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.
Filter by Category
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 review of the research to date on physiological and behavioural welfare indicators of hens in caged, barn and alternate systems; such as free range. The 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.
-
A Review of Animal Welfare Policy and Assessment Frameworks
Better informed industry on current developments in animal welfare theory and policy.
-
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.
-
Odour Review of Layer Farms and Development of S-Factor Formula
This project was conducted to develop an S-factor formula to be integrated into the revision of the Environmental Guidelines for the Egg Industry. A robust and science-based separation distance (S-factor) formula will provide improved planning and development outcomes for the egg industry and will provide greater certainty that community amenity impacts can be managed for new and expanding layer farms.
-
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’
Improved productivity of commercial layers placed in alternative systems without the need for antibiotics.
Projects you might find interesting
-
Traceability for the egg industry
This project is funded by Commonwealth grant funds. The output of this project will be a traceability solution for the industry.
-
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.
-
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.
Want to see what an egg farm looks like? Take this interactive 360 degree tour to see how eggs are produced in Australia.
