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Applications
for RIRDC funding for 2008-09 are now CLOSED
Click
here for information on the application process, and to apply for
RIRDC scholarships
Objective:
Through carefully focussed
R&D, to support increased sustainability and profitability in the chicken
meat industry.
Research Manager:
Dr
Vivien Kite, phone 02 9929 4077 Email: vivien.kite@chicken.org.au
Doing business with RIRDC
- 2008-09 research applications open
RIRDC invites preliminary
research proposals for R&D projects that address our strategic priorities
for our three key areas - new rural industries, established rural industries,
and national rural issues.
Individuals and consortia
of research providers are invited to use the application process to express
interest to meet part, or all, of the research priorities detailed in our
sector 5-year R&D plans. For details on the application process, including
the guide Doing Business with RIRDC, go to www.rirdc.gov.au/business
Key
long term strategies
-
Develop the necessary technologies
to define and control endemic and emerging infectious and non-infectious
diseases and develop strategies and methods for rapid recognition and control
of emergency animal diseases
-
Develop nutritional strategies
to improve nutrient utilisation through the optimisation of gut health
and manipulation of nutrient constituents
-
Develop and disseminate enhanced
on-farm and processing plant food safety programs and develop through-chain
strategies for control of Campylobacter and other food safety pathogens
-
Improve public awareness of
safe handling of chicken meat products
-
Identify objective measures
of bird welfare, evaluate welfare issues and address identified problem
areas by the development of strategies that enhance bird welfare
-
Assist industry to develop and
implement a national ‘whole of industry’ biosecurity program
-
Undertake regular assessment
of consumer perceptions of industry practices and products
-
Quantify resource use across
the industry and identify opportunities for more efficient resource and
waste product management
-
Establish and facilitate adoption
of performance-based environmental criteria based on acceptable farming
practices
-
Identify and quantify the environmental
impacts of the industry and investigate and develop practical technologies
and management practices to minimise the impact of environmental emissions
-
Commission domestic and international
benchmarking studies which investigate differentials in total costs of
production
-
Investigate the impact of the
regulatory operating environment on industry competitiveness
-
Provide a ‘clearing house’ function
for international research in relevant fields
-
Identify and support relevant
technology transfer, training and networking opportunities for both industry
personnel and the R&D community supporting the industry
Background
Average annual domestic
consumption of chicken meat is currently approximately 35.9 kg / person.
In 2005–06, the chicken meat industry produced 772,000 tonnes of chicken
meat from 474.5 million birds.
NSW is the largest producer(34%),
followed by Victoria (28%), Queensland (19%), South Australia (9%), Western
Australia (9%) and Tasmania (1%). Production has increased steadily over
the past decade, with annual growth rates ranging between0% and 7%. In
2005–06, the number of birds produced increased by 2.4% over 2004–05.
Production is dominated by
a small number of large, vertically integrated, privately owned enterprises.
These companies typically own hatcheries, feed mills, breeding farms and
processing plants across a number of States, and contract the growing of
their meat chickens to independent growers, of which there are approximately
850 nationally. Each of the major companies operating in the industry invests
significant funds into in-house R&D, particularly in the areas of market
research and product development, processing technologies, quality control
procedures, distribution and packaging.
Australia is a very small
producer of chicken in a global context. The largest international chicken
producing countries are the US (28% of world production), China (19%),
Brazil (14%) and the EU (13%). The US, Brazil, the EU and Thailand are
the biggest exporters of chicken meat, holding approximately 37%, 31%,
13% and 9% of the world export market.
Only 22,000 tonnes (less
than 5% of domestic production) was exported in 2005–06, at a value of
$21 million. Australia is considered to have a good bird health status
compared to most countries, and is one of the few continents untouched
to date by the impacts of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. This may
provide opportunities for the export of breeding stock.
The RIRDC Chicken Meat R&D
Program is a major partner in the Australian Poultry CRC which ensures
a comprehensive and well coordinated research program for the Australian
chicken meat industry. The RIRDC Program has been adapted to collaborate
with and complement the CRC program.
