Chicken Meat Eggs Honeybee Rice Horses Fodder Crops Pasture Seeds

Sub-Program 3.1: Chicken Meat 

Objective:   To support increased sustainability and  profitability in the chicken meat industry by  focusing research and development on those areas that will enable the industry to become more efficient and globally competitive and that will assist in the develop­ment of good industry and product images.

Background

The Australian chicken meat industry currently produces approximately 580 000 tonnes of chicken meat annually with a retail value in excess of $2.25 billion.

Production has increased dramatically over the past thirty years, to the point where chicken meat is now Australian consumers’ second most popular meat. While growth has slowed over the past six months and production will remain at current levels for the coming twelve months, it is expected that the industry will resume growth of up to 4 per cent a year in sub­sequent years. Most production is consumed domestically, although the industry has expanded its export markets in recent years.

The industry is dominated by a number of quite large, vertically integrated companies. Each of these companies invests significant funds into in-house R&D, particularly in the areas of product develop­ment, processing technologies, quality control procedures, distribution and packaging and market research.

A major challenge that the industry must face over the coming year is to manage the current Newcastle disease situation which threatens to effect both the industry’s long term productivity and efficiency and its favourable international image in terms of disease status.

Over coming years, the industry must continue to restructure its operations in order to improve its international competitiveness. It will also need to address community concerns with respect to its environmental performance, particularly in terms of odour control.

Food safety issues relevant to chicken meat products will continue to provide a major focus for the industry over this period.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Develop techniques to more effectively control poultry diseases, such as vaccines, diagnostic tests, epidemiological procedures, biosecurity measures and nutritional manipulations.

• Develop strategies for improving the quality and utilisation of feed through the development of rapid nutritional quality testing techniques, identifying nutritional interactions with disease and the environment, investigating new or alternative feed ingredients and developing technologies that improve the rate and efficiency of broiler growth.

• Establish critical control points and develop techniques for reducing contamination of live birds and poultry products with food safety micro-organisms.

• Identify impediments to achieving an internationally competitive industry and develop strategies for addressing these.

• Develop strategies to improve the image of the industry and its products in the eyes of the consumer.

• Facilitate the adoption of best practice standards in animal welfare for the chicken meat industry.

• Establish operational standards and develop strategies to improve the industry’s ability to successfully manage environmental issues.

• Facilitate industry awareness and rapid adoption of new and improved technologies.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• In the light of a number of outbreaks of virulent Newcastle disease on poultry farms in NSW since September 1998, additional research will be undertaken to identify the habits, distribution and prevalence of the outbreak virus and related viruses in Australian poultry flocks in order to assess the risk of further outbreaks occurring and to develop strategies to minimise or better manage this risk.  Research will also focus on developing appropriate vaccination strategies that can be used to assist in the eradication of Newcastle disease and on improving upon available techniques for diagnosing virulent Newcastle disease infections.

• Progress the development of national guidelines for the design and management of broiler farms to achieve environmental goals and facilitate the development of a standardised approach to the measurement of odours emitted from broiler farms and to modelling their dispersion from these farms.

• New strategies will be sought for reducing the levels of several bacteria, that can be associated with food borne illness in humans, on poultry meat products.  The focus of this work will be on the development of bio-replacement strategies that minimise the level of contamination of birds at the farm.

• In previous projects, audit documentation has been prepared to allow industry to audit the procedures it has in place to protect the welfare of birds throughout different stages of the production process.  In 2000-2001, a strategy will be developed for the implementation of this welfare audit by industry.

• Avian leukosis virus type J is a disease that causes significant losses in flocks overseas and is suspected to be present in some flocks in Australia.  Currently, the technology necessary for diagnosing infection with this agent is not available locally.  Research will be initiated to develop appropriate diagnostic techniques so that improved control and/or prevention measures can be taken.

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• Development of national guidelines for the environmental design and management of broiler farms.

• Publication of a hard copy version of a combined Chicken Meat and Egg Program research report for 1999-2000 and its distribution to industry and researchers.

• Production and distribution of listings of relevant projects funded and recently released final reports at two Australian Veterinary Poultry Association scientific meetings and the annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium.

• Publication of details of projects supported in the areas of flock health, public health and animal welfare in the Australian Veterinary Poultry Association’s newsletter.

• New candidate strains of fowl pox vaccines to be evaluated.

• Information to be come available on the insecticide resistance of poultry farm populations of the darkling beetle, a common pest in Australian poultry houses.

• Preparation of a strategy document for the management of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus, in the event that it should ever infect Australian poultry flocks

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• Development of a plan for the future management of Newcastle disease in Australia based on the outputs of collaborative industry, RIRDC and government surveys and research.

• Royalty income generated from local and international sales of several poultry vaccines to be available for reinvestment, thereby enhancing the overall research effort being made on behalf of the Australian industry.

