Our Operations - back to menu Investment priorities for Program 3: established industries
Honeybee
improve hive husbandry and management practices Pasture seeds
improve understanding of issues relating to multiple use of public resources
develop agricultural and horticultural crop pollination
improve extraction, storage and transport technologies
enhance information transfer develop export and import replacement opportunities Fodder crops
enhance information and communication systems
improve seed production systems
address environmental impacts and sustainability issues develop quality assurance systems Eggs
develop new products and markets
promote industry training and communication analyse the impact of economic and policy reforms on the Australian egg industry Horses
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 develop state-of-the-art information systems and technology Chicken Meat
improve horse management systems especially respiratory diseases, nutrition, lameness and limb injury, training-related problems, reproductive failure
develop better communications and learning strategies
develop Australian horse research capacities and links with international researchers and horse industry groups improve and protect the Australian industrys flock health status Rice
improve the quality and utilisation of feed
enhance food safety aspects of chicken meat
improve economic efficiency
improve consumer perceptions of the industry and its products
facilitate adoption of best-practice standards in animal welfare
improve the industrys ability to successfully manage environmental issues
enhance technology transfer develop rice varieties that meet market needs Program 3:
develop state-of-the-art crop production systems with particular reference to establishment, growing systems, nutrition, pests, weeds and disease
develop sustainable rice farming systems
enhance information transfer
develop more cost-effective storage, handling and transport systems
increase returns from milling and processing technologyObjective:
To maximise the contribution of R&D to the profitability and sustainabiity of the established rural industries for which RIRDC provides R&D management services.Expenditure in 200203: $7,140,956
Compared with 200102: $8,220,098
3.1 Chicken Meat
Objective: To support increased sustainability and profitability in the chickenmeat 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.Expenditure in 200203: $1,417,058
Compared with 200102: $1,651,587Background
The Australian chicken meat industry currently produces approximately 670,000 tonnes of chicken meat annually with a retail value in excess of $2.7 billion. Production has increased dramatically over the past thirty years, and 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 similar levels of growth in production volume are expected to continue for the next two to three years. Most production is consumed domestically.Research into disease management and industry biosecurity practices has re-emerged as a high priority following outbreaks in recent years of a virulent Australian strain of Newcastle disease virus and of infectious laryngotracheitis. 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 environmental management practices.
Key long term strategies
develop techniques to more effectively control poultry diseases, such as vaccines, diagnostic tests, epidemiological procedures, biosecurity measures and nutritional manipulations Key outputs in 200203
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 industrys ability to manage environmental issues
facilitate industry awareness and rapid adoption of new and improved technologies and practices completed a desk-top evaluation of the viability of a range of possible odour control strategies for chicken meat farms
conducted a national series of workshops aimed at improving awareness of farm biosecurity and the adoption of agreed industry biosecurity standards
evaluated a new, more immunogenic, fowl pox vaccine and provided the vaccine candidate to their commercialising partner for registration and ultimate release
developed recommendations for strategies that may be adopted to reduce dust emissions from chicken sheds
received royalties from sales of three vaccine products developed in earlier projects, including a new coccidiosis vaccine
worked with industry to confirm the emergence of a new strain of infectious bronchitis virus and its involvement in flock respiratory disease problems which occurred over summer 200203
established new guidelines for the optimal use of canola meal and cotton seed meals in poultry diets
CHICKEN MEAT SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 200102 ($) 200203 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 200203
03/035 Sustainability improvements in the Victorian chicken meat industry 02/151 Energy metabolism in chickens: physiological limitations 02/087 Control of intestinal Spirochaete infections in chickens Research Manager: Dr Vivien Kite
Phone: 02 9929 4077
Fax: 02 9925 0627
Email: vivien.kite@rirdc.gov.auSome key performance indicators
time taken to regain accepted standards of health and productivity following disease outbreaks 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/chick5yr.htm
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
3.2 Egg
Objective: To support improved efficiency, sustainability, product quality, education and technology transfer in the Australian egg industry.Expenditure in 200203: $728,364
Compared with 200102: $1,824,263Background
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.
