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Our Operations - back to menuProgram 3
Objective: To maximise the contribution of R&D to the profitability and sustainability of the established rural industries for which RIRDC provides R&D management services.Chicken Meat Eggs Honeybee Rice Horses Fodder Crops Pasture Seeds Expenditure in 2001– 02: $ 8,220,098
Compared with 2000– 01: $8,984,659
3.1 Chicken MeatObjective: To support increased sustainability and profitability in the chicken meat industry by focusing research and development on those areas which will enable the industry to become more efficient and globally competitive and which will assist in the development of good industry and product images.
Some Key Performance Indicators
Expenditure in 2001–02: $1,651,587
- Time taken to regain accepted standards of health and productivity following disease outbreaks.
- Technical efficiency (in terms of feed conversion ratio).
- Total cost reductions achieved by improvements in the component costs in key performance areas.
- Per capita consumption of chicken meat products.
- Compliance with Codes of Practice.
Compared with 2000–01: $1,629,546Background
The Australian chicken meat industry currently produces approximately 650,000 tonnes of chicken meat annually with a retail value in excess of $2.5 billion.
Production has increased dramatically over the past thirty years, to the point where chicken meat now rivals beef as Australian consumers’ most popular meat. Annual growth in production of approximately 4% has been experienced by the industry over the past few years and modest growth in production volume is expected to continue for the next two to three years.
Most production is consumed domestically.
The industry is dominated by a number of quite large, vertically integrated companies. Each of these companies invests significant funds into in-house R&D, particularly in the areas of product development, processing technologies, quality control procedures, distribution and packaging and market research.
Research into disease management and industry biosecurity practices has re-emerged as a high priority following recent outbreaks of a virulent Australian strain of Newcastle disease virus. The development of appropriate long term disease control measures is essential if Australia is to retain a favourable flock health status.
Food safety issues relevant to chicken meat products will remain a major focus for the industry over coming years, as will the need to implement improved environment management practices.
Strategies
This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at Develop techniques to more effectively control poultry diseases, such as vaccines, diagnostic tests, epidemiological procedures, biosecurity measures and nutritional manipulations. Develop strategies for improving the quality and utilisation of feed through the development of rapid nutritional quality testing techniques, identifying nutritional interactions with disease, investigating new or alternative feed ingredients and developing technologies that improve the rate and efficiency of lean meat deposition in meat chickens. Establish critical control points and develop techniques for reducing contamination of live birds and poultry products with organisms that can cause food-borne disease, thereby safeguarding public health. Identify impediments to achieving an internationally competitive industry and develop tools for addressing these. Evaluate and, if appropriate, develop strategies to improve the image of the industry and its products in the eyes of the consumer. Facilitate the adoption of best practice standards in animal welfare for the chicken meat industry. Establish operational standards and develop strategies to improve the industry’s ability to manage environmental issues. Facilitate industry awareness and rapid adoption of new and improved technologies and practices.
www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/chick5yr.htmKey outputs in 2001–02
Demonstrated the potential of cytokines to enhance performance and vaccine efficacy in meat chickens. Demonstrated that Australia remains free of very virulent forms of infectious bursal disease virus. Published a landmark study on the antibiotic resistance profile of bacteria from Australian chicken, which will assist industry to identify appropriate usage patterns for the future and to identify areas of greatest need for the development of alternative strategies to the use of antibiotics. Developed a database of information on the environmental performance and management of Australian meat chicken farms. Conducted a workshop to identify issues and research needs related to the sourcing, use and management of chicken litter. Developed an Environmental Management System for Australian meat chicken farms and a strategy for its implementation. Launch of a welfare audit system program for the chicken meat industry.
CHICKEN MEAT SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 2000–01($) 2001–02 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2001–02
01/105 Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria Isolated from Poultry 01/151 Investigations into the Management of the Darkling Beetle 01/147 Diagnostic Tools for Detection of vv IBDV Strains and Characterisation of Australian Variants 01/149 New Therapeutics for Poultry 01/73 Chicken Meat / Egg Research in Progress 2001 01/106 Molecular Basis of Benign Colonisation of Salmonella sofia in Chickens Research Manager: Dr Vivien Kite
Phone: 02 9929 4077 Fax: 02 9925 0627 Email: vivien.kite@rirdc.gov.au
3.2 EggObjective: To support improved efficiency, sustainability, product quality, education and technology transfer in the Australian egg industry.
