Leading Research
To generate focused research, Australian Eggs works with industry to build a clearer understanding of the needs of farmers, identifies research groups with the skills to address the issues, and develops targeted research project ideas that have clear pathways to on-farm adoption.
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Separate feeding of calcium for poultry
This series of studies investigated the presence and extent of an ‘appetite’ for an extra-dietary source of Ca in laying hens and established the optimum Ca and P concentrations and ratios of dietary Ca for optimum egg production and nutrient digestibility.
Reducing ammonia losses during composting of chicken manure without altering economic outcomes
This research trialled mixing poultry manure with organic materials such as sawdust and wood chips, in an effort to produce a nitrogen rich compost product.
Addition of sawdust or wood chips to manure was shown to maximise nitrogen retention but at an increased compost production cost.Effects of phasing out caged farming in Europe
This project investigated egg production in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, where conventional cage systems for laying hens are no longer permitted. The report gives an overview of some of the systems and equipment in use; their set-up and cost, and flock management practices in place.
Egg Farming Systems Welfare Science Review
A scientific review of layer welfare research. The final report provides a summary of the advantages, disadvantages and issues of different egg production systems.
Animal Welfare and Values
Australian Eggs engaged a panel of researchers, including animal welfare scientists, veterinary and social science experts to identify and describe values based elements that arise in the context of the available frameworks for animal welfare on egg farms.
Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Salmonella isolates from environments on Australian commercial egg farms
This project was conducted to identify the most appropriate mechanisms for obtaining and performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing on Salmonella isolates obtained from Australian layer shed environments.
The efficacy of feed additives to reduce the impact of Spotty Liver Disease
Evaluation of the protective effect of various feed additives fed to commercial layers before exposure to the causative agent of Spotty Liver Disease to provide farmers with a tool to reduce its impact.
Best Practice Lighting Management for Australian Layers
A review of lighting systems in hen housing facilities, to understand factors that can help boost flock productivity through optimising bird growth, onset of lay, desired behaviours and number of eggs laid.
Egg Industry Environmental Guidelines
This project aimed to deliver improved environmental sustainability and planning outcomes for the egg industry by updating the existing guidelines to reflect changes in the industry since its first publication in 2008.
Salmonella Enteritidis Response Plan- An Approach to Salmonella Enteritidis Detection
This report provides a guideline for industry response in the event of a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak.
Salmonella Incidence Response Plan- A National Approach to Salmonella Outbreaks
The Salmonella Incidence Response Plan (SIRP) collates all information in a single document and provides a structured and coherent response framework to be followed when a farm had been implicated in a foodborne outbreak.
Improving stockperson attitudes to chickens
Increased positive stockperson attitudes to hens through the development of clicker training workshops.
Determining the cause and methods of control for ‘Spotty Liver Disease’
This project aimed to identify the causative agent of Spotty Liver Disease, in order to improve productivity of commercial layers placed in alternative systems without the need for antibiotics.
Through-Chain Salmonella Risk Identification
Effective response and management of salmonella challenges in the egg industry developed to defend the egg category, increase the strength of the egg brand and facilitate access to new markets.
Free range hen welfare: Characterisation of ‘outdoor’ and ‘indoor’ hens and physical features in the range
Egg production, health and egg quality implications addressed through characterisation of the effects of the use of the outdoor range on behaviour and physiology of free-range hens.
Projects you might find interesting
Practical strategies to increase individual layer hens feed efficiency
The overall findings of this study reveal that significant variation exists in the feed efficiency of layer hens. In this project, hens that put on more weight from the point of lay to mid-lay tended to be less feed efficient and have poorer quality eggs. The high feed efficient hens had better egg quality and were less prone to liver damage or fatty liver.
Review of rodent control for the Australian chicken meat and egg industries
This final report on current rodent control strategies employed by the Australian chicken meat and egg industries also includes a manual for producers on use of rodenticide products.
Barriers to the implementation of Max- profit and Stochastic models to industry
This research found that more resources and education may be needed to help nutritionists implement Stochastic and Max- profit feed formulation in the Australian layer industry.
Traceability for the egg industry
Robust traceability systems are critical to ensuring that in the event of egg quality and food safety issues, the correct farms, specific production areas or sheds can be efficiently identified, and steps taken to rectify concerns.