• Improved consumer confidence in, and sustained demand for, poultry meat products to result from the provision of reliable information on the types and antibiotic resistance patterns of bacteria present in Australian poultry.

• More cost effective use of feed ingredients by the industry as a result of the adoption of improved feed formulation practices, and the use of better, and more reliable, information on nutritional value of a range of local feedstuffs.

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/chick5yr.htm
 
 

CHICKEN MEAT SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999—2000($)	2000—2001
Opening Balance	1,954,316	1,782,501
Total Revenues	1,722,000	1,743,000
Total Expenditure	1,893,815	2,382,578
Surplus/(Deficit)	(171,815)	(639,578)
Closing Balance	1,782,501	1,142,923
See Table 4 for further details

Sub-Program 3.1: Chicken Meat — new projects being funded in 2000–2001
 

Project No		Title	Researcher	Phone
CME00-03		Evaluation of fowlpox (FPV) strains free of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) as vaccines for use in Australian poultry flocks	Dr David Boyle	03 5227 5018
CME00-05		Avian leukosis-J (ALV-J) in Australia: laboratory technologies and research needs	Dr Trevor Bagust	03 9344 9676
CME00-06		Investigations into the development of a sustainable management strategy for the darkling beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) in broilers	Mr Trevor Lambkin	07 3896 9434
CME00-10J	*	Diagnostic tools for differentiation of vvIBDV and characterisation of Australian strains	Dr Jagoda Ignjatovic	03 5227 5769
N/A	*	NDV vaccination strategies aimed to induce high titres in elite breeding and layer flocks	Dr George Arzey	02 4640 6333
N/A		Study of the effects of V4 vaccination on infection with Peat’s Ridge type variant strains of Australian NDV	Prof Peter Spradbrow	07 3365 5735
CME00-28		Effects of organic acids, probiotics and enzymes on control of necrotic enteritis and performance of broiler chickens (	Dr Mingan Choct	02 6773 5121
CME00-16	*	Using dietary fatty acid to increase protein accretion in broilers	A/Prof Wayne Bryden	02 4655 0658
CME00-14	*	Estimating amino acid availability by slope-ratio chick assay	Mr Fraser Trueman	07 3362 9484
N/A	*	Premium grains for livestock program – stage 2	Dr Rider Perez-Madonado	07 3824 3081
CME00-18		Development of campylobacter bio-replacement program and establishment of campylobacter reference centre	Dr Victoria Korolik	07 5594 8321
CME00-21		Salmonella typing and colonisation of chickens by characterised S. Sofia	Dr Michael Heuzenroeder	08 8222 3275
CME00-24	*	Implementation of the RIRDC broiler welfare audit to industry	Dr John Barnett	03 9742 0433
CME00-26J	*	Reduction of dust emission from broiler and caged layer sheds	Dr Colin Cargill	08 8303 7782

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

Achievements in 1999-2000
 

• The rapid exclusion of exotic, very virulent infectious bursal disease as the cause of a poultry health incident in a poultry operation during the year using diagnostic tools developed in recent RIRDC projects, thereby avoiding considerable disruption to industry.

• Responded proactively to international trends and concerns related to the use of antimicrobial substances in livestock production by initiating a program of research aimed at developing alternatives to antimicrobial growth promotants, with a particular emphasis on new control strategies for necrotic enteritis.

• Responded in a timely fashion to industry’s evolving research needs in the area of Newcastle disease management.

• Released valuable and timely information on the usefulness, limitations of, and the most appropriate means of administering the locally developed V4 vaccine to provide Australian chicken flocks with immunity against Newcastle disease.

• Completed the preparation and publication of all modules of the distance learning materials for the chicken meat industry.

• Confirmed that the nutritive value of certain cereal grains for broiler chickens can, under certain conditions, be improved by a period of storage and quantified the range of improvements possible.

• Demonstrated that by changing the overall levels and the ratios of different types of fat in broiler diets, the amount of lean muscle deposition vs fat deposition in broilers can be manipulated.

Sub-Program 3.2: Eggs 

Objective: To support improved efficiency, sustainability, product quality, education and technology transfer in the Australian egg industry

Background

The Australian egg industry comprises around 900 commercial producers, has an annual output of 220 million dozen eggs and a gross value of production of $340 million.  Approximately 85 per cent of all eggs produced are sold in shell form, primarily through grocery chains.  The balance is processed into liquid, frozen and dried egg products for use in the food service and processed food sectors.

The industry continues to undergo significant structural development due to deregulation in a number of States.  In general, individual enterprises are becoming fewer in number and larger in size and there is a trend for increasing vertical integration along the production chain.  Increasing globalisation of markets and freeing of world trade is pressuring the industry to improve its international competitiveness.