Some Key Performance Indicators
Expenditure in 2001–02: $1,824,263
- Research reports that identify the implications of policy reform and changes in the economic environment.
- Per capita egg consumption.
- Level of confidence of human nutrition advisers and consumers in eggs.
- Incidence of health-related problems.
- Feed cost per egg.
- Level of compliance of the industry with Codes of Practice.
- Acceptance of objective data on the environmental impact of the poultry industries.
- Knowledge base of industry personnel.
Compared with 2000–01: $1,975,955Background
The Australian egg industry comprises around 450 commercial producers, has an annual output of 215 million dozen eggs and a gross value of production of $340 million. Approximately 85 per cent of all eggs produced are sold in shell form, primarily through grocery chains. The balance is processed into liquid, frozen and dried egg products for use in the food service and processed food sectors.
The industry continues to undergo significant structural development due to deregulation in a number of States. In general, individual enterprises are becoming fewer in number and larger in size and there is a trend for increasing vertical integration along the production chain. Increasing globalisation of markets and freeing of world trade is pressuring the industry to improve its international competitiveness.
The industry is also becoming more sensitive to the requirements of their customers while consumers are becoming more demanding. This has led to the development of an increasingly diverse range of product lines. Public perceptions and opinions have also brought issues such as food safety, animal welfare and environmental impact into the forefront. Animal welfare concerns have led to increasing markets for eggs from alternative housing systems, although the market share is still small with free range eggs commanding an estimated 5.5 per cent of the market and barn laid eggs a further 2.5 per cent.
A recent review called by government into layer hen housing has resulted in a stronger emphasis on research into alternative egg production systems in Australia. An additional outcome of this review is the call from government for the industry to take a more active role in self-regulation of management quality standards. RIRDC is assisting the industry in answering this call by developing a national generic quality assurance program that addresses food safety, bird welfare, biosecurity and labelling.
Research into disease management has re-emerged as a high priority following recent outbreaks of a virulent Australian strain of Newcastle disease virus. Eradication of the virulent virus is essential if Australia is to maintain its current health status. A technical subcommittee has been formed by the RIRDC - Chicken Meat and Egg Sub-Programs to expedite R&D funding decisions in relation to Newcastle disease.
Strategies
This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/egg5year.htm Analyse the impact of economic and policy reforms on the Australian egg industry. Develop and satisfy the market for eggs and egg products. Safeguard public health. Minimise the effects of disease in layer flock health. Improve the efficiency of egg production through improved understanding of nutrition, physiology and husbandry. Improve bird welfare and bird performance. Optimise the environmental and social impact of egg production. Facilitate the training of researchers, producers and their support staff.
Key outputs in 2001–02
Prepared and distributed an Australian egg industry Annual Statistical Publication Reviewed industry statistical information needs resulting in a new databases project providing industry with enhanced regular statistical information Finalisation of a national generic quality assurance program covering food safety, bird welfare, farm biosecurity and labelling Assisted in the re-establishment of Australia’s Newcastle disease-free status following outbreaks in NSW in 2000 Completed a study on the molecular epidemiology of Newcastle disease virus in Australia Investigated methods of improving vaccination techniques Completed study programs for two postgraduates in the flock health area Improved understanding of the causes and control of vent trauma in laying hens Investigated the potential for common feed ingredients to cause digestive upsets in poultry Developed improved experimental methods for investigating laying hen behaviour and welfare Sent a team to the 6th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare which resulted in a series of topical and insightful travel reports and articles in a major industry magazine Conducted a workshop on research directions for enhanced welfare laying cages Published a review of food safety risk management in different egg production systems Investigated the nutritional value of promising alternative feed ingredients for poultry Published an annual combined Chicken Meat and Egg Program Research Report Published two editions of the free biannual industry newsletter In an Eggshell Published twelve editions of the free monthly RIRDC Egg Program newsletter Focus on Research.
