Australia’s newest chicken factory looks like a modern art gallery – but will it improve animal welfare?
News Source
•Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:00:22 GMT
📰 What Happened
A new $600 million chicken processing plant has opened in Tamworth, New South Wales. Its front building looks like a modern art gallery rather than a factory.
The plant is owned by Baiada, the company behind the Steggles and Lilydale Free Range brands. At full speed it will process 3 million chickens a week.
That works out as about a fifth of all the chicken eaten in Australia each year. Two processing lines will handle 15,000 birds an hour once the plant is running fully.
🔍 The Backstory
The facility opened last week and will support more than 1,000 jobs. Tamworth's deputy mayor called it a gem for the city and the wider region.
Australians eat about 55kg of chicken each every year, and consumption has doubled in 30 years. More than 800 million chickens will be killed this financial year.
Animal groups say the welfare model behind the plant is not good enough, pointing to fast-growing breeds. The RSPCA says about 97% of Australian chicken meat already meets its standards.
🎯 Why It Matters
Chicken is the most eaten meat in Australia. How these birds are bred, raised and killed affects animal welfare and the price shoppers pay.
A new $600 million chicken processing plant has opened in Tamworth, New South Wales. Its front building looks like a modern art gallery rather than a factory.
The plant is owned by Baiada, the company behind the Steggles and Lilydale Free Range brands. At full speed it will process 3 million chickens a week.
That works out as about a fifth of all the chicken eaten in Australia each year. Two processing lines will handle 15,000 birds an hour once the plant is running fully.
The facility opened last week and will support more than 1,000 jobs. Tamworth's deputy mayor called it a gem for the city and the wider region.
Australians eat about 55kg of chicken each every year, and consumption has doubled in 30 years. More than 800 million chickens will be killed this financial year.
Animal groups say the welfare model behind the plant is not good enough, pointing to fast-growing breeds. The RSPCA says about 97% of Australian chicken meat already meets its standards.
Chicken is the most eaten meat in Australia. How these birds are bred, raised and killed affects animal welfare and the price shoppers pay.