Poultry Digest December/January 2014

Poultry Digest

December 2013/January 2014 $6.60

Volume 29, Number 3

Minimising antibiotic usage with integrated gut health management

Adrian Galea’s sheds suit a new poultry product

The phenomenon of ‘silver backing’ in free range hens

AECL industry forum looks at sustainability and welfare issues

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Contents

8 COVER STORy

Adrian Galea’s sheds suit a new poultry product Adrian Galea and his family operate a conventional broiler farm at Austral in Sydney’s outer suburban poultry belt. He has been a Cordina Chickens grower for the last five years and was one of a group of farms selected to develop and work with RSPCA protocols when Cordina decided to join the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme. Peter Bedwell reports on how the change is working out.

Adrian Galea

30 MANAGEMENT The phenomenom of ‘silver backing’ in free range hens

Poultry Digest December 2013/January 2014 Volume 29, Number 3 editorial enquiries: Peter Bedwell or Rosemary embery +6 1 2 4323 0005 or 0419 235 288 Journalist/Photographer: Alex Bedwell 0478 647 690 sales: Peter Bedwell Phone: +61 2 4323 0005 Mob: 0419 235 288 Or Mob: 0409 944 472 website: www.primarymedia.com.au POULTRY DIGesT consists of a bi-monthly management magazine and an annual industry review.

Published by C D supplies Pty Ltd (ACN 091 560 557)

It is often perceived by the public that free range birds enjoy a better welfare status, and this view is heavily promoted by animal liberation organisations and the supermarkets. But the rapid expansion of the free range sector has introduced a number of issues for the commercial production sector.

36 HEALTH Minimising antibiotic usage with integrated gut health management Feed products designed for intestinal health have emerged to contribute to health management practices, generally focusing on promoting the growth of beneficial microbiota and reducing pathogens.

News 4 Coles opts for RsPCA approved broiler sheds: what does that mean for the industry and layer farms? without doubt the big news in the Australian poultry industry in the new year was the Coles’ decision to adopt the RsPCA Approved Farming scheme for its private label chicken meat. Peter Bedwell examines what that means for the broiler growers and the layer industry as well.

Production: Rosemary embery email: primarymedia@bigpond.com

12 AeCL industry forum looks at sustainability and welfare issues

OFFICe ADDRess: 22 George street, east Gosford Nsw 2250 Ph: (02) 4323 0005

The focus of the 19th Australian egg Corporation Limited industry forum held in Perth in November was concerned with issues surrounding the industry’s sustainability and welfare, topically the cage versus free range debate.

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News Coles opts for RsPCA approved broiler sheds: what does that mean for the industry and the layer farms?

By PETER BEDWELL Without doubt the big news in the Australian poultry industry in the new year was the Coles’ decision to adopt the RSPCA approved broiler code for its private label chicken meat.

Many in the industry will have doubts about this development but the initiative has upsides as long as growers are adequately compensated for the lower stocking densities and extra labour involved with complying the RSPCA requirements.

Given the problems the layer industry has experienced in establishing commercially viable free range rearing systems after both Coles and Woolies announced that they would in the future no longer sell cage reared eggs, an RSPCA code for broilers seems a better alternative than the chaos that has befallen the egg industry.

The dilemmas facing layer farmers are no better illustrated than by an article written by John Thistleton in the Sydney Morning Herald of January 13.

In the aftermath of the Langfield’s AI outbreak near Young in NSW the well balanced article titled ‘Farmers say bird flu will affect free range’ traced the history and ramifications of the AI outbreaks in late 2013 and reflected the views of NSW Farmers Federation Layer Group President Bede Burke, a Tamworth layer farmer who has a modern cage layer operation near Tamworth (go to our website www.primarymedia.com.au and click on latest issues then scroll down to PD April/May 2013).

Reflecting on the damage done to Langfield’s operations by the AI outbreak, Mr Burke stated in the article “that losing control of operations, losing a market and consequently cash flow would be extremely hard for any producer as others would have moved into the market that they had to walk away from – there are so many issues”.

“I would be in a better financial position here if my farm burnt down and I got the value of my insured assets and my birds rather than waiting three months to start up again,” he stated in the article.

Mr Burke said that as a result of the AI outbreak he and his family had changed their plans.

“We had a business plan and funding approval to put in 50,000 free range birds:

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Bede Burke, NSW Farmers Federation Layer Group President we have canned that, it’s totally excluded from future operations. The 1% risk (of AI) is just not worth it.

“People who have grown and expanded into free range in the last seven years to be now 35-40% of production base, they are now carrying this risk factor that you cannot insure against and we don’t include in our pricing structure for our eggs,” he pointed out.

“Like the production of electricity, egg production needed a ‘base load’ to meet demand, which was available from the large scale caged sector.

“It would be foolish retailers who walk away from the cage industry, because we are able to provide that base load 24/7 supply,” Mr Burke stated in the article.

“To sum up and put things in perspective, we are all very nervous about the risk of the disease and our price outcomes.

“We are nervous about investing in free range set-ups, not just as a result of the disease outbreak, but with this interrogation and intense division by regulatory authorities,” he concluded in his interview with John Thistleton of the SMH. In December last year the ACCC announced that it would take action against two more layer producers, Snowdale in WA and Pirovic in NSW over labeling issues of free range eggs.

Though many in the poultry industry and the intensely private broiler sector may regard RSPCA broiler code compliance as

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

the lesser of two evils, it does allow the industry to market its products using existing facilities and grower skills that satisfy the needs of consumers, retailers and most growers and is hard for regulatory authorities like the ACCC to question as they have in the layer sector.

Further, the fact that RSPCA approved broiler production is still in enclosed sheds, lowers the obvious risk posed by AI in birds that have access to the outdoors and attending contamination risks.

So while the broiler sector has a solution to labeling and animal welfare/ consumer preference issue, where does this leave the layer industry?

If the ACCC now supported by consumer action groups like Choice and Get Up as well as the fearsome publicity generated by some animal rights groups, who are basically opposed to any viable form of commercial poultry operations, what can the layer sector do in response?

It seems unlikely that big retail will back away from their policy of not stocking caged layer produced eggs – an obvious solution.

As in many aspects of commercial livestock production we seem to follow patterns established in Europe and the UK in particular.

Free range, because of both disease risk and reluctance of consumers to spend more than necessary, has declined and barn laid is now a major segment of the layer market in w

News vthe EU – that looks like a likely option in Australia.

Are the supermarket chains justified in their contention that their stocking policies are consumer driven?

Coles Farms Manager Rob Cumine, speaking at the ‘Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition’ conference held at UNE in October 2013, pointed out that though consumers they surveyed were often confused over intensive farming methodology, the strong yearning identified was for ‘natural food products’.

If this is so, and it is fair to assume a powerful organisation like Coles is pretty good at consumer research, then it is easy to see how the often repeated criticism of animal rights groups and some sections of the media of ‘factory farming’ is so damaging to our industries.

It is not enough, obviously for the 21st Century Australian consumer, to be able to source affordable safe and always available eggs and broiler meat from farms where at least 50 years of constant development has made this possible.

In fact the very technologies that have made eggs and chicken so popular are now reviled as being ‘factory farming’.

Poultry Digest has a more simple suggestion as to why consumers and the retailers who serve them are so obsessed with production methods that on the face of it put production standards back decades and can only lead to increased cost and disease risk – Australians have too much money!

It is significant that in the US, currently with high unemployment and a low basic minimum wage of around US$7.25 an hour (Australia is around $22 an hour) are not that keen on paying more for alternative production systems.

In Europe and the UK in particular, the GFC and other financial factors have seen a

dramatic reduction in the sales of free range and organic products and in fact the media in the UK frequently run comedy skits mocking the ‘farmer’s markets’ afficianados (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtn1a7TnOE).

There has been a lot of comment on consumer preference and now disease risk but what about food safety?

It seems almost certain that the only layer farms that will be allowed to use free range labeling will be those operating on stocking densities of 1500 birds per hectare or less.

Even if barn laid takes up the demand that is currently being served by higher density free range farms, there will still be a demand in Australia for free range eggs from smaller farms where prices will be in excess of $7.50 a dozen.

The problem may be that such small farms won’t achieve economies of scale to purchase sophisticated perch and nest box systems like those installed in higher density free range or barn laid sheds.

This raises potential problems with floor eggs and also labeling issues, which could make traceability an issue for small scale production.

While all the concern currently has been for animal welfare there has been little discussion amongst both consumer activist and animal welfare groups on food safety.

Salmonella outbreaks in the UK egg industry twenty years ago nearly destroyed that industry. If there are salmonella issues resulting from informal or small scale production you can bet the usual suspects will blame ‘factory farming’ when in fact the problems could be caused by moving away from the technologies that delivered safe and affordable products in the first place!

Where to for the still substantial production of cage laid eggs?

Maybe the egg industry could learn from the pork industry. While this industry responded to consumer demand for sow stall free production it also, through Australian Pork Limited (the levy raising industry body), developed a marketing plan (the Butcher’s Battle plan) to protect a substantial segment of fresh pork sales from big retail.

