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.
Intelligent Real-time Monitoring of Flock Behaviour and Welfare
Automated video-based systems will use computer vision and machine learning to identify individual bird behaviours that will help determine whole flock movements and behaviours, while providing real-time information on the proportion of hens eating, drinking, laying eggs etc.
Updating grain apparent metabolisable energy (AME) database
Energy is the most expensive component of diet for laying hens.
Gut Decisions: Effect of eggs on microbiome and cognition
This project aims to examine the effects of egg intake (2 whole eggs per day for 6 weeks) on the human gut microbiome, and explore clinical outcomes (i. e. , cognition, gut sensations) and potential mediating factors (i. e.
Investigating improved rodent control strategies
Researchers will work closely with industry to develop innovative, economical strategies for efficient rodent management. The strategies will be trialled on participating egg farms and the outcomes and learnings will be communicated to industry.
Genetic restoration to protect Australian poultry against Avian Influenza
The initial stage of research found the key in chicken genetics that is responsible for high pathogenic avian influenza virus. This project builds on this important finding, by testing the most appropriate and effective intervention to prevent low pathogenic avian influenza progressing to high pathogenic avian influenza.
Investigations of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI)
Upper respiratory tract infections are becoming increasingly common on egg farms costing the egg industry by way of vaccination, medication, and overall productivity losses.
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.
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”.
Eggs - top choline source for young children
Recent study has shown that Choline, readily available in eggs, is an essential nutrient required during pregnancy and the first two years of life. Insufficient choline intake during pregnancy and early life are associated with a lower IQ in the child.
Review of literature for understanding eggs contamination during cold-chain transportation
This scope of this project is to determine if various lower storage temperatures will mitigate the
growth of Salmonella Enteritis and Salmonella Typhimurium. The work will involve literature
review, use of specific scientific databases, and collaboration with scientists to ensure accurate
information is gathered.Extension and communication strategies to improve biosecurity
This project will develop the most appropriate and applicable biosecurity extension and communications
strategies that will target small, medium and large segments of the egg industry.Optimising reduced-protein diets for an efficient and sustainable layer production
This project addresses the knowledge gap of the optimisation of reduced protein diets, by exploring the
effects of dietary enzyme inclusion on the production performance of laying hens fed reduced-protein
diets.
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.