According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australians consume an average of 37 kilograms of chicken meat each per year, up from six kilograms in the 1960s and a number that overtakes beef consumption as the Australian consumer's primary mealtime meat.
"The statistics coming out of ABARE suggest chicken meat consumption will go to 42 kilograms and we expect it to go beyond that," said George Schlahtych, a group executive manager for Inghams Enterprises. "In fact, we're looking at getting ready for a doubling of this industry within the next 10 to 12 years," he said.
Such projected growth has the $4 billion industry urging more people to take up chicken farming, as current businesses are breeding at capacity. The South Australian government released a plan five years ago aimed at capturing at least 50% of the growth in the industry over the next decade. South Australia is currently fourth in terms of chicken numbers, behind New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
