Program 3: Innovative diet formulations

Program Overview

Why is the Program work important?

Replacing soybean meal in Australian chicken meat production is important for several reasons. Economically, Australia is a net importer of soybean meal, making the poultry industry vulnerable to price volatility and supply chain risks. Environmentally, soybean production is linked to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and a high carbon footprint, so reducing reliance on it can mitigate these issues. Program 3 focuses on assessing local feed ingredients and feed formulation strategies to replace imported soybean meal without compromising efficiency.

Program aim

Program 3A

To identify alternative protein-rich ingredients to soybean meal under Australia feeding conditions.

Program 3B

To assess nutritional quality of locally grown grain legumes as an alternative to soybean meal as a protein source for chicken meat producers

Program focus

The Innovation diet formulations program will:

• Evaluate alternative local protein-rich feed ingredients, including canola products, legumes, by-products, and novel feed ingredients.
• Assess diet optimisation to improve the utilisation of local feed ingredients while maintaining growth performance.
• Understand how changes in dietary nutrient concentrations and composition influence gut health and litter quality.
• Recommend feed strategies to partially and completely replace imported soybean meal in Australian production systems.

Meet the program team