Intensive Livestock - Eggs

Eggs

 

Table Egg Sector Overview

  • The table egg industry has been transformed in the past 70 years, effectively from dominance by backyard production to a highly organised and integrated agribusiness sector. More recently, demand for table eggs has been rising rapidly, and the shift in demand towards free range product has reduced the domination of major companies (and their integrated supply chains), and created a network of small to medium operators in the industry. Greater per capita consumption is a result of new health messages regarding eggs and new recognition of eggs as a natural functional food (superseding a perception that eggs were high in cholesterol), eggs usage has been boosted by the plethora of cooking shows in the media, and by the inclusion of eggs in fast food and conventional restaurant menus.

  • Per capita egg consumption has rebounded from a low of around 139 eggs per person per year in the late twentieth century to 249 eggs per person in 2020-21. Total estimated domestic production of table eggs for 2020-21 was 525 million dozen. This implies that Australians consume 17.3 million eggs every day.

Table Egg Sector Overview cont..

  • There are three types of layer production systems:

    • Caged Systems: Currently 36% of egg production comes from caged layers and 28% of sales value. In traditional cage environments, chickens are kept undercover in small cages. This system of production is the lowest cost method of egg production. Demand for cage eggs is declining as a share of industry volume and revenue, but it remains a major source of product (especially when food service and manufacturing consumption is considered, in addition to retail supermarkets).

    • Free Range: Currently 52% of egg production is free range and 59% of sales value. Free range environments allow birds to roam freely over an outdoor environment during daylight hours. Free range farms are typically smaller than cage farms and are more labour intensive in return for a price premium. Adoption of free-range systems introduces new operational and environmental challenges for the industry in terms of biosecurity, production efficiencies, bird genetics (for free range performance) and nutrient management.

    • Barn Systems: Currently 10% of egg production is barn produced and 10% of sales value. Birds in barn systems are confined to a covered and enclosed area, and high bird densities.

Table Eggs in G21 Region

  • G21 Region is one of Victoria’s key table egg production regions, and is the source of around one-fifth of eggs produced in the State. One the three ‘majors’ in the industry, Farm Pride, has a direct presence in the region, with an egg farming and grading operation at Lethbridge. There are also a few small to medium producers, including:

    -Happy Hens

    -Kosies’ Free Range

    -Weseggs.

  • Ridley Agriproducts has also recently established a new stockfeed mill at Lara, which is able to produce mash formulations for the table egg sector.

  • The 2014-15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Agricultural Commodities data reported that the Geelong region had 51 egg production poultry farms (both table eggs and breeder stock eggs), accommodating around 870,000 birds. The table egg production component produces about 19.2 million dozen eggs per annum.

  • Establishment of a standard for production of free range eggs (birds having access to open ranging during daylight hours at a density of no more than 10,000 birds per hectare) has provided some certainty to the industry. Although, some small producers in the G21 region see their point of difference lying in much lower densities; 1,500 birds per hectare is considered ideal by many operators (and was the density suggested in a CSIRO free range code of practice).

  •  Some small operators have commenced free range operations, using temporary, mobile (such as caravans) and purpose built sheds, with flocks as small as a few hundred birds. These small operators often have their own grading and packing lines and their own brands with markets as modest as a few regular farmers’ markets through to specialty stores and independent full service supermarkets.

Animal health, welfare and biosecurity, Victorian Farmers Federation, StockSense: https://www.vff.org.au/project/stock-sense/

Report roaming livestock or a dog attacking livestock to the City of Greater Geelong: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/task/item/8d9be4359405bda.aspx . If it is an emergency phone 03 5272 5272.

Report roaming livestock or a dog attacking livestock to the Colac Otway Shire: https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/My-property/Pets-animals-livestock/Pest-problem-animals. If it is an emergency phone 03 5232 9400.

Report roaming livestock or a dog attacking livestock to the Surf Coast Shire: https://www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/About-us/Council/Laws-and-regulations/Animal-laws . If it is an emergency phone 03 5261 0600.

Report roaming livestock or a dog attacking livestock to the Golden Plains Shire: https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/resident/pets-and-animals/livestock If it is an emergency phone 03 5220 7111.