![Free-Ranging Flock](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Free-ranging-flock-150x150.jpg)
Bird Flu: Must-Knows For Backyard Chicken Keepers (And Breeders)
Exhortations to prevent contact with wild birds to avoid avian influenza can be a source of anxiety for chicken keepers. It’s near-impossible to exclude all birds from even an enclosed run and locking up chickens comes with its own risks – overcrowding, stress and exposure to higher manure loads, to name a few.
![Portrait of Dr Ken Bruerton](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ken-150x150.jpg)
Dr Ken Bruerton – Winner of the Australian Poultry Award 2023
Dr Ken Bruerton was the winner of the prestigious Australian Poultry Award this year and I thought I would have a chat with Ken to congratulate him and hear his story. For our readers who do not know him, Ken is an animal nutritionist and runs his own business, the Queensland-based, Protea Park Nutrition Services.
![](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/JOH2006_10_AgriFutures_2020_shoot3-9WEB-150x150.jpg)
A Chat with Mr John Harvey, AgriFutures Australia
For this issue of Poultry@Sydney, I was delighted to speak with Mr John Harvey, Managing Director of AgriFutures Australia. AgriFutures Australia is one of 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) that service the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) needs of Australian rural industries.
![](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Eugeni-Roura-150x150.jpg)
Professor Eugeni Roura and the AgriFutures Chicken Meat Consortium
Professor Roura is passionate about his role in the Consortium and its collaboration with industry. He sees a future for students and researchers to work together with industry. All this while attracting people to work in and help the poultry industry grow.
![Poultry Education Day](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Poultry-Education-1-150x150.png)
“Poultry Education Day” for School Students
On the 10th of November 2023, The University of Sydney held the egg-citing open day once again whereby students across all parts of NSW local and further way were invited into the world of poultry.
![Dr Ron MacAlpine](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ron-McAlpine-150x150.jpg)
A Chat with Dr Ron MacAlpine
Dr Ron MacAlpine is a highly respected industry leader and a well-known poultry nutritionist in Australia. It was a pleasure to have a chat with Ron recently.
![Associate Professor Groves wearing glasses.](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dr-Groves-150x150.jpg)
Recent Poultry Health Studies by the PRF Team
Karen Gao’s project is the first analytical epidemiological study of Spotty Liver Disease, which is a major disease problem in free range egg layers. Christine Clark’s project looked at the novel strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis that caused major disruption to the layer industry in NSW in 2018-2020 and also spread to Victoria and Queensland.
![](https://poultry-research.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Melinda-Kylie-150x150.jpg)
Melinda Hashimoto Interview
Melinda is a farmer’s daughter from a small beef property (Brahman cross) in Queensland. Having attended university in Rockhampton with a Bachelor of Education she remained in the area and then travelled to Japan spending 5 years teaching there. Upon return to Australia, she completed an MBA at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. Former career roles include Adviser to Ministers for Agriculture at Federal and State Levels and QLD Department of Trade and Investment.