March 27, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Colliers Agribusiness is managing the sale of Bridgewater Poultry Farm, a large-scale, commercial egg farm located at Bridgewater on Loddon in north central Victoria, Australia. 

The extensively developed 88.85-hectare (219.55-acre) asset comprises three certificates of title and has total capacity for more than 300,000 laying hens. The bulk of production is centered in four large sheds – two modern barn sheds and two cage sheds. 

The operation is benefitted by a large 152,000-bird rearing capacity, and has seen high-quality structural improvements and infrastructure suited to large-scale, commercial egg production and processing. This includes: a large, modern egg processing facility and delivery warehouse for efficient processing of eggs for sale direct-to-market; a grading room; cool room; warehouse areas; packing and administration; an office; workshop; generator sheds; and various additional farm shedding. 

There is a secure water supply to all poultry sheds sourced from the Loddon River and a bore, with the water from both sources treated via reverse osmosis and a chlorination plant. Additional improvements include water storage tanks, silos, two houses, and internal roadways.

The property also is connected with three-phase electricity, stock and domestic water, septic tanks, telecommunications, and backup power from a connected diesels generator. 

Despite the volatility of market conditions, Australia’s 561 egg businesses (as of August 2023) have benefited from rising per capita egg consumption (Australians consume 18.9 million eggs per day) as consumers increasingly opt for eggs over red meat for their protein.

There are three main methods of egg production in Australia: free range, cage-laid, and barn-laid. As of June 2023, the country’s egg industry reported a national flock of 21,829,208 layer hens, and over the past 15 years, free-range production has increased to account for approximately 56.5 percent of retail sales. However, despite cage-laid eggs being phased out of Australia by 2036, current demand still remains strong for cage or barn-laid eggs as a cost-effective source of protein, according to Australian Eggs. 

Consequently, IBIS World forecasts that Australian egg production should increase 1.8 percent during 2023/24 for a total output of 4.63 billion eggs, and will continue to grow in market value from its 2024 revenue of A$13 billion.

For more information regarding the sale of Bridgewater Poultry Farm, please contact Jesse Manuel, national director, transaction services agribusiness with Colliers Agribusiness, at jesse.manuel@colliers.com. 

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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