The industry is also becoming more sensitive to the requirements of their customers while consumers are becoming more demanding.  This has lead to the development of an increasingly diverse range of product lines.  Public perceptions and opinions have also brought issues such as food safety, animal welfare and environmental impact into the forefront.  Animal welfare concerns have led to increasing markets for eggs from alternative housing systems, although the market share is still small with free range eggs commanding an estimated 5.5 per cent of the market and barn laid eggs a further 2.5 per cent.

A review has been called by government into layer hen housing with Ministers to make decisions relating to animal welfare policy in the egg industry in March 2000.  The outcomes of this review may have implications for future research and development.

Codes of practice currently exist for food safety and animal welfare.  RIRDC is currently working with industry to develop a biosecurity code of practice.  These codes assist the industry to define and encourage adoption of acceptable management standards.

Research into disease management has re-emerged as a high priority following recent outbreaks of a virulent Australian strain of Newcastle disease virus in NSW. Eradication of the virulent virus is essential if Australia is to maintain its current health status.  A technical subcommittee has been formed by the RIRDC - Chicken Meat and Egg Programs to expedite R&D funding decisions in relation to Newcastle disease.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Analyse the impact of economic and policy reforms on the Australian egg industry.

• Develop and satisfy the market for eggs and egg products.

• Safeguard public health.

• Minimise the effects of disease in layer flock health.

• Improve the efficiency of egg production through improved understanding of nutrition, physiology and husbandry.

• Improve bird welfare and bird performance.

• Optimise the environmental and social impact of egg production.

• Facilitate the training of researchers, producers and their support staff.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Continue to assist industry to improve their international competitiveness.

• Assist industry to improve management standards and bird welfare in all egg production systems.

• Assist industry to safeguard public health.

• Assist industry to overcome the current threat from Newcastle disease.

• Measure and manage the environmental impact of egg production.

• Assist producers to improve their record keeping and increase the use of computers for record keeping, performance monitoring and information transfer.

Expected key outputs in 2000-2001
 

• An annual research report.

• A biosecurity code of practice.

• Publication of the results of a disease and management survey.

• A review on beak trimming methods.

• Information on the energy and amino acid requirements of imported layer strains.

• Strategies to reduce the impact of saline drinking water on egg shell quality.

• A review of land use conflict in relation to poultry industries.

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• An industry plan to utilise the results of the international benchmarking study.

• Improved level of farm record keeping.

• Improved information flow leading to a better-informed industry.

• Continuing reduction in losses to the industry from eggshell quality problems.

• Improved levels of on-farm biosecurity.

• Continuing improvements in the performance of imported layer strains through improving understanding of their nutritional and management requirements.

• Increased industry confidence in the use of pearl millet as a feed ingredient.

• Improved understanding of the factors affecting nutritional value of feed grains.

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/egg5year.htm
 
 

EGGS SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999—2000($)	2000—2001($)
Opening Balance	1,499,451	1,404,844
Total Revenues	1,523,310	1,736,133
Total Expenditure	1,617,917	2,072,230
Surplus/(Deficit)	(94,607)	(336,097)
Closing Balance	1,404,844	1,068,747

See Table 6 for further details
 
 

EGG INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND  SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999—2000($)	2000—2001($)
Opening Balance	542,998	531,944
Total Revenues	25,000	25,000
Total Expenditure	36,054	187,500
Surplus/(Deficit)	(11,054)	(162,500)
Closing Balance	531,944	369,444

See Table 7 for further details
 

Sub-Program 3.2: Eggs — new projects being funded in 2000–2001

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
EGG00-01		The economic impact of changing Australian egg production systems	Dr Ray Trewin	02 6249 0134
EGG00-04	*	An evaluation of the higher value-added opportunities from the chicken egg	Dr Craig Davis	07 3406 8611
CME00-19	*	Rapid methods for the detection of virulent Salmonella in poultry products	Dr Jason Wan	03 9742 0320
CME00-07	*	Viral decontamination of surface water for poultry using simple treatments	Dr Trevor Bagust	03 9344 9676
CME00-10J	*	Diagnostic tools for differentiation of vvIBDV and characterisation of Australian strains	Dr Jagoda Ignjatovic	03 5227 5000
EGG00-08	*	Optimising the health of laying hens for maximum egg shell quality	Dr Juliet Roberts	02 6773 2506
EGG00-09		Effects of commercial feed enzymes on egg and egg shell quality in imported strains of laying hen	Dr Juliet Roberts	02 6773 2506
EGG00-15		Evaluation of Lathyrus cicera as a feed ingredient for layers	Dr Colin Hanbury	08 9368 3744
CME00-26J	*	Reduction of dust emission from broiler and caged layer sheds	Dr Phil Glatz	08 8303 7786
EGG00-21	*	Video series – Managing your layer farm	Mr Michael Bourke	02 6391 3209
N/A		NDV vaccination strategies aimed to induce high titers in elite breeding and layer flocks	Dr George Arzey	02 4640 6333
N/A	*	Study of the effects of V4 vaccination on infection with Peat’s Ridge type variant strains of Australian NDV	Prof Peter Spradbrow	07 3365 5735
N/A	*	Premium grains for livestock program – stage 2	Dr John Black	02 4753 6231

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

Achievements in 1999—2000
 

• Focus on Research newsletter included on RIRDC web site and made available by email.

