ments on the proposed standards and guidelines.
• Improve animal wel- fare outcomes within Aus- tralia’s poultry industries
Comments ranged from minor drafting improve- ments to more substantive information including fur- ther scientific sources on animal welfare impacts,
• Consider current in- dustry practices, cost and benefits, new technologies and practicalities of im- plementation
• Reflect contemporary animal welfare science
• Align with the values and expectations shared by the Australian com- munity
The ‘Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry’ will set out the best prac- tice for caring for and managing poultry.
For further information, contact poultry.panel@ agriculture.gov.au or visit agriculture.gov.au/ animal/welfare/standards- guidelines/poultry
• Meet the expectations of trading partners
• Consider possible do- mestic and international trade impacts
• Provide the basis for nationally consistent and effectively enforced regu- lation.
The Agriculture Minis- ters’ forum agreed to the panel’s terms of reference in October 2019.
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