Bede Burke is correct in stating that there needs to be ‘base load production’ to underpin the consumers’ need for eggs.

As with power there is much attention on alternative forms of energy like wind and solar and little on the need for the majority of power which derives from coal fired installations.

Even if the free range/barn laid share of the market exceeds 50% that leaves a substantial number of consumers that don’t want to pay more than necessary to eat eggs.

Australians may not always be this prosperous – we dodged the bullet of the global financial crisis, but rising levels of unemployment, increased energy and fuel costs and interest rates, or any combination of these factors could radically change buying patterns in short order.

The changes that took place in retail shopping habits in both the US and EU after the global financial crisis hit were dramatic: a consumer in Australia faced with employment and rising livings may not be as keen on buying cage free production as big retail think they are today.

Eggs are a staple product and if consumers can’t find them at the right price on supermarket shelves they are probably willing to walk a few extra metres to the traditional butchers shop, produce market or even newsagent. The industry needs to find ways to achieve alternative routes to consumers in response to current cage free supermarket policies.

Grower concerns on chicken standards Chicken growers fear their margins will be squeezed by one of the major supermarkets’ move to source chicken meat from farms that meet RSPCA standards.

The Coles supermarket says its decision to source all home-branded fresh chicken meat from RSPCA approved farms will improve welfare conditions for millions of chickens at no extra cost to customers.

“Customers want to know where and how their products have been grown or developed,” said Coles Chief Operating Officer John Durkan.

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He said the move to RSPCA approved chicken meat, followed similar ethical sourcing initatives to stock hormone-free beef, pork from farms that don’t use sow stalls and free-range eggs.

Allan Bullen, a chicken grower and Chicken Meat Group President with the Victorian Farmers Federation, says production costs for growers who raise birds in line with the RSPCA standards could be as much as 25% more than other farms.

Coles has said it will absorb the extra

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

costs of production, but Mr Bullen fears growers will face pressure to keep prices down.

“It’s a marketing ploy by the supermarkets to adopt these policies. We rely on the customers for us to grow chickens, so if that’s what the customers want, we need to go that way,” Mr Bullen said.

“All we’re saying to both the customers, the supermarkets and the processors is if this is what you want we can do it, but we need to be paid, we can’t afford to stand the extra cost of doing it.”

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Adrian Galea explains how they top up the litter level with BioBedding at the end of the batch.

Photography by Alex Bedwell.

Adrian Galea’s sheds suit a new poultry product

By PETER BEDWELL

A

drian Galea and his family operate a conventional broiler farm at Austral in Sydney’s outer suburban poultry belt.

He has been a contract grower for Cordina Chickens for the last five years and prior to that grew for Baiada.

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“When the Cordina company decided to join the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme just over two and a half years ago, Adrian’s farm was one of a group selected to develop and work with RSPCA protocols,” explained Paul Elias, Cordina’s Farms Manager.

“The older curtain sided sheds, properly managed are ideal for growing the RSPCA approved birds and we feel that we are able to multi-batch on our litter by carefully managing the bedding and shed conditions,”Adrian said.

“At the end of a batch we decake and compost the litter then top up the litter level using Rob James of BioBedding’s recycled timber bedding material.

“BioBedding products have a very low moisture content and as a result we start with a super dry material which means with careful management we can preserve the viability of the bedding.

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

“As Direct BioBedding product is manufactured from recycled white softwood it saves new trees from the sawmill which helps the environment and justifies our ‘Forest Friendly Animal Bedding’ description,” said Rob James.

“We put the kiln dried softwood through a multiple shredding process which opens up the wood fibres for maximum ammonia adsorption. The pine also has a natural fresh scent.

“This fine shred then goes through a three stage screening process followed by a mega air driven vacuum based dust extraction system.

“The key to the success of our BioBedding product in broiler shedding, is its dryness combined with it’s absorption ability, resulting in less hock burn, breast blister and mould based disease, all of which results in better growth rates and higher levels of meat quality,” Rob said. w

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“Keeping the product dry from manufacture through to delivering the BioBedding on farm has been a key to our success as growers use less energy to keep bedding dry throughout the batch.

“If bedding arrives containing high levels of moisture gowers start their batch with a big disadvantage, both in terms of cost to dry it and in terms of bird health” he said.

“The walking floor delivery trucks used by BioBedding help make the task of topping up easier and the service offered by BioBedding has been very reliable which helps in turnaround,”Adrian added.

“We can usually get two to three batches in between complete clean out depending on weather conditions and so far we have had no problems with either bird health or odour – keeping the litter dry is the key to success,” he said.

“We have co-operated with the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme concept and understand that this is where the industry is heading.

“Our older style sheds that were originally designed for lower stocking densities, are ideal today for the RSPCA Broiler code but yes it does involve more work,” Adrian said.

Paul Elias, despite the challenges, is pleased with his grower networks conversion to meet the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards “The simple fact is that the modern consumer is animal welfare conscious and as producers we have to recognize that and supply retailers with a product consumers want,” he said.

When Coles and the RSPCA announced their policy of only stocking broiler meat grown under the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standards for their private label products, some farmer groups expressed a concern that the added cost of compliance would be born by growers.

Paul Elias explains that Cordina recognize a ‘density adjustment’ in their remuneration scheme and an added bonus for the extra work in setting up the shed to the RSPCA Standards.

Though animal welfare friendly growing systems have attracted much controversy both within the industry and through consumer regulatory concerns, the success of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme both overseas and now in Australia are beyond dispute.

Certainly though Adrian’s older sheds might be regarded as low tech, combined with his management skills and ability to adapt to a changing circumstance, he has insured his viability as a broiler grower for 21st Century consumers for many years into the future.

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Top: Older conventional sheds get new life as RSPCA Approved broiler production units. Centre: Well kept older sheds provide a rewarding option for experienced farmers like the Galea family. Above: The decaked composted litter is used as organic fertiliser.

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

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THE SCIENCE OF HEALTHIER ANIMALS

News AeCL industry forum looks at sustainability and welfare issues

By BRENDON CANT Appropriately, as first speaker at the R&D session of the 19th Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) industry forum in Perth last November, Greg Mills of Go Ahead Business Solutions referred to the newly formed Council for Sustainable Egg Farming and the Model Code of Practice review.

The focus of the forum was, effectively, concerned with issues surrounding the industry’s sustainability and bird welfare, topically the caged versus free range debate.

To improve the quality of the science and to help with this, the council, which he chairs, would try to ensure independence was maintained and issues were looked at holistically.

“We need to look at environmental, welfare and worker issues in a production context and we need to evaluate overseas research in an Australian context. It’s all about literature reviews, rather than doing the actual research,” he said.

This opening address really set the theme for the balance of the R&D session and those sessions that followed on Wednesday, November 20 and Thursday, November 21, including on-farm profitability, marketing and nutrition and egg industry issues.

Jojo Jackson, AECL R&D Project Co-ordinator, urged producers and other industry stakeholders to visit AECL’s new R&D pages on the website, saying that R&D was not just a bunch of nerds in labcoats and that recent AECL research had improved egg quality and the efficiency and profitability of egg production systems.

Its investment was also well leveraged, with others investing $1.30 for every AECL $1.

Mini Singh, University of Sydney, who addressed the use of range and pasture consumption in free range poultry production, suggested that free range system strengths were natural behaviours, relieved stocking density, reduced feather pecking and greater carotene and omega 3 in eggs.

Weaknesses included greater disease and parasite risk, damage from climate, higher labour costs, inferior biosecurity and dilution of nutrients.

She referred to a study by University of

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New England, CSIRO and Poultry CRC which used wireless technology to see why some birds left sheds to range and some didn’t.

In the younger flock, 15% went out every day and in the older flock more than 60% went out every day.

Study of the grass consumption of birds in a free range system showed that laying hens diet comprised 12% grass and broilers only 4%.

The finding was that moderate grass eating was good for the birds, but not in high amounts.

Dietary energy components may need to be adjusted to compensate for the grass consumption.

Poultry veterinarian, Peter Scott, pointed the finger at waterfowl as the big biosecurity threat, with ducks on farms able to spread the avian influenza virus.

Whistling ducks, for example, migrated from the Northern Territory to Papua New Guinea.

Complementing this presentation was one by Dr Santiago Ramirez, poultry nutritionist with Fractal Farming, which has developed software, based on producer observations and inputs, that can diagnose disease, especially the type of avian influenza.

Opening the second day, AECL Program Manager, Marketing, Yelli Kruger, gave the audience some data and survey feedback and also outlined the focus of AECL’s next wave of marketing, which would assure consumers of the goodness of eggs and, when eaten as a protein source for breakfast, they can help people to subsequently eat better during the day.

“Kept in the fridge, eggs are a quick, easy and convenient meal and currently Australians are eating about 4.2 eggs a week,” Ms Kruger said.

