Chicken Health & Biosecurity
The Australian chicken meat industry is committed to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of its chickens, ensuring they remain disease-free and thrive in optimal conditions
This dedication is upheld by poultry veterinarians and experienced managers, who employ a wide array of best-practice tools and strategies. These include rigorous farm hygiene protocols, comprehensive vaccination schedules, ongoing flock surveillance, and monitoring, as well as prompt disease diagnosis and treatment. Collectively, these measures underpin the industry’s reputation for responsible animal care and high standards of flock health.
Strict biosecurity measures are fundamental to maintaining the health and disease-free status of Australian chicken flocks. Thanks to the nation’s geographic isolation and stringent quarantine protocols, Australia has successfully kept out most major poultry diseases—including highly pathogenic avian influenza—even as such threats have increased overseas. The industry remains proactive and vigilant, continuously managing biosecurity risks to preserve the excellent health status of local flocks.
The Australian chicken meat industry works closely with all levels of government, actively engaging in national and state biosecurity surveillance and preparedness initiatives. Continued investment in research and development ensures the industry remains at the front of biosecurity innovation, with advancements such as digital systems for biosecurity risk assessment helping to drive positive changes in behaviour and biosecurity practices.
Contrary to common misconceptions, Australian meat chickens are not given hormones or antibiotics for growth promotion. This distinction is increasingly important due to heightened public health and consumer awareness regarding chicken meat production and its role in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Within the industry, antimicrobials are used only under strict veterinary supervision and solely for animal health and welfare reasons. The Australian chicken meat industry is recognised as a global leader in antimicrobial stewardship among livestock production sectors, advocating for the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials.
Our industry was the first livestock sector in Australia to adopt formal antimicrobial stewardship practices, starting in the 1980s with veterinary prescription guidelines. These guidelines have been regularly reviewed and refined, culminating in a formal antimicrobial stewardship program.