To remain competitive and
expand its markets, the industry also recognises the need for it to continue
to make significant gains in areas of technical and cost efficiency. While
its record in this respect over the past fifty years has been impressive,
new and more effective solutions to old problems will need to be devised
to support industry growth and sustainability. Flock health and optimal
bird nutrition and feed utilisation are critical to the productivity and
efficiency of the industry. Therefore, the Chicken Meat Program will, in
collaboration with the CRC, continue to seek new ways to manage these issues,
particularly through the exploration of alternative approaches for manipulating
gut microflora so as to deliver beneficial impacts in terms of gastrointestinal
health, feed efficiency and overall flock performance.
Environmental management
issues will also continue to pose many challenges for industry over coming
years, and there will therefore be a growing need to monitor the industry’s
environmental impacts and to develop and implement management programs
and technologies which reduce these impacts.
Industry participants can
and do undertake significant amounts of R&D (particularly in nutritional
and bird health management, processing practices and product development).
However, there remains a recognised need for the more ‘generic’ R&D
that can best be undertaken through whole of industry funding bodies such
as RIRDC and the Australian Poultry CRC. Industry support for the RIRDC
Chicken Meat Program continues to be strong. The Australian Chicken Meat
Federation has become much more active in the area of product and industry
image management.
Some
Key Performance Indicators
-
Completion of seven or more
research projects in areas prioritized by industry with acceptance by the
R&D Advisory Committee, including key industry stakeholders
-
Successful identification through
industry consultation of several key, new research areas to be targeted
by the program
-
Development of two new flock
health products or tools arising from research and one new management protocol
for meat chicken farms
Strategies
for 2007–08
Engage a development officer
to identify key untapped areas of research and link these with appropriate
researchers for project commissioning
Undertake market research on
known/potential users of litter to identify impediments which prevent or
limit their use of litter for fertiliser
Assist industry to improve adoption
of bird welfare quality assurance and audit programs
Quantify resource use across
the industry and identify opportunities for more efficient resource management
Evaluate promising new strategies
for controlling microbiological contamination of chicken products
Assist industry to develop and
adopt improved disease prevention, management and diagnostic techniques
Develop and evaluate nutritional
and management strategies aimed at maximising the efficiency of lean meat
production
Expected
key outputs for 2007–08
Completion of an assessment
of untapped research areas and linkage of these projects with appropriately
qualified researchers
Completion of market research
on the impediments to the use of litter as fertiliser by known/potential
users of litter
Significant progress towards
the wider adoption of across industry of bird welfare and biosecurity quality
assurance programs
Quantification of resource use
across the industry and identification of opportunities for more efficient
resource management
Finalisation of an evaluation
of new strategies for controlling microbiological contamination of chicken
products
Development of improved disease
prevention, management and diagnostic techniques in areas targeted by the
R&D Advisory Committee
Progress toward development
of nutritional and management strategies aimed at maximising the efficiency
of lean meat production
Expected
key outcomes in 2007–08
Research into the use of antimicrobial
proteins to control necrotic enteritis in meat chickens
Assessment of antimicrobial
interventions used in chicken processing
An epidemiological study of
antibiotic resistance in Salmonella from chickens
Development of high value products
from hatchery waste
Assessment of mechanisms to
assist in the integration of odour prevention and litter management techniques
in the poultry industry
Protocols established for monitoring
mechanical ventilation rates in poultry buildings to assist with the application
and assessment of odour/dust control technologies
Preliminary evaluation undertaken
of "add-on" technologies for control of odour and dust from chicken sheds
New
projects being funded or under consideration in 2007–08 include:
| Project
No |
Title |
Researcher |
Phone |
| PRJ-000097* |
Trialling
natural agents for control of darkling beetles |
Mr
Trevor Lambkin |
07
3362 9606 |
| PRJ-000264* |
Physiological
& nutritional approaches to alleviate heat stress |
Dr
Jeff Downing |
02
9036 7748 |
| PRJ-000266* |
Subunit
vaccine against Infectious bursal disease virus |
Dr
Sandra Sapats |
03
5227 5770 |
| PRJ-000078* |
High
value products from hatchery waste |
Dr
Babu Santhanam |
08
8303 7646 |
| PRJ-000251* |
Avian
influenza: improved diagnostics for detecting antibodies to H5N1 |
Dr
Sandra Sapats |
03
5227 5770 |
Note: An asterisk (*)
indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project.
 Research
Budget: $3,015,000
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