A multi-party project in Australia has recently reported the results of investigations into the best range environment for the welfare of chickens.
This revolved around assessment of bird movements and behavior in areas with different arrangements of outdoor shade structures.
With participation from researchers from Australia and Austria, the trial sites were in the states of Queensland and South Australia operated by Inghams Group Ltd.
For each of 14 flocks of commercial broiler chickens, the range area was divided into four sections, each with a different arrangement of shade-giving structures.
The first section was devoid of structures, while a second offered six structures in a single line, 4 meters from the poultry house. A third arrangement involved two vertical lines — each of three structures — in which the lines started 1.5 meters from the shed, and the lines 2 meters apart. Also starting 1.5 meters from the shed, two horizontal lines of three structures made up the fourth and final experimental design. Based on the time spent in each of the shade arrangements and behaviors studied, Inghams reports that the birds showed a preference for range areas in which the shade structures were evenly distributed in both vertical and horizontal arrangements.
Leading the research were Dr. Peta Taylor (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Carolyn de Koning and Jessica Jolley (South Australian Research and Development Institute). Jean-Loup Rault of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna monitored the birds’ behavior at the Inghams farms.
The project was funded by the AgriFutures Australia Chicken Meat Program. This aims to support the national chicken meat industry by investing in research to improve the sector’s productivity and sustainability.
Animal welfare standard at Inghams Group
Among the initiatives in its 2030 Sustainability Leadership Roadmap is the advancement of animal welfare through innovation and research, according to Inghams. It also states its continued target to strive for industry leadership to ensure the optimal health and welfare of the animals in its care.
The company adds that supporting research into chicken welfare helps it to identify practices that improve its own birds’ health and wellbeing.
Inghams reports that it already has shade structures in place that are evenly spread across its free-range farms. These, it says, meet the current standards of RSPCA Approved (in Australia) and SPCA Certified certification (in New Zealand).
When new shade-giving structures are required, the company says it will take into consideration the results of the latest study.
Recent development in Australian chicken welfare
In July of 2023, proposed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry were endorsed by agriculture ministers from all the nation’s states and territories.
Supported by animal welfare science, the Standards had been finalized by an independent panel following consultation with stakeholders and the general public, according to the federal government agriculture ministry. Responsible for implementing the standards are the nation’s states and territories.
Part of a suite of Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, the poultry section forms the basis of nationally consistent animal welfare regulations to provide certainty to industry, animal welfare organizations, the community, and trading partners.
One year later, animal protection organization and charity Australian Alliance for Animals launched a new phase in its campaign “Better Chicken Australia.”
Aiming to push for higher welfare standards for the region’s meat chickens, the campaign is part of the internationally recognized Better Chicken Commitment. The Alliance says its campaign is supported by World Animal Protection, and Animals Aotearoa of New Zealand.
More on Inghams Group
Inghams is the largest poultry meat company — not only in Australia, but in the Oceania region. In 2023, its chicken and turkey production amounted to 229 million birds, according to WATTPoultry.com’s Top Poultry Companies survey.
Founded as a family company in New South Wales, Australia, in 1918, Inghams Group Limited has since expanded. It is now the largest integrated poultry producer in Australia and New Zealand, according to the firm’s web site.
With a workforce of 8,200, the company supplies chicken products to retailers, quick service restaurant (QSR) operators, food service, distributors, and wholesalers. It also reports holding a strong market position in the Australian turkey, Australian animal feed, and New Zealand dairy feed markets.
For the latest full fiscal year, Inghams reported its highest output and earnings since it went public in 2016. During the 2024 financial year, the firm made two acquisitions in New Zealand, and one in Australia, and completed major investment projects at some of its Australian processing facilities.
