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
Nutritional strategies for managing pullets and improving late lay egg quality
This project indicated that feeding pullets a high nutrient density diet during rearing improved late lay eggshell quality. Lighter pullets, fed a high nutrient density diet in rearing had a lifelong better FCR, compared to heavier pullets.
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.
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.
Protecting Australia's poultry using genetic restoration
In this proof of concept study, researchers will attempt to embed genetic material from other poultry species into the layer hen genome. The specific genetic material relates to Avian influenza resistance so there is the potential that it could do the same for the layer hen.
Non-invasive technology for gender determination of fertilised chicken eggs
Using an optical technique, researchers will be working on developing a device that can automatically determine the gender of chicken eggs. If the project is successful, the result will be a desktop device suitable for hatcheries.
Automated, real-time monitoring of bird and flock movement and behaviour
This proof of concept research developed an automated intelligence, video-based system which recognises individual birds within the shed and their activities in real-time.
Hen ranging behaviour in relation to light and UV intensity
This project found that free range hens will avoid times of peak sun intensity and thus may not range as much during the summer months.
What causes smothering in commercial free-range laying hens?
A project to identify factors associated with smothering.
Practical strategies to measure hen welfare
This project developed a method to detect positive and negative affective states in layer flocks through blood and egg samples.
Eggs to improve Choline intake in pregnancy
If women consumed the equivalent of one extra egg a day, the percentage of women with adequate choline intakes would increase from 39% to 80%.
Effects of egg consumption on vitamin D status of adults
Despite Australia’s reputation as a sunburnt country, the vitamin D deficiency rate in Australians is among the highest in the world during the winter months.
Closing the Loop: Black Soldier Fly technology to convert agricultural waste
Black soldier fly farming (BSF) provides a low-cost waste management solution for converting agricultural waste into high quality fertiliser (BSF castings or frass) and protein (BSF larvae as animal feed).
Spotty Liver Disease Epidemiology
This project identified key risk factors for Spotty Liver Disease outbreak.
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.