Leading Research: in Biosecurity & Flock Health
Maximising the health and productivity of hens is fundamental to maximising egg production and achieving satisfactory egg quality.
The increasing proportion of free range hens in recent years and the greater variability within free range production systems has the potential to impact the reliability of egg supply and consumer confidence.
Investment in R&D will focus on the investigation of short term, industry transferable solutions to hen disease and biosecurity threats, as well as long term research investigating the development of vaccines and therapeutic medicines to ensure that we are addressing more complex issues. The intended outcome is lower hen mortality rates, less and shorter breaks in production and consequently, increased productivity.
To assist the industry in maintaining strict biosecurity Australian Eggs has produced a range of resources to translate research learnings into helpful on-farm resources. The booklets can be downloaded below, or ordered in printed format from Australian Eggs.
Key Resources
Current Research
Biotechnology: Black solder fly for soil improvement
Australian Eggs is one of 6 contributing RDCs in this collaborative project. Researchers are developing a novel solution, using black soldier flies to convert agricultural waste into high quality fertiliser to improve soil.
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Spotty Liver Disease Epidemiology
Researchers will collect information and cloacal swabs from 30 free range flocks across Australia to find patterns in Spotty Liver Disease infection. This data will improve our understanding of how management factors affect or prevent flock infection of Spotty Liver Disease.
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Sustainable Worm Control
Through surveying producers, collecting faecal samples and examining spent hens, researchers will be able to determine the prevalence and significance of worm infection in free range layer flocks in Australia.
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Decontamination
Researchers will address knowledge gaps by developing a set of guidelines and procedures for everyday decontamination of layer production areas, which will help to manage the risk of disease infecting and spreading within the flock.
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Optimising performance, health, flock consistency & egg quality characteristics through management
In this project, researchers will work with free range farms to understand the management factors which influence common problems in free range systems such as variable peak of lay timing and inconsistent egg size and quality.
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On-farm Biosecurity Risk Identification Framework for the Australian layer industry
This report provides a support tool for Australian egg producers to determine biosecurity risks on-farm. As well as assisting Egg producers in understanding what constitutes a risk and why, the report offers potential management strategies to decrease on-farm risks to biosecurity.
Completed Research
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Marek's disease vaccine trials in commercial birds
This trial was undertaken to develop effective immunisation strategies for the prevention of Marek's disease using newer vaccines developed by RMIT Melbourne.
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The significance of wet droppings in laying hens
The project was initiated due to numerous complaints from the industry egg producers regarding the issue of wet droppings and the hygienic implications this causes.The focus of the project was to examine wet litter problems from a nutritional perspective and to develop strategies minimising the problem.
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Three vaccine trials on Marek's disease
The findings from three trials conducted to assess the efficacy of the newly developed RMIT vaccine against Marek's disease are detailed in the report on this project.
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Evaluation of performance of tunnel ventilated layer housing
Competitive economic conditions mean that Australian egg producers seek ways to reduce the cost of egg production.Current housing design has proven unable to provide the economically optimum temperatures required by layers during winter and summer.
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Development of Molecular Tests for Serovar-Specific Identification and Typing of Haemophilus paragallinarum
Haemophilus paragallinarum is the causative agent of infectious coryza, an upper respiratory tract disease of chickens characterised by relatively mild clinical signs.As there have been few studies on methods to type isolates of H.
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Prevalence, genetic relationships and pathogenicity of intestinal spirochaetes infecting Australian poultry
This research aimed to: determine whether fastidious anaerobic intestinal spirochaetal bacteria, or a similar bacteria, was present in Australia; to isolate and characterise this bacteria; and to test the pathogenic potential of the disease.
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Diagnosing Avian Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases are a major cause of economic losses to the Australian chicken meat and egg industries.This study reports on the development of a quick new diagnostic process to identify two strains of respiratory disease.
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Infectious Bursal Disease Virus
The project was initiated in response to reports in 1995 that a more severe strain of IBDV was presenting in Victoria and NSW.
Projects you might find interesting
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On-farm Biosecurity Risk Identification Framework for the Australian layer industry
This report provides a support tool for Australian egg producers to determine biosecurity risks on-farm. As well as assisting Egg producers in understanding what constitutes a risk and why, the report offers potential management strategies to decrease on-farm risks to biosecurity.
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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.
Want to see what an egg farm looks like? Take this interactive 360 degree tour to see how eggs are produced in Australia.
