Staged Feeding - Complete Diet

You are what you eat. Chicken is what it eats. Good eating chicken is determined by how well they are fed. That Hazeldene’s chicken tastes superb is no coincidence.

Statement on Hormones, Antibiotics and Feed.

No hormones are fed or administered to poultry in the production of Hazeldene’s chicken meat or by any other poultry producer in Australia. This is verified by the National Residue Survey program that has never detected the use of hormones in Australian chickens. The markedly improved growth rate and meat yields seen in the modern day chicken meat has been a consequence of genetic selection and advances in nutrition.

Antibiotics are only used in Hazeldene’s poultry when there are health issues that may impact on the welfare of the bird. These are used under strict veterinary guidance and in accordance with the requirements of regulatory authorities in regard to withdrawal periods. The use of improved housing, husbandry and vaccination programs has meant that the use of antibiotics is very uncommon.
A different group of antibiotics that are
not used in humans are used in poultry to prevent disease by controlling the growth
of undesirable bacteria in the gut of the bird. These assist the bird in its ability to digest and take advantage of its nutritional intake.

Hazeldene’s, to meet particular consumer demands do produce a Free Range chicken in which no antibiotics are used. This product undergoes strict traceability protocols throughout processing and distribution.

Poultry nutrition has advanced dramatically in recent times with the specific needs of the bird for energy, protein minerals and vitamins much better understood. This has enabled the manufacture of feed that allows the optimum production efficiency of quality chicken meat. Raw materials used in the production of this feed include various cereal grains, legumes, protein meals and vitamins. Hazeldene’s is a proud supporter of the local grain producers ensuring that the quality of these grains is of the highest standard.

For more detailed information on the
above points the reader is referred to the Australian Chicken Meat Federation web site, www.chicken.org.au.

Biosecurity

As an integral part of Hazeldene's Chicken Farm is used to prevent the introduction of infectious disease into its poultry operation. Staff, contractors, transporters and suppliers of items such as feed and equipment are provided and instructed in Hazeldene's biosecurity policy. All Hazeldene Chicken Meat growers are operating under the National Biosecurity Manual for Contract Meat Chicken Farming developed by the Australian Chicken Meat Federation.
Regular monitoring and review of these policies is undertaken by the Veterinary Services section of Hazeldene's. For more biosecurity information click here.