Much of this interest has been sparked by recent media coverage highlighting the popularity of chicken meat with the Australian consumer, the pressure on the industry's capacity to meet this demand into the future, and the resulting potential for some landholders to enter into the poultry industry.

In February of this year, ABC's Landline programme ran a story entitled 'Chicken Run' (presented by Prue Adams) outlining this popularity, and the increase in demand faced by industry. At that time' Inghams Enterprises' George Schlahtych stated: "The statistics coming out from ABARE say that chicken meat consumption will go to 42kg (per person), and we expect it to go beyond that. In fact, we're looking at, and getting ready for, a doubling of this industry within the next 10 or 12 years."

For many enquiries, the initial enthusiasm subsides after the requirements for a broiler growing operation are considered in detail. In the light of such factors as physical location, DA approval process, proximity to neighbours and surrounding land-use characteristics (to name a few), many enquiries fall short in their ability to address such factors.

Brett Richter of Inghams Enterprises spoke to the Poultry CRC about the overall processes involved in becoming a grower.

He said: "I get many enquiries about becoming a grower for us (Inghams) but in many cases, it is just not physically achievable as their property is too far from our infrastructure." For those that do satisfy the criteria however, there are definitely opportunities within this industry.

The Australian Chicken Meat Federation Inc. (ACMF) web site has a wealth of information for those in the initial stages of enquiry. They point out: 'Poultry processing plants have developed close to markets and labour sources, with many of the largest operations within 50km of a capital city. This keeps distribution and transport costs down and ensures labour and other services are available.'

Further, chicken grow-out farms (where chickens grow from day-old until they are ready for processing) are generally within 100km of the processing plant. Potential sites must have (not an exhaustive list): a nearby feed mill, guaranteed water supply, guaranteed electric power, preferably three phase, access for heavy transport for feed and live poultry, available labour (dependant on farm size), and available services such as tradesmen, servicemen and veterinarians.

ACMF outline major meat chicken growing regions in Australia as follows:

• NSW – outskirts of the Sydney metropolitan area, Mangrove Mountain / central coast, Newcastle, Tamworth and Griffith areas and Byron Bay
• Queensland – Redland Bay south of Brisbane, and other areas to Brisbane's south, south west and north and in Mareeba
• Victoria – Mornington Peninsula, east of Melbourne and Geelong and Bendigo areas
• South Australia – outskirts of Adelaide and the Two Wells area
• Western Australia – Perth's outer metropolitan areas.
• Tasmania – outer metropolitan areas
• Northern Territory – no commercial meat farms

Inghams Enterprises is seeking interest from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

In addition to Inghams, Cordina have also been on the look-out for new growers.

Cordina Farming Manager, Peter Elias, said: "We are still very eager to speak to prospective entrants to the industry, especially within three hours of Sydney."

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