The Chicken Industry In Australia

As the most popular consumed source of protein in Australia, the chicken meat (broiler) industry is steadily growing, making up one quarter of all meat production in Australia, with the domestic market accounting for 95% of all chicken meat production in Australia, with exported meat accounting the remaining 5%. Roughly 90% of raw chicken products are sold fresh, with 10% being sold frozen. And 69% of all chicken products are sold raw, with the trend of Australians consuming more processed chicken products steadily climbing. Commercial chicken meat production farms are established in all states and territories, except for the Northern Territory, with most chicken production areas established within 100 kilometres of processing plants, which is also established near sources of business, including markets and labour sources. Chicken processing plants are usually situated within 50k of a major city, with the industry becoming more regionalised due to the spread of urban areas.

Pros

The need for the development of more intensive production techniques stems from the market demand. With the most attractive features of intensive broiler production being the high yield, resulting in lowering overall costs and providing affordable, competitive prices.

Due to considerable genetic advancements made on the genetic and growth potential of broilers over the course of 50 years, with chickens today reaching a weight of 2.2kg in just 35 days while consuming only 3.3kg worth of feed before its ready for processing. Genetic research is still developing and advancements are still being made today, with its aim being to decrease the time for broilers to reach the market weight while also utilising even less feed.

Commercial broiler production farms are often highly intensive and mechanised, designed to maximise use of space while not sacrificing any efficianecy, with constant management over bedding, water, electricity, food and gas necessary. As such, commercial broiler production farms are highly efficient and provide high yield and profitability

Cons

Despite the technological advancements in the growth in meat chickens, the fast growth rate can cause bodily side-effects. For decades the commercial broiler industry has been focusing on genetic-selection for ‘desirable’ traits such as rapid muscle growth and a faster maturity rate, all in order to decrease the time it takes to reach the market weight. Without question, it has forced the chicken breed to highly develop its growth characteristics, but due to the intensive genetic selection, in search of desirable production traits, certain ‘undesirable’ traits have also risen. These undesirable traits often manifest themselves in the form of poor physical health in broilers. Physical defects include skeletal disorders, such as cervical scoliosis and torticollis, leg disorders, ascites as well as heart failure. Due to the rapid growth in broilers, skeletal disorders such as scoliosis and torticollis may form as a result, causing the chicken’s skeletal back structure to become deformed. Leg disorders manifest as a result of the broiler’s rapid weight gain, causing chickens to suffer from structural joint problems as well as inducing weaknesses within the joints. As a result, these legs may not be able to function properly , greatly affecting the chicken’s livelihood and possibly resulting in mortality.

In the race to maximise productivity within a certain amount of land, Stocking densities can often pose a problem towards the welfare of broiler chickens in a commercial farm setting. In Australia, meat chickens would be cultivated in large sheds, of approximately 150 m long and 15m wide, while holding about 40,000 chickens. For every one metre square of space, it would have to accommodate approximately 18 chickens. Due to the lack of available space, basic behavioral activities such as perching, dustbathing and foraging become unviable, and with the lack of a stimulating/ invigorating environment, chickens becoming lameness can turn into a recurring problem.

Environmental factors are also prevalent threats towards broiler chickens if proper ventilation or maintenance is not applied. Ammonia can build up in the atmosphere, especially in the case that the litter becomes damp due to the accumulation of chicken droppings. Eyes and respiratory tracts can deteriorate, with abnormalities forming, when in the presence of high concentrations of ammonia. Chickens can also come in contact via their feet, hock and breast with ammonia-filled litter through daily movement, resulting in skin disorders such as eczema, usually highly irritating and detrimental towards their growth and productivity.