EGGS SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 2000–01($) 2001–02 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance
EGG INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 2000–01($) 2001–02 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2001–02
02/043 Hindgut Function in Laying Hens 02/012 Cloacal Haemorrhage, Egg Peritonitis, Vent Trauma and Beak Trimming in the Laying Hen 02/011 Benefits of Abrasive Strips and Abrasive Paint in Layer Cages for Hens 01/143 A Non-Invasive Test of Stress in Laying Hens 01/154 Potential for Manufacturing Leather from Chicken Skin 01/153 Review of Information Sources used by Australian Rural Industries and Egg Industries Overseas 01/152 Comparison of the Relative Profitability of Imported and Local Strains of Commercial Layers 01/111 Food Safety Risk Management 01/102 Code of Practice for Biosecurity in the Egg Industry 01/044 AEIA 2000 Annual Statistical Publication 2000 and Background Report 01/090 Controlling Vent Trauma with Stock Wound Sprays 01/151 Investigations into the management of the darkling beetle 01/147 Diagnostic tools for detection of vv IBDV strains and characterisation of Australian variants 01/149 New Therapeutics for Poultry 01/73 Chicken Meat / Egg Research in Progress 2001 Research Manager: Dr Irene Gorman
Phone: 02 9570 9222 Fax: 02 9570 9763 Email: irene@aeia.org
HoneybeeObjective: To improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry.
Some Key Performance Indicators
Expenditure in 2001–02: $389,409
- Reduction in production losses caused by diseases.
- Maintenance of access to melliferous resources on public lands.
- Pollination information disseminated widely for both beekeepers and growers.
- Data on effect of collection,bulk handling,storage and processing on honey quality and purity available.
Compared with 2000–01: $362,180Background
Australian honey has the reputation in the world market of being a premium quality product. It is produced over a large geographical area from a wide variety of flowering plants which, because of fluctuating rainfall patterns and the extended budding cycles of much of the honey producing flora, tend to flower spasmodically.
About 70–80 per cent of honey produced is from native flora, especially eucalypts growing on public, Crown leasehold and freehold land. The flora are diverse, growing as heathland and mallee eucalypts on coastal plains and in semi-arid regions of Australia, through medium rainfall to subalpine regions and rainforests of Tasmania, northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Australia produces about 31,000 tonnes of honey a year with an estimated gross value of production of about $49 million. Domestic consumption is approximately 15,000 tonnes a year and the remainder is exported in pre-bulk form, making Australia the world's fourth largest exporter of honey. It is estimated that the gross value of production, including queen and package bees, beeswax, pollen and pollination, was $65 million. In addition, the value of pollination to the Australian economy has been estimated at between $600 million and $1.2 billion per year.
Strategies
This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/honeybee.html Increase profitability by improving hive husbandry and management practices. Maintain honeybee access and research into melliferous resources on both public and freehold land. Encourage agricultural and horticultural crop pollination by using honeybees. Improve methods of extracting, storing and transporting honey. Increase the use of honey in the food industry. Determine therapeutic values of specific floral species. Improve communications between the R&D sector, the honey industry and associated industries. Key outputs in 2001–02
Release of a new report, which provides an update of an evaluation of the economic value of pollination services for honeybees to the Australian economy. Improved information regarding the glycemic index of honey so that this can be used to provide advice for the use of honey by diabetics. Improved information regarding factors influencing the productivity of queen bees. Improved guidelines for the management and control of a range of important bee diseases. Development of improved methods for the use of liquid honey in food manufacturing. Promotion of a new crop pollination, extension package CD to assist beekeepers to effectively manage and encourage a professional pollination service. Promotion of a CD of all past R&D for the honeybee industry. Distribution of three issues of the new R&D Newsletter for the program.
HONEYBEE SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 2000–01($) 2001–02 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2001–02
02/081 R&D Plan for the Honeybee Program 2002-2007 02/072 Honeybee Research in Progress and Completed Projects for 2001–02 02/046 The Use of Honeybees as a Transfer Vector for Control of Core Rot in Apples 02/047 Techniques for the Detection of Adulterated Honey 02/048 Breeding hygienic disease resistant bees 01/150 Literature review of Chalkbrood – a Fungal Disease of Honeybees Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: 02 6272 4152 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: jeff.davis@rirdc.gov.au
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Last updated: October 2002
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