Key long term strategies
analyse the impact of economic and policy reforms on the Australian egg industry Key outputs in 200203
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 released a generic national quality assurance program
developed a method for enriching the iron content of eggs
disseminated articles on the nutritional value of eggs via magazine
developed a vaccine for coccidiosis control
improved diagnostic tests for Mareks disease
recommended national monitoring and control strategies for Salmonella Enteritidis
released data on the nutritional value of an economic alternative to imported soybean meal in layer diets
released data on the upper inclusion levels of canola meal and cottonseed meal in layer diets
released information on the effects of feed enzymes on egg and eggshell quality
developed a method for assessing behaviour and welfare of hens in cages
conducted a workshop on precision poultry farming
published twelve editions of the free monthly RIRDC Egg Program newsletter Focus on Research
published two editions of the free biannual industry newsletter In an Eggshell
EGGS SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance*
EGG INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance* *200203 closing balance transferred to Australian Egg Corporation Limited as of 1 February 2003.
Publications in 200203
SR/114 New emergency animal disease arrangements a case study for the Australian egg industry 03/008 NEQAP-self paced training 03/006 Salmonella enteriditis surveillance and response options for the Australian egg industry 03/005 Behaviours of hens in cages-a pilot study using video tapes 02/157-02/160 National Egg Quality Assurance Program Course manuals 02/122 Claw abrasives in layer cages 02/071 Eggs research in progress and completed projects for 2001/2002 02/125 National Egg Quality Assurance Program manual plus disk 02/107 The economic impact of changing Australian egg production systems 02/092 Beak trimming training manual 02/093 Beak trimming trainer guidelines 02/094 High value production from the chicken egg Research manager: Dr Irene Gorman
Phone: 02 9570 9222
Fax: 02 9570 9763
Email: irene@aeia.orgSome key performance indicators
research reports that identify the implications of policy reform and changes in the economic environment 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
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
HoneybeeObjective: To improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry.
Expenditure in 200203: $327,175
Compared with 200102: $389,409Background
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 7080 per cent of honey is produced from native flora, especially eucalypts growing on public, Crown leasehold and freehold land. The flora is 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 worlds 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.
The current drought and bushfires have had a major impact on honey production. It is expected that production will be at least 40% lower than in past years. Associated increases in the price of honey will mean that the value of the industry will probably not change much. However, R&D levies, which are based on production, are expected to fall significantly in the next year or two unless climatic conditions change rapidly.
Key long term strategies
increase profitability by improving hive husbandry and management practices Key outputs in 200203
continue honeybee access and research into melliferous resources on both public and freehold land
encourage agricultural and horticultural crop pollination using honeybees
improve methods of extracting, storing and transport of honey and increase the use of honey in the food industry and for medical and therapeutic uses
improve communications between the R&D sector, the honey industry and associated industries published a book on commercial beekeeping in Australia Publications in 200203
issued new information and management strategies for improved queen bee production and management
assessed the potential of controlling bacterial pathogens of honeybees with fatty acids
published a major survey conducted by ABARE of the Australian honey industry
released a new report, which provides an update of an evaluation of the economic value of pollination services from 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
distributed two issues of the R&D Newsletter for the program and increased distribution of R&D publications
SR/126 Introduction and early performance of queen bees some factors affecting success 03/050 Study of the small hive beetle 03/077 Valuing honeybee pollination 03/039 Honeybee industry survey (ABARE) 03/028 Fatty acids an alternative control strategy for honeybee diseases 03/069 Honeybee RIP 200203 03/049 Introduction and early performance of queen bees some factors affecting success 03/037 Commercial beekeeping in Australia n/a Honeybee Newsletter
HONEYBEE SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: 02 6272 4152
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: jeff.davis@rirdc.gov.auSome key performance indicators
reduction in production losses caused by diseases 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
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
level of research uptake by industry
 
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Last updated: October 2003
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