She highlighted the benefits of eggs as: packed with goodness; a source of energy; a source of vitamins and minerals; a natural food; a source of protein; satisfies hunger and easy to use.

Thomas Crooks of the Heart Foundation’s tick program followed, saying that the Foundation sees eggs as part of the solution for helping Australians make healthy eating choices.

The Foundation currently recommends eating six fresh eggs a week.

Nutritionist Sharon Natoli declared that diet was the single most important w

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

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4 1. Greg Mills, Go Ahead Business Solutions. 2. James Kellaway, MD AECL. 3. Jojo Jackson, AECL R&D Project Coordinator. 4. Mini Singh, University of Sydney.

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News v attribute for human health and that the consumption of eggs every day was not associated with any increased risk of coronary heart disease.

“There doesn’t appear to be any increased health risks associated with egg consumption,” she said.

New government dietary guidelines suggest that eggs are a core food and alternative to meat.

CSIRO’s Manny Noakes agreed, saying that people needed to focus more on eating core foods and that protein had been under-valued over the years.

Professor Noakes said eggs were nutrient dense, inexpensive and high in satiety.

On a cost comparison basis, as a protein source, eggs compared very favourably, being about 87 cents per 100gram serve, compared with lean beef at $1.80 and oily fish at $3.00.

Veterinarian Kevin Chennell of WA Department of Agriculture and Food and a member of the National Animal Welfare Committee, said that DAFWA’s current advice was support of the code of practice: “while recognising it’s not law, it would give producers a level of confidence against charges of cruelty under Animal Welfare Act 2002 in WA”.

Labelling was viewed as being under consumer law and the ACCC and the code was never intended to provide a formal definition for the term free range for the purpose of labelling and marketing eggs of chicken meat.

On the disease front, SA veterinarian Margaret Sexton was forthright in her commentary on salmonella, saying it was a popular misconception that eggs were sterile, reminding the audience, in no uncertain terms, that eggs were delivered via the cloaca, which also delivered faeces.

Dr Sexton said point of lay pullets typically shed salmonella for 6-12 weeks.

Older birds infected with salmonella could shed for life.

Flock control strategies to minimise salmonella included: single age sheds; pest control; vaccination; organic acid in feed; equipment/management strategies; removing eggs from contact with faeces; minimise stress on birds; clean nest pads, nests and egg belts, remove leakers quickly.

She advocated the promotion to the public of safer handling of eggs, suggesting they be reminded that if any raw egg foods (aioli, mayonnaise, hollandaise) are out of the fridge for four hours, throw it out and if it’s been out for two hours put it back in the fridge.

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5 1. Peter Newing and Jan Penter AAA Eggs. 2. Thomas Crook, Heart Foundation.

3. Yelli Kruger, AECL Program Manager, Marketing. 4. Sharon Natoli, Nutritionist.

5. LtoR: Joe Sacca, Forestdale Farm Fresh Eggs, Dennis Green, Altona Hatchery, Bruce Meaney, Lienerts SA and Jack Mooney, Armidale NSW.

Tony De Thomasis, head of Trade Chill with Woolworths, explained that eggs were worth $300 million a year in sales to Woolworths, of which free range was $132m.

Woolworths had 28% of the national egg market.

Customer growth was clearly in free range at 13.6%, versus 3.38% for caged.

“The real issue is we can’t source enough cage free eggs and in November we received just under two thirds of what we’d ordered,” Mr Thomasis said.

“Our decisions on eggs are driven by customers and we believe that the industry

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

is three years behind customers.

“As some of our stores are selling very few caged eggs, we will trial not selling caged eggs at those stores and we’ll give away caged eggs by 2018,” he said.

Mr Thomasis also highlighted how much the customer price gap had closed in the past five years, with caged eggs costing $2.69 in 2009, versus $3.15 in 2013, barn eggs $4.49 in 2009 versus $4.30 in 2013 and free range $4.89 in 2009 versus $4.70 in 2013.

Woolworths home brand eggs were now colour coded, with barn laid being brown, caged red and free range green.

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News New strategies needed to meet the changing market

By PETER BEDWELL Recently Poultry Digest went out on a buying spree to see how many different descriptors on poultry product packaging we could find.

We stopped when the allotted $50 ran out. A box of ‘pasture reared organic’ eggs created the biggest ding in the budget at $11.50 purchased from a great little deli a stones throw from one of NSW’s best Central Coast. Next from the same shop came a box of ‘pastured eggs’ with a coy ‘free range’ slash on the bottom right hand corner of the box – kerching – $10.50!

At the local IGA, 12 organic free-range eggs labeled as being ‘1000 hens/ha on pasture – no beak trimming’, came in at just over $5 and as they were between 590g and 700g represented better value!

Then there’s the Coles 12 large (700g) Australian Free Range Eggs clearly labeled ‘That’s a maximum of 10,000 birds per hectare outdoors” which were the best egg buy at under $5.

Finally we bought a whole Coles brand ‘RSPCA broiler code’ approved small bird just under 0.4kg for $7.80.

But is all this variety in rearing

methods and labeling as such going to keep the ACCC happy after the regulator has indicated that it favours small density, i.e. under 1500 birds per hectare (BPH) farms and has problems with beak trimming as well as higher density farms like the Coles approved free range farms.

Should an ACCC ruling go against Coles, that retailer will probably move to ‘barn laid’ to maintain their stated ‘cage free’ egg stocking policies with a price point similar to their Coles 10,000 BPH code free range product.

Coles will probably source free range from farms with the lower stocking density of less than 1500 BPH which will be priced at around $8 a box.

One of the advantages of the Coles 10000 BPH code, is that farms like the Bear’s Lagoon Vic Farmpride farm visited

by Poultry Digest for the Oct/Nov 2012 issue (go to our website to see this issue) is that the sheds with both Big Dutchman and Vencomatic housing systems can be converted to ‘barn laid’ by basically

keeping the pop doors closed.

This strategy, apart from possibly delivering better levels of nutrition and productivity offers better levels of biosecurity and hen safety.

The Big Dutchman system is the Natura Nova Twin System and the Vencomatic is the Bolegg Terrace system.

According to the Vencomatic company website, the Bolegg Terrace is a compact, but complete aviary system for layers which CONTINUeD ON PAGe 20 w

Above: The Vencomatic Bolegg Terrace system is a compact but complete aviary system for layers.

16

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Think ahead with poultry people

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News w CONTINUeD FROM PAGe 16 can be placed in adjacent rows in the house. Laying nests, perches, feeding and drinking lines and manure belts are integrated into the system.

The special system design allows birds to move up easily. It allows a higher bird density compared to normal floor housing.

With the high quality integrated Vencomatic nests, floor eggs and second quality eggs are reduced to a minimum.

The Bolegg Perfecta system makes it possible to house a higher bird density by increasing useable floor area through the use of tiers. The layout is based on the concept of traditional floor housing, which ensures easy management and good results.

Manure belts are integrated in the system for periodic manure removal. The system allows integration of feeding and drinking lines, which improves the overview in the house.

While the various barn laid systems might be ideal for current big retail sales strategies as well as achieving viable production efficiencies persuading buyers, who have been bombarded by vociferous animal rights and social action groups with the free range message, might be the hardest part of the process.

Australians don’t do barns; they are a European and US concept – we build sheds!

Where does this leave the cage laid eggs which probably still account for around 50% of egg sales?

Australia has been through a prolonged period of prosperity. For 20 years we have enjoyed constant growth and increasing prosperity and we are the third wealthiest nation in the world with high wages, low employment and low interest rates.

That may change in the near future as unemployment is creeping up and growth has stagnated.

Our high dollar is great for car buyers and holidaymakers but bad for manufacturing and our export industries and the golden days of the mining boom are over.

Wages only grew by 2.5% last year but property prices, rents and energy costs all rose sharply – only food remained relatively cheap.

In this climate, cost may become more important than anthropomorphic views on how are food producing animals are reared.

In other words a $2 plus difference between cage laid and barn laid per dozen and a $5 gap per dozen between small scale free range eggs and the basic cage product might be what changes consumer values in

20

the near future.

Recently Australia went through the biggest consumer focus group of all – an election.

The result was a swing back to conservative politics with the Greens and many of their ideals getting a belting. There are already signs that the average Joe is getting a bit fed up with bleating vegans and inner city trendies telling them what they should be eating.

Then there’s the recent outbreaks of AI. There is little doubt that more free range and particularly more small scale free range farms pose a greater biosecurity risk.

Just a year before the recent Federal election a pole conducted by the largely urban circulating Sydney Morning Herald stated that 67% would buy free range if they could and for 22% cost of free range over cage was not a factor. If we asked or better still, observed buying habits today, it’s a safe bet that the preference for free range would be 50% or less.

For the present a move to more barn laid seems like a viable strategy for retailers, growers, regulators and maybe even consumers.

But maybe its time industry considered not only the 50% of consumers who, provided the product is safe and of similar or better quality, will opt for the least expensive option.

