Ducks may be farmed in Australia for their meat, eggs or feathers. Domestic ducks used in duck farming all originate from the wild mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos). The main breeds used are Pekin and Muscovy ducks. Ducks farmed for meat will typically be slaughtered between 6-7 weeks of age. The…
There are over 1.4 million dairy cows in Australia. On average, each cow produces close to 6,170 litres of milk a year. In contrast to the intensive nature of dairy production overseas, where cows may be housed in sheds for their entire lives, most Australian dairy cattle spend at least…
Swill is any animal food that contains animal matter such as meat, meat products or meat by-products. It is illegal in Australia to feed swill to pigs. In Queensland, it is illegal to feed swill to any livestock including pigs, poultry and ruminants. Swill includes any of the following: meat, meat scraps,…
The frequency of exceptionally hot years is expected to continue across Australia in years to come, which means that consecutive days of extreme temperatures (heat waves) will not be uncommon. Under normal conditions, farm animals maintain their body temperature at a relatively constant level by employing strategies that balance heat…
Battery cages are completely barren – Hens in battery cages experience extreme confinement and behavioural restriction, without enough space to even stretch their wings. Due to the inability to walk, flap their wings, or perch, hens in battery cages suffer very poor muscle and bone strength, bone fractures, frustration, abnormal…
For layer hens to experience good animal welfare it is important they have enough space to move freely and express motivated and natural behaviours such as nesting during egg laying, perching, and roosting, foraging, and dust bathing. Hens require at least 540-1980cm2 of space per hen to move around and…
Hens’ use of the outdoor range area in free-range housing systems is dependent on multiple factors. These factors include the condition and design of the range area; rearing and internal housing conditions; ease of access to the range area; shelter and shade provision; presence of enrichment; flock size and stocking…
Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects birds but can also pose risks to other animals and humans [1]. The virus is spread by shorebirds and wild waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and swans, because they serve as natural reservoirs of the…
Severe feather pecking is an injurious behaviour performed by birds, where they will vigorously peck at and pull out the feathers of other birds. Outbreaks of severe feather pecking can occur in all types of poultry production systems and in both large-scale commercial flocks and small backyard flocks [1]. The…
In barn and free-range egg production systems, hens have access to a nest in which to lay their eggs. This is a key behavioural need for layer hens. In egg production systems where hens are housed in battery cages, the hens do not have access to a nest and instead…