Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20144
Title: Feed practices in Australian free-range egg production
Contributor(s): Ruhnke, Isabelle  (author)orcid ; DeKoning, Carolyn (author); Drake, Kelly  (author); Choct, Mingan  (author)orcid ; Singh, Mini (author)
Publication Date: 2015
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20144
Abstract: Free-range layers currently supply ~45% of the Australian egg market. The aim of this study was to investigate feed management practices of free-range layer farms in Australia. An on-line survey was created and promoted from May - Nov 2014. A total of 41 free-range egg producers completed the survey, representing ~10% of the overall Australian commercial egg producers. While 80% of farmers offer a complete diet, 12.5% of farmers conduct combined feeding, and 7.5% choice feeding. Additional feed supplements included shell grit (42.9%), limestone (40.0%), hay (28.6%), silage (8.6%), and others such as vegetables, pasture, insects, and harvested grass (37.1%). Feed was provided as mash (30.0%), pelleted feed (17.5%), whole grains (15.0%), coarse ground (25.0%), and/or fine ground feed (17.5%). Farmers obtained feed from milling facilities (72.5%), produced their own (22.5%), or combined both sources (5%). Hens were fed ad libitum in 77.5% cases. Feed was provided by (gravity refilling) troughs (55.3%), automatic feeder pans (28.9%), or automatic feeder chains (15.8%). Feeders were located in the barn (52.5%), on the range (32.5%), or on both locations (15.0%). With mobile sheds and/or paddock rotation 74.4% of farms had persistent vegetation on the range area and was never stripped bare. Seventy one percent of farmers reported that over 75% of their flock used the range area.
Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: ESPN 2015: 20th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Prague, Czech Republic, 24th - 27th August, 2015
Source of Publication: Proceedings of the 20th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition (ESPN), p. 250-250
Publisher: World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA)
Place of Publication: Beekbergen, Netherlands
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070204 Animal Nutrition
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300303 Animal nutrition
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 830501 Eggs
830503 Live Animals
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100601 Eggs
100699 Primary products from animals not elsewhere classified
HERDC Category Description: E3 Extract of Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: http://www.wpsa.com/index.php/wpsa-proceedings/2015/20th-european-symposium-on-poultry-nutrition
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication

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