Also as an industry we need to consider the biosecurity aspects of alternative and small scale production. AI doesn’t just kill w

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Top and centre: The Vencomatic Patio system – enclosed all of life cycle environmentally controlled broiler production. Above: Birds can easily move up to perches in the Bolegg layer system.

Highly effective against Avian Influenza including H7

News v birds. Australia, though having suffered numerous outbreaks of AI in recent times, has been lucky enough to avoid highly pathogenic strains of AI which as has sadly been demonstrated in SE Asia, China and even in Europe, killed people.

Most of the controversy over production systems in recent times has concerned the layer sector.

However the push for free range broiler meat production, once again driven by retailers has been relentless.

Once again the ACCC have been highly active in prosecuting various poultry producing companies over labeling issues.

Rather than struggle with concepts like ‘free roaming’ maybe its time the broiler industry headed off in the other direction and took a serious look at the advantages of group housing broiler production.

In Europe, particularly in growing markets like Russia, group broiler systems are growing in importance as energy, labour cost and feed efficiency as well as biosecurity are more important issues than ill-informed human perceptions of animal welfare.

Vencomatic, along with a growing number of other companies, mostly in Europe but also China and Asia, produces a well-developed group housing broiler system – the Patio range.

This is a combined system of hatching and brooding and it has up to six tiers with wood shavings or straw as bedding material.

There is no wire mesh invloved.

It is of interest to note that in developing its production systems, Vencomatic runs its own farms.

Broiler meat from the Patio System sells in supermarkets in regions of northern Europe that pre-GFC would have similar sales levels of free range poultry product sales to Australia today. But not any more – the GFC and numerous outbreaks of AI changed all that.

Not surprisingly, Simon McKenzie, Vencomatic’s Australian Regional Manager, is a firm fan of barn laid systems and Vencomatic’s in particular.

“They offer versatility if, in the instance of increased disease, predator or climatic risk, there is a need to restrict or abandon bird access to the outdoors.

“Also the constant criticism from not only animal rights and consumer groups of cage layer systems, coupled with big retailer cage free policies, are combining to make the viability of cage systems questionable in the future.

“If consumers can be sold on the

22

The Bolegg Perfecta system makes it possible to house a higher bird density by increasing useable floor area through the use of tiers.

concept of barn laid rather than free range as they have been in Europe that could be a win/win for both farmers and consumers,” Simon suggested.

Speaking at a Vencomatic seminar organised just before VIV Asia in 2011, Vencomatic General Manager Peter Schreurs, in his address on his company’s Patio system, revealed that although animal welfare issues were still a consideration in Europe to a certain extent, energy savings, carbon footprint and the ability to reduce antibiotic use in broiler production using a fully enclosed environment, had become selling or point of difference advantages used by retailers to sell product to environmentally aware consumers in Northern Europe.

Maybe its time for the Australian poultry industry to take the initiative and at least look at the possibility of establishing a fully enclosed all of life cycle environmentally controlled broiler

production before AI and consumer sentiment turns from animal welfare to hip pocket!

Finally we are always banging on in Australia about selling our agricultural produce to China and maybe that could include chicken meat but the two concerns in that market would be price and safety.

Sophisticated European cage broiler system like the Patio system deliver both – it’s hard to imagine too many Chinese consumers being concerned about how many birds have access to free range paddocks.

The reverse of this argument is that if we persist with risky outdoor and small scale operations disease could, if it took out our breeding stock, for instance – wipe the industry out.

Would retailers wait until the industry eradicated AI and slowly recovered or just import from wherever it could source the cheapest product - China maybe!

AAs on the move Australasian Agricultural Services Pty Ltd has announced its relocation from Tingalpa, an eastern suburb of Brisbane to new custom built premises in the Redlands Business Park, 18 Lennox Street Redland Bay Qld 4165 just south east of Brisbane.

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Despite the move the postal address remains the same – PO Box 2301 Wellington Pt Qld 4160, but the phone numbers have changed to (07) 3829-3242 and fax (07) 3829-1906.

Web Site: www.ausagservices.com.au

SKOV SK OV F Free-Range ree -Range V Ventilation entilation

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Features F eatures •

Large Large graphic graphic touch touch screen screen - navigation navigation via icons icons on the screen scr • Special free-range free-range functions functions • Automatic Automatic change between between free-range free-range ventilation ventilation and normal normal ventilation ventilation • CO2 ccontrol, ontrol, also in free-range free-range mode • Basic and broiler broiler production production facilities Pop-holes to to be opened automatically automatically or manually (sensor on doors if manually) Pop-holes

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Automatic Automatic ventilation ventilation turned turned off in free-range free-range mode Automatic change of alarm alarm for for high/low high/low temperature temperature Automatic

CO2 vventilation entilation ac active tive in fr free-range ee-range mode (will star startt vventilation entilation if C CO O2 is ttoo oo high) • Pressure Pressure alarm alarm •

• Fans Fans only operate operate if needed (too (too high temperature temperature or too too high CO CO2) When When pop-hole pop-hole door closes, closes, the program program changes back to to “Normal “Normal ventilation” ventilation”

News RFM announces merger to form RFM Poultry In a statement on its website Rural Funds Management made the following announcement.

“RFM is pleased to announce that the merger of RFM Chicken Income Fund and RFM Australian Wine Fund with RFM RiverBank (to be renamed Rural Funds Group) and the de merger of the RFM Chicken Income Fund to form RFM Poultry was completed today, December 19, 2013.

“The merger forms part of the revaluation proposal which received overwhelming support from unitholders at meetings held on December 16, 2013.

“The Unit Registry (managed by Boardroom Limited) is currently being updated to reflect the merger and access to

the Unit Registry will be disabled until Monday December 23, 2013 to enable these changes to be recorded.”

“Unitholders will receive notification in early January 2014 detailing their new holdings in Rural Funds Group.

Unitholders who previously held Chicken Income Fund Units will also receive confirmation of their new holdings in RFM Poultry.

“Rural Funds Group is forecast to pay a yield of 8.2% per annum with the first quarterly distribution expected to have a record date of December 31, 2013, and a payment date in late January 2014. RFM Poultry is expected to pay its first quarterly distribution in January 2014.

“One of the main aims of the merger is

Inglewood Free Range Organic broiler farm acquired by Country Heritage Feeds Staff and the many customers of Inglewood Free Range Organic Poultry would have been pleased to hear in November last year that ownership had passed to the Youngberry Family who own Country Heritage Organic Stockfeeds located at Pittsworth in Queensland.

The Inglewood free range Australian Certified Organic poultry farm that processes more than 30,000 broiler chickens a week had been acquired by RM Williams Agriculture which went into receivership in July 2013.

The Inglewood operation was one of a number of agricultural enterprises that also included beef cattle and carbon farming operations. Of all its enterprises the Inglewood operation was considered to be the enterprise with most promise as a business into the future.

The Inglewood enterprise was the biggest employer in the Inglewood region with more than 100 staff.

Country Heritage Feeds, lead by Andrew Youngberry and his family, first became involved in growing organic produce in 1983.

Strategically located right in the heart of the premium grain belts of the Darling Downs, Country Heritage Feeds has been setting a standard as a supplier of organic stockfeeds since 1997.

26

Country Heritage Stockfeeds was a long term supplier of organically certified feed to the Inglewood operation for a number of years so the company is very familiar with the business and its potential.

Recently the Country Heritage Stockfeeds milling operations at Pittsworth was expanded with the acquisition of a new Skiold disc mill and other milling infrastructure all supplied and installed by Martin Liese and his team at Vacuum & Milling Solutions of Jimboomba Queensland.

Poultry Digest visited the facility for a report in the April/May 2011 edition (go to poultrydigest.realviewtechnologies.com then click on ‘archives’ to see the electronic

to provide liquidity through the listing of the Rural Funds Group on the ASX. The listing is expected to occur in late January 2014. It is also expected that RFM Poultry will be listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX) during late February 2014.

“Prior to the listings, unitholders will receive new statements for their holdings, which will contain their Security Register Number (SRN) which they will require before they can deal or trade their units,” the statement read.

Contract broiler chicken grower Proten which had made a bid to take the RFM Chicken Income Fund withdrew its offer after the results of the RFM unitholders vote were announced.

version of that issue).

The Inglewood enterprise was started by the Wiley brothers who turned their organic wheat farming operations into an organically certified free range broiler growing operation.

Today under its new and experienced owners, Inglewood has the opportunity to expand and supply the ever increasing demand both organic and free range broiler meat.

The Inglewood brand is sold through the major retail outlets as well as specialist organic product retailers and more recently Inglewood has established export sales of organic poultry meat in high value markets like Hong Kong.

Country Heritage Stockfeeds today meet the demand for specialist poultry diets to suit niche markets. These organic feeds include a standard diet and both vegetarian and soy free options for growers catering to specific consumer food demand.

First human case of H7N9 in Hong Kong Hong Kong has reported its first case of the H7N9 avian influenza strain, signaling the virus is spreading beyond mainland China since it first emerged in April 2013.

