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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Phenotypic and genotypic profiles of hens that pile
This project will provide information to reduce piling and smothering through short- and long-term strategies, which will improve productivity and bird welfare. The project led by University of Melbourne and in partnership with University of Bern and a major breeding company, is part of a larger international project “HenTrack”.
Monitoring hen health with machine vision on free range farms
This project will develop a proof-of-concept machine vision system with the capability to detect abnormal flock appearance and behaviour, that would indicate poor animal health or welfare.
Values in layer hen welfare 2.0: The application of community values to key layer hen welfare issues
Following on from the Australian Eggs Animal Welfare and Values project, completed in June 2019, this project sought to expand understanding of animal welfare by exploring how the community applies values to key welfare issues using social science research methods.
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.
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.
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.
Improving stockperson attitudes to chickens
Increased positive stockperson attitudes to hens through the development of clicker training workshops.
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.
Governing hen welfare: beyond standards and guidelines?
Better understanding of the role of science in animal welfare policy decisions, especially in relation to the standards and guidelines process.
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.