This well respected bi-annual event provides the CRC the opportunity to promote our research and education activities, and resulting services to the Australian poultry industry. This year Poultry CRC joined over 120 exhibitors at the event, alongside participants Australian Egg Corporation Ltd. (AECL), Alltech, Bioproperties, Feedworks, Hy-Line Australia, Pfizer and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

Poultry CRC stand at PIX

Ealry in the day at PIX

Complimenting plenary sessions covering ‘big picture’ items, numerous workshops were run covering many aspects of chicken meat and egg production, including free range, organic production and food safety. Special interest areas, including hatchery, breeders, veterinary advisors, and tunnel ventilation were also on offer. Between sessions, delegates perused the trade display; a chance to garner information on products and services from the many suppliers and distributors on-site. With over 1200 delegates attending PIX this year, the trade displays were constantly abuzz with enquiries from growers and egg producers alike.

Egg producer Bede Burke highlighted the relevance of these types of events to industry personnel. “Each time I come to PIX I always manage to find something to take away,” he said. This year Mr Burke was very excited about speaking to representatives of Skiold & Vacuum Milling Solutions about disc milling. The Burkes waste stream mitigation includes the use of composted waste as a fertiliser for their neighbouring grain growing enterprise. Grain can then be fed back into their egg production system. Mr Burke concluded, “This (disc milling) looks as though it can provide optimal feed structure while lowering our overall power consumption.”

CRC staff spoke to a number of people new to the industry, and with many of these enquiries relating to education and/or training opportunities it provided an excellent platform to promote educational materials such as our Commercial Layer Management and Meat Chicken Management series of books. “Extension is of paramount importance to the poultry industry, and will be one of the major legacies of the Poultry CRC,” assured Professor Mingan Choct, CEO of the Poultry CRC. There were also a number of enquiries relating to the CRC’s Post-mortem DVD (which is available for purchase via AECL). Surrounded by a wealth of experienced industry representatives, CRC staff were able to direct many enquiries to relevant experts.

The value of meeting delegates face-to-face is one of the real strengths of events such as PIX. The opportunity to directly engage with colleagues and friends is extremely valuable in this context. Not only were the days full of informative presentations, but the evening social events gave delegates the opportunity to catch up in a less formal setting (with excellent food on offer). Thanks must go to the organisers for such a well-attended and worthwhile conference.