The victim is identified as a domestic worker from Indonesia, who has a history of traveling across the border to purchase and slaughter chicken.

The 36-year-old avian influenza patient was reported in critical condition at a hospital in Hong Kong.

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Since its discovery in mainland China in 2013, H7N9 avian influenza has caused 139 people in China and Taiwan to become ill and has been fatal to 45 people.

Local governments in China have become more restrictive with live markets in China in an effort to curb the spread of avian influenza. In early December, the Shanghai government announced it would halt live poultry trading from the beginning of the lunar year until late April.

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New PRODUCTs BeC appointed distributor for PKA and Vac-Pac Plus International On Tuesday December 3, 2013, BEC Feed Solutions and US-based company Animal Science Products Incorporated (ASP), hosted a seminar in Brisbane on ‘Managing for optimum immunity through drinking water and spray vaccinations’.

Present were Bailey Reynolds, President of ASP and Ryan Izard, ASP’s Chief Science and Technology Officer as well as Brett Antonio, Managing Director of BEC Feed Solutions and other key BEC staff.

BEC Feed Solutions has been appointed the exclusive distributor for the Veterinary Specialty products Division of Animal Science Products in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.

One of the products BEC will be distributing is Vac Pac Plus International.

This product has been specifically developed to counteract the three major negative effects to proper vaccination when added to stock solutions and drinking water.

Oxidisers, pH imbalances and low tonicity all create activity which inactivates vaccines and severely reduces proper immunisation.

Mr Izard stated in his presentation that Vac Pac Plus International provides protection against oxidisers, more than two hours of 100% vaccine protection against high chlorine levels and contains a unique buffering system that sustains a pH climate for vaccines, regardless of whether the water used is acidic or alkaline.

Some of the benefits Mr Izard said that Vac Pac Plus International has, are that it contains no GMO or ingredients of animal origin meaning it is not a milk powder based product.

Ryan Izzard, ASP’s Chief Science and Technology Officer.

“Therefore it has faster wetting and improved solubility which results in less time mixing and does not clog drinker nipples,” he said.

Vac Pac Plus International contains a rich blue dye, which provides visual assurance that the vaccinated water is being consumed by marking the birds.

Another product BEC will be distributing is PKA pH Water Treatment. PKA is a water treatment product designed for lowering pH as well as cleaning and de-scaling water lines.

Ryan Izard presented a paper that was titled ‘Benefits of drinking water acidification program’.

Mr Izard explained that poor water quality can lead to bacteria growth, algae slime, mineral scale deposition and a build up of biofilm, which in turn can restrict water flow through pipe lines and result in a lower rate of body weight gain.

“Some of the benefits of PKA pH

Big Dutchman takes over Zucami The Big Dutchman group based in VechtaCalveslage (Germany) is taking over the Spanish poultry equipment supplier Zucami, based in Beriáin near Pampola, which recently became insolvent.

“As a result of the bidding procedure, the insolvency court accepted our concept presented in December,” confirms Bernd Meerpohl, Chairman of the Big Dutchman AG board of management which stated Big Dutchman would purchase the assets of the competitor from Northern Spain while maintaining its headquarters and saving approximately half of the 120 jobs.

28

Business will continue under the new name Zucami Poultry Equipment S.L. “Even as part of the Big Dutchman group, Zucami will remain an independent brand on the international market,” said Meerpohl. “Management and distribution will not be affected substantially. We are also happy that the shareholders of the company are still available as consultants.”

“The Spanish company has earned an outstanding reputation in the industry and a very impressive presence in some regions.

Zucami’s product line is designed in a very different but interesting way compared to

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Water Treatment are that it is more than three times stronger than a citric acid and therefore requires much lower addition rates to acidify drinking water to biologically effective low pH levels.

“PKA in drinking water has no bitter taste and therefore does not affect the drinking rate of animals,” Mr Izard explained.

“These products have demonstrated excellent results in scientific trials and farm trials. They have become well established throughout the intensive livestock industry and are the dominant products in the United States,” said Bailey Reynolds, President of ASP. “This unique line of products will make an excellent addition to our portfolio,” said Brett Antonio.

“Our strong technical foundations and relationships with key clients will complement the innovative products and expertise of the ASP team,” he said.

Big Dutchman’s products, thus ideally complementing the group’s product range.

Big Dutchman is a world leading equipment supplier for modern pig and poultry production. The independent, family owned company based in Vechta-Calveslage offers its products in more than 100 countries and achieved a turnover of EUR 732 million in the past business year.

Zucami distributes housing equipment worldwide and is considered a leading supplier of equipment for laying hens in Spain and South America.

In 2012, the company’s turnover still amounted to approximately EUR 110 million. However, this figure took a nosedive in the last year of crisis, 2013.

MANAGeMeNT

The phenomenon of ‘silver backing’ in free range hens

By MINGAN CHOCT, UNE, Armidale and MICHAEL SOMMERLAD, Poultry Works Consultancy

T

he free range sector of the poultry industry is expanding rapidly in Australia representing approximately 40% of laying hens and 15% of broilers.

It is often perceived by the public that free range birds enjoy a better welfare status, and this view is heavily promoted by animal liberation organisations and the supermarkets.

The rapid expansion of the free range sector has introduced a number of issues for the commercial production sector.

Firstly, free-range production has not been widely practiced in Australia for many years, and many of the skills required to maintain viable production levels have been lost, with very few poultry professionals possessing the necessary knowledge and experience to assist this sector.

The industry will have to re-adjust itself, and embrace the old husbandry skills that have been lost some 50 years ago.

Along the way, there will be productivity losses through efficiency drops, biosecurity

30

issues and environmental problems.

Secondly, the birds used in the free range system today have been specifically bred for indoor production systems, which often leads to less than optimum performance when they are placed in a free range system.

Professor Geoff Hinch at the University of New England used Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to reveal that only about 15% of hens go outside every day and 10.6% of the hen population never go outside onto the range. Interestingly, 89.4% of the hens used the outdoor range on at least one day over a 51-day experimental period. The distance that birds travel on the range also varies tremendously.

Thirdly, the public wants safe, cheap, fresh food produced sustainably and ethically. It is not hard to see the inherent contradictions in this thinking.

The challenges of educating the public, the politicians and the interest groups would be immense for the poultry industry if it were to meet some of the demands of a

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

society where there is a complete disconnect between agriculture and food production.

In this article, we would like to touch upon one area of challenge, i.e. welfare management. Indeed, welfare management is probably the most demanding challenge because cannibalism is highly prevalent in free range flocks and, in extreme cases, almost the entire flock can be affected (Sherwin et al. 2010). In this article, we will not talk about cannibalism as such.

Instead, we will look at the phenomenon of ‘silver backing’.

Silver backing is where free range birds look white along their backs and down towards their tails. The change in feather colours can start any time from early lay to mid lay and become progressively severe (see Pictures 1 and 2).

This occurs even in the best free range farms. The silver colouring results from the small, soft feathers from the backs of the birds having the brown “tip” (see picture 3) removed by a specific pecking action, leaving only the white base of the feather w remaining (see Picture 4).

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MANAGeMeNT

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It is not like the classic aggressive vent pecking seen in the past in birds which were not beak-trimmed.

Silver backing occurs when birds develop behaviours that target the small feathers without inflecting any soft-tissue injuries.

The same sort of behaviour is exhibited during dust bathing, where flock mates take small soft feathers from around the thighs. However, these feathers appear to be more easily removed from the skin, so rather than leave the white base behind, the whole feather is removed.

The causes for this phenomenon are not known, and there are a range of theories as to the various factors that lead to feather pecking behaviour (Rodenburg et al. 2013).

It is thought that despite a relatively large range space available, some birds may get bored and be constantly in search of

2 some activity to do in an environment where light intensity is high.

It is also possible that the birds may be deficient in dietary energy and nutrients, such as some of the essential amino acids and key minerals.

This could well occur because, firstly, some birds spend a considerable length of time outdoors, searching for insects or seeds. The consequence of this could be the

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POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

1. Hens at 24 weeks of age. 2. Hens at 40 weeks of age showing ‘silver backing’.

3. The brown tip of the feather is removed by a specific pecking action. 4. This leaves only the white base which is why it is called ‘silver backing’.

increased expenditure of dietary energy on physical activity and the lack of consumption of the balanced feed provided inside the shed or at the feed cart.

Secondly, when the season is good and the range is lush, some birds consume a large amount of long grass (see Picture 5).

Unlike ruminants, the chicken does not have the necessary enzymes and microflora to digest the lignocellulose compounds that make up the bulk of grass dry matter.

Instead, the grass is often coiled up in the gizzard, remaining un-ground (see Picture 6).

There are a number of possible consequences of this: a) it might act as a negative feedback mechanism, reducing the intake of properly balanced feed; b) it leads to gizzard impaction, causing decreased feed intake, and in extreme cases death from starvation; and c) this decreased feed intake may lead to the birds seeking more nutrient dense sources of specific nutrients, such as feathers or flesh. It is not known whether birds in distress are more prone to pecking at fellow birds or other objects.

