Reinvigorated Chicken Meat Advisory Panel focused on industry future

Food safety, poultry welfare and industry communications were headline discussions for the revised Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Chicken Meat Advisory Panel when they met on 21 August 2017.

These topics, together with antimicrobial stewardship and litter management, have been identified by the chicken meat industry as key focus areas for RD&E.

The first meeting of the new Chicken Meat Advisory Panel provided the opportunity to revisit current industry issues and discuss priorities moving forward.

RIRDC Program Manager, Research & Innovation, Michael Beer said the Chicken Meat Program is focused on increasing productivity and efficiency of production and has set its sights on a new direction.

“The Program has taken a major shift, with an increased focus on communicating research outcomes through the development of an industry extension program. This will improve the flow of information between RD&E and industry,” said Mr Beer.

Incoming Chair, Gary Millar, International Business Development Manager at Hubbard welcomed the incoming Advisory Panel and said he looks forward to growing the profile of the chicken meat industry.

“RD&E is vital to optimising flock performance, efficiency and industry productivity and maintaining our favourable position in Australia and globally,” said Mr Millar.

“The new Chicken Meat Advisory Panel members are highly experienced in research, nutrition, management and technical services. This wealth of experience will ensure the industry has a bright future.”

Chicken meat is the most affordable and popular meat on the domestic market and is worth $2.7 billion, with a retail value of around $6.6 billion.

The industry has a strong presence in rural and regional communities, directly employing approximately 40,000 people with a further 100,000 jobs dependent on chicken meat production. The chicken meat industry also purchases around five per cent of all grain grown in Australia.

The Chicken Meat Advisory Panel is chaired by Gary Millar, International Business Development Manager at Hubbard. The other panel members are Sheridan Alfirevich (Technical and Welfare Manager at Baiada Poultry), Anthony Kepburn (CSIRO), Greg Underwood (Bioproperties Pty Ltd), Kathryn Balding (Ingham’s Enterprises), Guy Hebblewhite (Praedium Agri Management) Beth Krushinskie (Ingham’s Enterprises), Peter Chrystal (Baiada Poultry) and Michael Beer (RIRDC).

Georgina Townsend joins the RIRDC Chicken Meat Program as the Chicken Meat Extension Officer, alongside Kylie Hewson, Chicken Meat Program Development Officer.