National Poultry Newspaper

21/11/2024

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 for food businesses to demonstrate their commitment to higher welfare standards for chickens raised for meat.

The Australian chicken industry has huge potential to deliver positive change for the over 700 million chickens raised and slaughtered for meat each year.

We know that most Australians are concerned about the welfare of farmed animals.

The success of the RSPCA Approved Meat Chicken Standard demonstrates that these concerns extend to meat chickens, and consumers are strongly supportive of improving standards.

The Better Chicken Commitment is a commitment for businesses to introduce higher welfare standards for all chickens in their supply chain.

07/11/2024

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 sources of protein for Aussie families during the cost-of-living crisis.

A select number of MPs and senators attended the breakfast on October 9, which was addressed by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins.

This year has proven to be a challenging year for the egg sector, but Aussie egg farmers are resilient.

We have seen challenging economic times, rising interest rates, bad weather and outbreaks of devastating avian influenza in some states.

Australian egg farmers celebrated World Egg Day at Parliament House in Canberra in October, with a breakfast event for members.

04/11/2024

Find out the latest in the poultry industry! 🐓 - https://mailchi.mp/f88af6cf51f9/november-2024

31/10/2024

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 urban areas—are likely to carry bacteria with antimicrobial resistance.

This highlights the urgent need for policymakers and health services to address the various ways antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread beyond hospital settings.

AMR occurs when bacteria and other microbes become resistant to antibiotics that would typically kill them.

In 2022, around 58,224 people in the UK suffered severe antibiotic-resistant infections, resulting in 2202 deaths.

Full article can be read via the link.

As a nation we have gone from believing chicken meat to be a bit ordinary to gorging on millions of chickens each year.

24/10/2024

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 eats around 92.5kg of meat each year, including an impressive 42kg of chicken.

We’re lucky here in Australia to have a comparatively high standard of living, allowing us to feast on meat.

This doesn’t explain, however, why our consumption of chicken is so high compared to other meats, especially considering our productive beef industry.

Australia sits third on the world table for chicken consumption, behind Israel and the USA.

Our love for chicken has grown considerably over the last 40 years.

As a nation we have gone from believing chicken meat to be a bit ordinary to gorging on millions of chickens each year.

17/10/2024

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 to enhance the nation’s biosecurity defences, protecting our food, farms and communities.

The announcement was made at an event at the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday August 20.

The hub brings together a multidisciplinary team of expert researchers, scientists and trainers from various fields, including microbiology, ecology, veterinary and animal science, environmental science, artificial intelligence and cyber futures, extended reality and biosecurity training.

The university has long-standing partnerships in biosecurity – including collaborations with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Asia-Pacific government and industry partners, state government agencies, industry and the community – and is equipped to tackle a range of current or emerging biosecurity threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

http://poultrynews.com.au/2024/10/16/30-million-biosecurity-hub-to-safeguard-australia/

03/10/2024

The October edition is now available to view or download at http://poultrynews.com.au/

03/10/2024

Find out the latest in the poultry industry! 🐓 - https://mailchi.mp/f59d453c0b81/october-2024

05/09/2024

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 elected officials are – more often than not – influenced by populist consumer views, trendy social behaviours and the business decisions of big industries.

The Macquarie Dictionary takes this further to suggest that politicians jump on the ‘political bandwagon’ to support politically driven consumer trends to gain widespread voter advantage.

Basically, if a member of Parliament sees a trend forming, they are likely to vocally support it, as their aim is to seek the support of the widest number of voters possible.

We have seen this in Australia’s commercial egg industry, where major supermarket giants such as Coles and Woolworths made a decision to ban cage eggs.

04/09/2024

Find out the latest in the poultry industry! 🐓 - https://mailchi.mp/e15cbe5f8a74/september-2024

01/08/2024

The August edition is now available to view or download at http://poultrynews.com.au/

01/08/2024

Find out the latest in the poultry industry! 🐓 - https://mailchi.mp/51ca6e04d0f7/august-2024

25/07/2024

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, in conjunction with Poultry Hub Australia and Australian Eggs, Dr Moss, Dr Dao and team at the University of New England completed a study on the effect of AM/PM diets for free-range laying hens.

Laying hens have a cyclic reproductive physiology that requires high dietary protein and energy levels for yolk and albumen formation in the early morning and high dietary calcium levels for shell and membrane formation in the afternoon/evening.

Therefore, feeding one diet throughout each day may be problematic as there is excess calcium in the morning and excess protein/amino acids and energy towards the end of the day.

To minimise excess nutrients, there is increasing interest in alternative strategies, such as AM/PM feeding, where a high energy and protein diet with lower calcium is provided in the morning and a lower energy and protein diet with higher calcium is fed in the afternoon.

Dr Moss, Dr Dao and team at the University of New England completed a study on the effect of AM/PM diets for free-range laying hens.

16/11/2023

In Australia’s agricultural sector, we have all heard of the term ‘biosecurity’, though how many of us actually stop to think that we are all responsible for it?

According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, biosecurity protects our unique biodiversity, promotes food security and minimises the risk of transmission of infectious diseases.

The CSIRO stated, “Biosecurity is the way we stop the introduction and spread of harmful organisms such as viruses, bacteria, animals, plants, pathogens and insects and how we manage the impacts.”

Biosecurity is the way we stop the introduction and spread of harmful organisms such as viruses, bacteria, animals, plants, pathogens and insects.

09/11/2023

Backed by more than 40 years of scientific research, Alltech is dedicated to providing solutions and products that contribute to the success of the global animal health industry.

This commitment continues with the publication of a new study, ‘The effect of organic trace mineral supplementation in the form of proteinates on performance and sustainability parameters in laying hens: a meta-analysis’, recently published in the journal Animals.

Results show that the inclusion of Bioplex organic trace minerals in layer diets significantly benefits production performance and egg quality traits and contributes to a lower carbon footprint.

The findings also suggest that the most bioavailable form of essential minerals is crucial for optimising health and performance in laying hens.

Results show that the inclusion of Bioplex organic trace minerals in layer diets significantly benefits production performance and egg quality traits.

06/11/2023

Chefs at Flemington Racecourse will crack over 5000 eggs to cater for hungry Melbourne Cup punters during the race that stops the nation on November 7.

Corporate caterers and food marquees will use 435 dozen eggs which equates to 5220 individual eggs.

Egg Farmers of Australia CEO Melinda Hashimoto said the egg order demonstrates how the Melbourne Cup supports many Australian agricultural food industries.

“Eggs are used in a diverse range of dishes inside Flemington’s main food outlets and corporate marquees and are an important Aussie-produced ingredient for the day’s culinary scene,” Ms Hashimoto said.

“There is a clear symbiotic relationship between the Melbourne Cup and farmers supplying raw products from around Australia.”

Australia’s commercial egg farmers produce 6.3 billion eggs a year to satisfy the nation’s growing appetite fresh eggs.

“Many punters may not realise that eggs have one of the lowest carbon footprints out of any farmed food and are the most environmentally sustainable, and affordable, proteins that you can eat,” Mrs Hashimoto said.