One factor that appears to be constant with the phenomenon of silver backing is that the behaviour may be directly linked to the additional pressures placed on the birds by the onset of egg production, as silver backing is not normally observed in growing pullets.

This observation would suggest that w

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MANAGeMeNT

News Minimising energy in the poultry industry

1. Gizzard content of a severely impacted free range hen. 2. Droppings of a hen that has consumed a lot of grass.

v nutritional factors are at least a significant contributing factor to the condition.

In conclusion, with poultry products having become the staple protein sources for Australians, the sustainable supply of these products cannot simply rely on a traditional model of poultry production, i.e., a few chooks running free in the paddock to supply the family with some eggs and the occasional roast chicken.

The looming inability to provide adequate poultry products to meet our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing needs will directly affect the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food security.

Poultry production of the future will require a massive amount of evidence-based research on husbandry, genetics, nutrition, welfare and environmental management.

Only through this work will we meet the challenge of establishing a poultry industry that produces quality protein in an affordable, ethical and sustainable manner.

References: Sherwin, C.M., Richards, G.J and Nicol, C.J. 2010. A comparison of the welfare of layer hens in four housing systems in the UK. British Poultry Science, 51(4): 488-499 Rodenburg, T.B., Van Krimpen, M.M., De Jong, I.C., De Haas, E.N., Kops, M.S., Riedstra, B.J., Nordquist, R.E., Wagenaar, J.P., Bestman, M. and NICOL, C.J. 2013.

The prevention and control of feather pecking in laying hens: identifying the underlying principles. Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Poultry Science Journal, 69:361-374

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the time of year to be giving consideration to the coming colder months and the great benefits from eliminating and minimising unwanted cold airflows from within production areas, reducing energy usage and enhancing the environment for growth.

Polytex tarpaulins has developed a new fan cover to stop the cold drafts that penetrate into growing areas through the fans.

This new fan cover is a quick release cover that blows off the fan as soon as the fan starts up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it also has a retainer strap that keeps the cover from being misplaced.

These Polytex fan covers (below) are now being widely used throughout the poultry industry and help efficiencies in production along with many other specialist products manufactured by Polytex including brooder curtains, air control curtains, thermal and standard blinds, door covers and cool cell covers.

Polytex supplies the poultry industry Australia wide with fast delivery times due to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;state of the artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; manufacturing equipment and the Polytex factories being ideally situated in the hub of freight lines from QLD to SA and everywhere in between.

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Bright Yolk DSM’s superior yolk pigmenter blends.

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POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014 35

HeALTH

Minimising antibiotic usage with integrated gut health management

By COEN SMITS, Nutreco Research & Development and JACO EISSEN, Selko Feed Additives

F

eed products designed for intestinal health have emerged to contribute to health management practices, generally focusing on promoting the growth of beneficial microbiota and reducing pathogens.

However, recent insights demonstrate that the efficacy of a gut health concept can be markedly improved by optimising both microbiota and gut barrier function. This integrated approach includes stabilisation of the microbiota and enforcing the mucosal barrier properties.

Since the ban on antimicrobial growth promoters (AMGP) in the EU, poultry farming is dealing with a greater challenge to maintain a high health status.

1. By causing disturbances in gastrointestinal motility and feed intake patterns leading to microbial imbalance and increased risk of infections and, 2. By causing systemic changes in the animal such as oxidative stress and inflammation leading to loss of gut barrier integrity.

Microbial dysbiosis along with gut barrier dysfunction causes poor digestion and inflammation. These, in turn, can lead to poor feed efficiency and daily gain as well as wet litter and infections. For the farmer, this means more use of drugs, increased veterinary costs, high mortality rates and – ultimately – financial loss.

The ban on AMGP led in some countries initially to a serious increase in the use of therapeutic antibiotics in Europe. Nowadays there is public and industry concern about the prudence and sustainability of antibiThe most affordable litter management otic use and its potential long-term device on the market! impact on public health.

For a responsible use of antibiotics, the need for a highly effective PULVERIZES prophylactic approach to animal health is clear. Recent advances AERATES indicate that a combined dietary strategy of microbiota stabilization DRIES and gut barrier enforcement is highly promising.

LEVELS

Antimicrobial growth promoters contributed to prevention of gastrointestinal bacterial infections caused by various stress factors. In the modern day high throughput farming, stress on the production animals is inevitable.

Every animal goes through it to some extent. Stress can be multi-factorial including disease pressure, transportation, vaccination, feed transitions and environmental factors. In recent scientific literature, it has become more evident that stress plays a major role in disturbing the gut environment.

There are essentially two ways, by which stress contributes to gut health problems;

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POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

Microbiota management New scientific opinions on gut microbiota management demand a more in depth look in population changes than just measuring single species to understand and solve the problems of the gut microbial ecosystem. To modulate the microbiota dynamics in the gut, Nutreco R&D developed a database with information about the microbial growth modulating properties of a wide range of natural compounds using high-throughput methods.

Targetmicrobial species were amongst w

• MCFA + Slow release C12 • Target release butyrate • Organic acids + Phenolic compound

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37

HeALTH v others Lactobacillus spp, and pathogenicstrains of Clostridium spp., E. coli spp. and Salmonella spp.

From the database, compounds were selected for further in vivo studies in the complex microbial ecosystem of the poultry gastrointestinal tract. Based on the results of compound screening studies, various test blends were formulated for poultry for further research. Final blends were integrated in the new gut health product ‘Presan’.

Furthermore, quantitative real time PCR and one of the latest technologies in the ‘omics’ area, called ‘bar-coded pyrosequencing’, were applied. The latter technology also requires advanced bioinformatics tools to analyse and interpret the data.

The pyrosequencing technique enables the user to make a complete overview of the intestinal microbiota population in one

analytical run and can be used to study changes in microbiota associated with poor animal health.

Scientific studies done in poultry by triggering microbial growth in the small intestine, clearly show the negative effects of excessive microbial activity on gut health, affecting nutrient digestibility and absorption (Figure 1).

Furthermore, exposure of the more sensitive upper small intestinal tract to high numbers of microbes can cause infl ammation, which will lower feed intake and reduce daily gain.

The dietary inclusion of our blend of selected natural ingredients reduced the microbial numbers in the small intestine effectively. Lower numbers of total bacterial count were determined in the upper and lower small intestine.

Furthermore, pyrosequencing data clearly showed that the addition of Presan in the diet, increased small intestinal microbial diversity at D21 of age (Figure 2). The number of observed species were higher at age of 21 days, in jejunum of birds fed Presan, compared to control group. This was also visible in the community profiles.

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To learn more about our complete solutions for complex substrates, contact your local sales representative or visit www.kemin.com.

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38

POULTRY DIGEST, October/November 2013

Gut barrier management Focusing alone on microbiota management, limits the success of a gut health concept, as the important part of the gut barrier defence is ignored.

Gut barrier dysfunction may lead to a higher exposure to antigens, toxins and pathogens and is therefore critical for maintaining good health. Key components of the gut barrier are nowadays well described in literature and include the mucus layer, the permeability of the epithelial cell layer covering the intestinal mucosa and the response of the gut associated immune system.

The very first thing that needed to be solved was to find a reliable and reproducible in vivo model to study barrier function in nutritional intervention studies.

This led to the development of a novel gut barrier stress model in collaboration with leading universities in this field of research.

HeALTH concept showed significant improvements in performance, feed efficiency, improved litter quality and reduced incidence of footpad lesions.

The results to date suggest that the microbiota and barrier management concept may contribute to establish a prudent use of antibiotics. This would have

important positive implications for animals, farmers and society.

Authors would like to acknowledge our scientific partners from NIZO Food Research, Utrecht University for their valuable scientific support.

For further information contact Jaco.Eissen@nutreco.com.

The model induces a gut barrier dysfunction and various parameters that are critical in relation to gut barrier function can be studied. Attention for example is paid to gut barrier characteristics, such as gut permeability, in relation to inflammation and/or oxidative stress parameters.

Inflammation and/or oxidative stress may be the result of a ‘leaky’gut, but also vice versa, inflammation and/or oxidative stress may be the causative factor for a leaky gut by damaging the mucosa.

Specific natural ingredients in Presan have shown in research to exert antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant effects along with antimicrobial potency.

In the “In-vivo gut barrier stress model”, when tested against the control diet group, Presan significantly reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Control group showed clear decrease in TEAC (trilox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and compensatory increase of anti-oxidant enzyme (GSHPx) activity (see Figures 3 and 4). Control of inflammation is an important prerequisite for control of gut barrier function.

Combined approach works Promising results have been obtained testing the combination of these microbiota and gut barrier management strategies on performance and health of birds. In various experimental studies done under challenge and nonchallenge conditions, the new

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

39

PRODUCT News Carotenoids for egg yolks: going for gold in Australian egg production

By JUDy O’KEEFE, Technical Marketing Manager, DSM Nutritional Products For 30 years DSM (formerly Roche or Colborn-Dawes) has represented for the poultry sector, the highest standards in feed ingredients for optimal egg quality.

