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.
Latest Research Project
Spotty Liver Disease Epidemiology
This project identified key risk factors for Spotty Liver Disease outbreak.
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Sustainable feed to optimize layers’ productive life
This is a highly beneficial project which will reduce the carbon footprint, reduce feed cost, and promote layer life. This will be done by replacing soybean meal (SBM) with combination of canola meal (CM) and insect meal (BSFL: black soldier fly larvae).
Carbon calculator tool for the egg industry
Australian Eggs will be producing a spreadsheet-based calculator which will enable farmers to input data to determine their carbon footprint and total on-farm emissions.
Determining manure deposition in free range sheds and free range areas
This project was conducted to assist free range egg producers with the management of manure nutrients to minimise the risk of environmental impact.
Optimising waste and by-product utilisation and conversion to value streams
This project is an extension of the “Carbon and environmental footprint of the poultry industry” project which will this time quantify, by housing system, the volume of waste and by products produced by the industry.
Carbon and environmental impacts of poultry production: 2020 and beyond
Climate change action is a global priority for governments, business and industries. The egg industry produces highly efficient, high-quality food products with a relatively low environmental footprint but along with every sector, there is an imperative to reduce impacts over time.
Cost effective and practical ways to regenerate layer hen ranges
The vegetation and functionality of the range areas of free range layer hens can be diminished due to physical damage, as well as nutrients from excreta, with the increase of weed plant species, soil compaction in heavily utilised areas and parasite build up in soils.
Assessing the carbon footprint of the egg industry
By studying the inputs to the whole egg industry supply chain, the carbon footprint of the egg industry will be measured.
Nutrient mass balance on-farm
By carefully measuring the inputs and outputs of free-range flocks, researchers will quantify how much nutrient is deposited on the range versus how much is deposited in the shed.
Resilient plants to entice hens outdoors on free range farms
The aim of this 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 the range. To complete this project the researcher integrated existing research on the topic, as well as learnings from 5 'case study farms' that the researcher worked with throughout the project.
Determining resource requirements for removal of waste from egg farms
These resources will assist egg farms in planning their approach to waste disposal, particularly in preparing for infectious disease in the flock. Using a risk-based approach these resources will enable egg farmers to identify the resources that would be needed on their farm to support the disposal of all types of poultry farm waste.
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.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.
Evaluation of energy usage and ventilation performance of tunnel ventilated layer sheds
Due to increasing pressures on operating margins within the Australian egg industry, this study investigated the energy usage and ventilation systems in cage egg sheds.Optimising electricity usage is an important factor in improving the bottom line of egg production systems.
Environmental Assessment of an Egg Production Supply Chain using Life Cycle Assessment
A Life Cycle Assessment model was used to provide a review of the efficiency of Australian egg production with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, water use and energy use.
Layer Hen Manure Analysis Report
Poultry layer manure and litter composition data are essential for accurately determining sustainable application rates of manure to crops and pastures.This study collected some 20 samples of manure and litter from five different layer production systems from all major production regions in Australia.
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.