Commercial Chicken Farms and Processors - EPA

Review of On-Farm Disposal Treatment Risks and the Potential for Recycling of Wastes
Produced from Commercial Chicken Farms and Processors
Figure 3.1 summarises the waste management streams at various stages in chicken
meat processing.
CHICKEN CHICKEN CHICKEN
BREEDER
GROW ER
MEAT
FA R M S
FA R M S
PRO CESSING
Feathers / Litte r /
Manure
Chicken
C arcasses
Feathers / Litte r /
Manure
Chicken
C arcasses
O ffa l / Feathers /
E xcess C arcass
W aste
FIGURE 3.1
Waste Management Streams
3.4 Relationship Between Processors and Growing Farm
Contractors
Inghams, Steggles, Joe’s Poultry and Adelaide Poultry are the four major processors
of chicken meat in South Australia, accounting for 99% of chicken meat production
throughout the State. Whilst the major processors own and manage some chicken
grower farms, most chicken grower farms are directly contracted by the producer to
grow chickens (refer Appendix A). The chicken producers provide the stock, feed,
litter, and veterinary services to the grower farms, whilst the contracted growers are
responsible for growing the chickens.
3.4.1 Waste Management Responsibility
Current arrangements by the four major processors require contract growers to
dispose of the chicken carcass and other waste generated as part of their operations
in an environmentally sustainable manner. The processor either pays a disposal fee
to its contract farmer, or this responsibility is included in other commercial
contractual arrangements.
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