Its Carophyll product remains the winner for yolk color enhancement worldwide.

Egg farmers and egg marketers don’t have to be told consumer expectations rule.

Expectations include appearance, such as internal and external quality, hygiene, and bird welfare and production transparenc.

But the everyday egg can be the perfect visiting card. It can be clean and healthy with a bright golden orange yolk. It can come from a healthy well cared-for laying flock. The industry wants this. The consumers want this. A critical factor is, of course, the feed and its ingredients. These ingredients include a safe, cost-effective carotenoid source.

There are a host of animal health advantages embedded here. But let’s stick with the egg itself for the moment and the role of carotenoids to enhance the egg’s quality and appearance.

The world’s frontrunner and highly successful supplier of this crucial feed ingredient is DSM Nutritional Products, a global company proudly holding a solid position of trust in the Australian poultry and stock feed industry.

Trust is important because feed ingredients must now be much more than simply cost effective. They must also to be extremely safe and this means continuous scientific

40

testing for purity, backed by absolute traceability. Traceability is a key.

For instance carotenoids can come from all over the world: from China, from Eastern Europe or South America. Before they end up at the feed mill, they can run through a maze of merchants, shipping agents and distributors.

DSM is a world leading feed ingredient producer and has turned traceability, testing and controls into a fine science of its own.

A sure sign of this is the company’s challenging slogan: ‘Bright Science. Brighter Living’.

Under this banner DSM sees itself as an indispensable tool for quality in poultry production. DSM feed ingredient mixes aim to solve challenges. For example, the ‘Bright Yolk’ blends of Carophyll Red and Carophyll Yellow was designed by us to provide market-relevant solutions for Australian egg farmers.

So what are carotenoids? Feed carotenoids can be red, orange or yellow naturally occurring compounds. They are available in plant life and can be synthesized by micro-organisms, algae and fungi, but not by higher life forms such as farm animals.

This means carotenoids must be added to feed to help ensure optimal survival and hatchability of the chick embryo and, for layers, to give consistent and controllable yolk color.

A leading producer of these feed ingredients is DSM. It dominates the world

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

market with its carotenoid canthaxanthin used in the ingredient Carophyll Red 10%.

DSM’s canthaxanthin continually outperforms the often-cheaper, but always less effective, red-pigmenting carotenoid forms such as citranaxanthin and capsanthin.

In continual comparison trials, canthaxanthin is proven to have superior bioavailability. This gives a much better deposition rate of red carotenoids in the target tissues: egg yolk, chicken skin or subcutaneous fat.

It also means that money spent on this feed ingredient is always returned with interest. In fact, canthaxanthin is up to three times more effective when it comes to deposition rate in egg yolks than citranaxanthin. And five times better than capsanthin!

So it’s clear that canthaxanthin is the best solution. But there are different types of canthaxanthin offered by other companies, including a good number imported from the Far East.

One typical trial comparing Carophyll Red 10% canthaxanthin with other forms shows clearly that the DSM product gives from 15 to 45% higher carotenoid bioavailability and deposition in the yolk than other types tested. This same trial boiled some of the eggs (which reduces yolk color intensity) and the results showed that hens fed Carophyll Red 10% still produced the best results with significantly less yolk color losses.

Thanks to the DSM egg yolk fan (formerly the Roche Color Fan or RCF) yolk color is much easier to monitor and adjust.

This fan has developed into a world hit – it

PRODUCT News is accepted as the industry standard in Australia.

But long before this stage there are the challenges of modern feed production to think about. Pigment products such as canthaxanthin are biochemicals extremely sensitive to their environment.

They’ve got to be protected from moisture, oxidation and influences from other premix ingredients. DSM’s proven microencapsulation system protects the efficacy of Carophyll Red and Carophyll Yellow despite all these stresses - including heat treatment up to 95°C. Microencapsulation features tiny beadlets enclosing the product creating a unique free-flowing granulated ingredient with outstanding mixing properties for optimal distribution in feed. The microcapsule itself is a vegetable-starch matrix with added antioxidants.

A typical test compared several canthaxanthin products in a range of feeds – e.g. mash, premix, pellets – from Europe and China through month-long storage at 35°C with relative humidity of 50% or 60%.

The results showed the DSM product as far superior, performing 5% better than other European products and between 10% and 75% better than five products manufactured in China.

When product efficacy of Carophyll Red was compared to three other canthaxanthin products at the Danish Technological Institute,

recovery of Carophyll Red was excellent in feed pelleted at 75, 85, 90 and 95°C with conditioning times of 30, 60, 90 and 120 seconds.

Even under these very tough conditions, Carophyll Red consistently achieved results well over the 80% minimum recovery target for such tests.

Such successes come from the DSM ideology of continuous product testing. This attitude has boosted Carophyll into worldwide success. The team at DSM Australia is confident the new Bright Yolk blends of Carophyll Red and Carophyll Yellow will continue this tradition in Australia.

Riva selegg s31 egg grader popular on smaller farms Riva Selegg has released a new model egg grader suited to egg producers requiring a small capacity egg grader with ink-jet egg stamping option included.

The S31 model is constructed in stainless steel and is compact in design having a floor area footprint of only 1.2 x 1.85m. It has an infeeding conveyor. A candling facilities with two fluorescent lamps, is included with a single row of rubber rollers and the counter rotating motion of the rollers simplifying the candling procedure.

The S31 grades to seven grades and has a hand packing table with adjustable lane dividers for each grade. The ink-jet stamping option allows eggs to be pre-weighed stamped with brand ID. Riva Selegg egg graders are manufactured in Italy are compact, have strength in design are reasonably priced and are marketed internationally to medium to smaller capacity commercial egg producers.

Riva Selegg egg grader range includes egg graders with capacities 2200, 3000, 6000, 9000, 12000 and 15000 eggs per hour. Riva Selegg egg graders have been distributed in Australia, New Zealand and SW Pacific since 1989 by Dunogan Farm Tech Pty Ltd based in Tamworth NSW. For more information call (02) 6766 9909 or email info@dunoganfarmtech.com.au

T: 02 4971 2347 M: 0427 886 866 www.prowashpoultry.com.au

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

41

News Global poultry experts envisage redefining poultry nutrition at the Alltech south Asia Poultry Nutrition summit More than 45 key South Asian poultry nutritionists gathered to attend Alltech’s recent South Asia Poultry Nutrition in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.

The two and half-day event provided a unique opportunity for attendees from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to interact with global poultry experts and discuss the requirements and challenges of the region’s poultry nutrition.

“The way we look at today’s poultry nutrition will dramatically change in the coming years,” said Matthew Smith, Regional Director, Alltech Asia-Pacific, in the opening remarks of the summit.

According to the Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO), poultry is responsible for more than 80% of the total global livestock production, which puts South Asia in a unique position as more than 25 million tons poultry feed comes from the region.

With close to a billion undernourished people globally, poultry will play an important role for protein in diet due to its extensive acceptance within a variety of cultures and religions.

Smith introduced the key objective of the summit of improving feed milling technology for a producing safe, reliable, traceable feed along with feed formulation and management practices.

Dr Peter Ferket, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor from North Carolina University, shared his experience in feed mill operations and preventative maintenance as well as feed mill and inspection audits.

Ferket introduced the major key performance indicators (KPI) and feed mill reports that help achieve better efficiency.

LtoR: Aziz Sacranie, Alltech, Dr Kenneth Bruerton; Dr Peter Ferket, North Carolina University, US and Dr Tugrul Durali, Alltech.

Dr Kenneth Bruerton from Protea Park Nutrition Service, Australia, spoke about energy, amino acids, vitamins and mineral requirements for broiler, layers and breeders.

He emphasised the health and performance aspects of the use of non-antibiotic additives over antibiotics, which are banned in Europe, Korea and several other countries around the world.

Dr Bruerton advised attendees to pay close attention to the source of ingredients such as organic trace minerals. Some cheaper minerals may be contaminated by heavy metals, which would negatively affect the bird’s health and performance.

“Chelated minerals are not the same, and the data of one cannot be used to support the use of a different product,” said Dr Bruerton.

Nutritionists need to consider replacing inorganic sources with organic minerals such

as Bioplex. Bruerton also strongly suggested that nutritionists have accurate nutrient specifications for their own feed ingredients.

Another important topic of the summit was early chick nutrition, “the foundation for profit.” Dr Ferket pointed out that nutrition has not kept pace with genetics and the time has come to close the gap.

He discussed epigenetics, in-ovo feeding and nutritional imprinting for exploiting the full genetic potential of modern birds.

“It has never been a better time for Alltech to be in South Asia,” concluded Dr Aman Sayed, General Manager, Alltech South Asia.

