Possible solution for spotty liver disease

Spotty liver disease is an infectious disease caused by the relatively recently identified bacterium campylobacter hepaticus. It has been increasing in prevalence in Australian egg-laying flocks due to an increase in birds farmed extensively, including free range and barn systems, where the chances of faecal-oral transmission of C hepaticus are increased. The only way to…

October 2021

October 2021 poultry industry headlines: Research shows Australians’ trust and support for egg industry continues Federal funding secured for local jobs program Thanks to those who provide chickens and eggs to Aussies Aussies trust and support egg industry Roosters rule the roost when it comes to flavour Sustainability and transparency key to new free range…

Enhanced poultry farm biosecurity

On July 31 last year, birds tested positive for avian influenza on a Golden Plains free range egg farm. Over the following four weeks, a further five farms in Golden Plains, East Gippsland and Gannawarra Shire tested positive. In total, three strains of avian influenza were found on six Victorian poultry farms, infecting three bird…

RSPCA Approved means better chicken welfare

In Australia, meat chickens are not kept in cages and both male and female chicks are raised to produce meat. Most meat chickens are housed in large sheds – ‘barn raised’ – with some also having daytime access to the outdoors – ‘free range’ – once they are fully feathered. Traditionally, chickens have been raised…

Seeking a revolution in chicken gut health

Can a waste product deliver important improvements to chicken production? What if antibiotic use in poultry production could be significantly lowered by using waste products from milling? Dr Natalie Morgan is investigating these possibilities after winning the Australian Eggs Award in the 2021 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.…

September 2021

September 2021 poultry industry headlines: Free range chickens on Kangaroo Island flourish Eghwaaa enhances economic autonomy IEC and Australian egg farmers The jab mandate debate QUEP 2021 AGM notice New energy guide for Australian farmers Smalls Trading Co poultry egg farm Country Fresh Eggs for sale SunPork joins PIX AMC for an expanded conference RSPCA…

Shape-changing bacteria evade fowl cholera vaccines

The access to open air and an outdoor lifestyle, which is a feature of free range chicken farming, may well be putting birds at a higher risk of an untimely death. Researchers have long understood that despite their more socially acceptable existence, free range chickens are exposed to more disease agents when compared to caged…

Resilient plants entice hens on free range farms

In July 2020, Carolyn de Koning of the South Australian Research and Development Institute undertook a research project into the plants hens on free range farms prefer. The aim of the project was to consolidate available agronomic information and provide an up-to-date resource for free range egg farmers on what and how to plant on…