“Consumers are becoming more and more conscious about better quality, safer and traceable food, and Alltech’s cutting edge technologies such as nutrigenomics, algae and on farm solutions are fully prepared to support these requirements.”

eshop.bellsouth.com.au 03 9796 7044 poultry@bellsouth.com.au

42

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

PRODUCT News streamline Pro provides solutions for poultry production Streamline Pro is a commercial supply business based in South East Queensland.

Partners Dave Ebborn and Ben Clayton have installed and erected sheds up and down the east coast of Australia have experience from supply of materials through to full construction.

“With more than 41 years of combined industry experience in feeding systems and shed erection, the Streamline Pro team provide tried and tested methods and only quality materials supplied,” said Dave.

“With a company footprint in China, Streamline Pro has a database of reputable manufacturers who are quality tested and comply with Australian Standards.

“From cool pads and feeder systems to purlins and hot dipped galvanized structural steel, Streamline Pro can provide solutions for fabrication, acquisition, logistics and delivery for your next project.

Consumer power: woolies commits to cage free Increasing demand for higher welfare food has seen Woolworths announce that it will stop selling cage eggs in all cartons and in home brand products by 2018.

With 11 million Australian hens currently confined to cages too small for them to even spread their wings, today’s announcement will make a significant difference to hen welfare.

“Woolworths’ commitment will change the lives of millions of hens and shows just how effective consumer purchasing power can be,” said Melina Tensen, RSPCA Senior Scientific Officer, Farm Animals.

Hens confined to cages suffer continuously – they are not able to perch, dust bathe, forage or lay their eggs in the privacy of a nest.

Woolworths’ commitment will improve the lives of many hens in the future but consumers can make an enormous difference right now by buying cage-free eggs and egg products.

“Switching to cage-free is a small price to pay when you consider the big difference it can make to the life of a hen,” said Ms Tensen.

“Well known, big brand companies have been manufacturing in China for many years and providing quality products.

“Brands such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Boeing, Panasonic, Mitsubishi Electronics and Siemens are but a few who have taken advantage of low production costs with partial or full manufacturing facilities in the region.

“Streamline Pro allows you to customise, order and purchase from the factory at global rates. Our cargo support team will then handle your logistics; ensuring delivery to anywhere in Australia,” Dave explained.

“Whether you’re planning a large project

farm or simply a small extension, Streamline Pro will ensure the lowest material cost of any shed in Australia.

“Our partners have been supplying the American and European poultry industries for decades and bring a wealth of experience and new technologies to the Australian industry.

“Whether you just need to replace a few fans or cool pads or you’re looking for a full package, Streamline Pro will not be beaten on price, quality and service.

“Remain fiercely competitive with your industry peers and let Streamline Pro help you build it for less,” Dave concluded.

We also supply complete feed mills designed for the small or large farmer so why not start milling your own grain today and benefit from the savings Need a new pencil or centreless auger we stock a large range of grain augering equipment at great prices

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

43

PRODUCT News Maintain your evaporative cooling cells with Pantek 4 Cool Cells The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that the summer of 2014 will be one of the hottest in our Australian recorded history forecasters say.

Preparation for such extreme events is paramount to protect stock and income. That preparation will include ensuring maintenance and running of backup generators, checking of fan belts, motors and pulleys and checking you have a supply of spare parts.

Will preparation include the maintenance of the evaporative cooling cells?

Systems are designed to provide the maximum amount of cooled air to poultry, pigs and other stock in tunnel ventilated and other cooling evaporative cell ventilation systems.

Complex mathematical formulae predict the air flow in meters per second and what precisely the system can achieve in temperature reducing potential under a variety of humidity conditions. These designs include a safety margin for extreme conditions.

However one major factor can significantly reduce the performance of the system and that’s the condition of the evaporative cooling pads.

Poorly maintained evaporative cooling pads can reduce the cooling capacity and airflow by more than 50%, severely impacting on the system’s ability to reduce temperature and keep air moving.

Reduced capacity also results in excessive energy use as motors powering fans are on for extended periods of time consuming much more electricity than necessary, causing excessive wear and tear on moving parts thereby increasing maintenance costs.

There are a variety of conditions that can cause evaporative cool pads to loose efficiency, they include, 1) Calcium scale deposits from the water supply as water evaporates. These

can block nozzles supplying water to the pads causing dry patches, and scale builds up on the pads causing restricted air flow and reduced cooling capacity. If your pads look likes this you have a problem.

2) Dust and dirt from the environment, this builds up causing more dust and dirt to be trapped further restricting air flows. Always be careful when cutting grass and disturbing the adjacent environment as the contaminants can easily be suck in to and lodge in the cool pads.

Clogged pads such as the one below severely restrict capacity.

3) On cooling pads facing the sun in particular, algae’s readily grow and spread quite quickly and easily causing considerable airflow loses.

C ra tes, sla ts a n d f eed ers

L i n d a m a ti c eg g ha n d li n g tra ys a n d c ra tes

T he ori g i n a A lstroturf Æ used i n m a n y n esti n g system s i n c lud i n V g en c om a ti c a n d AKS .

A v a i la b le b y the m etre or1 5 a n d 5 0 m etre rolls.

eshop.bellsouth.com.au 03 9796 7044 | poultry@bellsouth.com.au

44

POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014

4) Any combination of the above.

Cooling Pads need the same maintenance as the rest of the system.

Returning the cooling pads to their original condition will save the owner electricity, reduces maintenance costs and may even save the poultry flock from stress, heat exhaustion or suffocation.

There are no products in the Australian market specifically designed for the cleaning and descaling of evaporative cooling cells until now. A treatment with Pantek 4 Cool Cells will see capacity and efficiency restored to the system .This cleanser is designed to work with open and closed evaporative cooling pad systems, and with cardboard, plastic, fibre, or any other material used in the construction. The 3.8 litre pack is designed to treat one or two pads dependant on size.

One final tip, cleaning the dirt and dust from the fan blades can restore a further 5% efficiency .

This product is available form CCD Animal Health, DHA Rural, IFS and All Farm Animal Health.

Photos courtesy Poultry Economics , Engineering and Management, Auburn Uni

PRODUCT News Bagged recyled bedding for small scale growers Bagged recycled bedding for small-scale growers has been developed by Direct BioBedding, a company that featured in August/September 2013 Poultry Digest.

Originally, Direct BioBedding established a market for its recycled timber pallet based bedding product in large scale agriculture enterprises including broiler farms and the equine sector.

Now Rob James, the Managing Director of Direct BioBedding (pictured) has introduced the new 20kg bagged biobedding material to satisfy the needs of small scale growers and the growing domestic market for backyard poultry and pets like rabbits and ferrets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our bulk timber based bedding material based on recycled timber pallets has already attracted a ready market among contract growers within range of our walking floor delivery truck fleet,â&#x20AC;? Rob said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now our 20kg bags of similar tested and biosecure timber bedding material is available to the growing number of small

scale egg and broiler farms who raise a small number of chickens for a pastime rather than pure large scale commercial interest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bagged bedding material can also be used to top dress reused litter as this trend gathers interest amongst contract growers, particularly those involved with the RSPCA codes for both layer and grower operations,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are establishing a growing number of customers who buy direct but also a chain of retail stores who have added our 20kg packs to their in-store inventory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are more than 340,000 households in Australia who keep backyard chooks and we think our product is a safe and useful contribution to the safe enjoyment of their chickens,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have recently expanded our product range to include bulk delivered shavings as well as the finer particle bedding material that is most commonly used in broiler shedding,â&#x20AC;? Rob concluded.

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POULTRY DIGEST, December 2013/January 2014 45

News Richard Rayner appointed CeO of Hy-Line Australia Group The Hy-Line Australia Group has announced the appointment of Richard Rayner as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Richard will commence his new role on Monday March 3, 2014 and will be based in Bendigo, Victoria.

The Hy-Line Group breeds and hatches Hy-Line Brown and Lohmann Brown layer pullets and is the leading livestock supplier to the Australian layer industry.

Richard, who has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree from Leeds University England, joins the group with nearly 30 years of experience in global poultry production management.

Richard started his career in 1984 with Rainbow Chickens in South Africa as the Grand Parent Laying Manager and later taking responsibility for the Pedigree Breeding operation.

Since arriving in New Zealand in 1994 he has held various senior livestock management roles for Tegel Foods.

He has consistently achieved world best livestock performance and has provided consultancy advice to a number of overseas companies on behalf of Tegel.

Until recently Richard was the National Chick Production Manager for Tegel Foods â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which included responsibility for the supply of Hy-line layers to the New Zealand market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hy-Line Australia Group is the Australian supplier of two of the worlds foremost layer breeds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the ongoing support of the breeding companies, the Hy-Line management team and consulting veterinarians and nutritionists, we will be working to ensure the Hy-Line Group continues to provide the highest quality Hy-Line and Lohmann stock to our customersâ&#x20AC;? said new Chief Executive Officer Richard Rayner.

Richard Rayner, new CEO Hy-Line

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We have a new events page for future events. Contact us for details.

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