• Industry workshop held to develop a plan to utilise the results of an international benchmarking study.

• Technical subcommittee established to expedite funding decisions in relation to Newcastle disease.

• The efficacy of two locally produced Newcastle disease vaccines evaluated.

• A specialist poultry veterinarian trained via the Masters in Avian Health course at the University of Melbourne (subsequently employed in the industry).

• A new training video produced to assist producers to manage feather cover and pecking problems.

• Improved understanding of feeding requirements for imported layer strains.

• Information provided on strategies to rehabilitate layer flocks suffering a drop in production due to avian encephalomyelitis.

• A library loan system for conference proceedings established.

• Two new short reports released.

• Pearl millet and a new soybean variety developed by CSIRO evaluated as poultry feed ingredients.

• Benefits for hens of abrasive strips and abrasive paint in layer cages evaluated.

• A field study on tunnel-ventilated layer shedding provided information to assist producers in decision-making when building new sheds.  The researcher presented the results to producers in a number of States.

• A special edition of the industry magazine “Poultry Digest” featuring articles and information collected on an RIRDC-funded study tour to investigate alternative housing systems in Europe released.

• A current and comprehensive database of egg industry contacts developed.

• An annual research report published.

Sub-Program 3.3:  Honeybee 

Objective: To improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry

Australian honey has the reputation in the world market as being a premium quality product. It is produced over a large geographical area from a wide variety of flowering plants which, because of fluctuating rainfall patterns and the extended budding cycles of much of the honey producing flora, tend to flower spasmodically.

About 70–80 per cent of honey produced is from native flora, especially eucalypts growing on public, Crown leasehold and freehold land. The flora are diverse, growing as heathland and mallee eucalypts on coastal plains and in semi-arid regions of Australia, through medium rainfall to subalpine regions and rainforests of Tasmania, northern New South Wales and Queensland.

Australia produces about 31 000 tonnes of honey a year with an estimated gross value of production of about $49 million. Domestic consumption is approximately 15,000 tonnes a year and the remainder is exported in pre-bulk form, making Australia the world's fourth largest exporter of honey. It is estimated that the gross value of production, including queen and package bees, beeswax, pollen and pollination, was $65 million. In addition, the value of pollination to the Australian economy has been estimated at between $600 million and $1.2 billion.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Increase profitability by improving hive husbandry and management practices.

• Continue honeybee access and research into melliferous resources on both public and freehold land.

• Develop agricultural and horticultural crop pollination and biological controls using honeybees.

• Improve methods of extracting, storing and transporting honey.

• Increase the use of honey in the food industry.

• Determine therapeutic values of specific floral species.

• Improve communications between the R&D section, the honey industry and associated industries.

This sub-program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible on the Internet at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/honeybee.html

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Product quality has been under increasing scrutiny by the industry and the completion of container, international benchmarking and domestic quality projects has provided the industry with necessary information to formulate minimum domestic honey quality standards.

• The introduction success and post-introduction performance of queen bees has varied widely. Following a pilot project a full program involving the queen and honey production sectors will continue in-depth studies.

• Investigation of the use of honey in diets for diabetics.

• Investigation of methods for identifying queen bees in beehives.

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• Development of improved methods for the use of liquid honey in food manufacturing.

• Guidelines for improved methods for introduction of queen bees and improved early performance.

• Improved techniques for control of American foulbrood disease.

• Production of a publication on honeybee nutrition in Australia.

• Development of a CD of all past R&D activities for use by industry.

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• Greater diversification of apiarists’ income sources and better yields of entomophilous crops as a result of the production of the crop pollination extension package to assist extension officers and consultants organise and encourage a professional pollination service.

• Greater control by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service of an incursion of Apis cerana as a result of the development of bait hives. Early detection and eradication of Apis cerana to protect the bee industry from a very damaging mite infestation as well as prevent its introduction into the Australian environment and subsequent competition with indigenous bees.

• Improved disease management and a reduction in the use of chemicals as part of the quality assurance program to safeguard the quality and image of honey.

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

 
• The development of bait hives to assist capture of Apis cerana when incursions occur.

• Hospital assessment of the efficacy of ‘active’ honeys against infections in such conditions as ulcers, burns and bedsores.

• Increased adoption of Quality assurance programs by producers.

• Chemical honey fingerprinting authentication of floral source.

• Increased adoption of nutrition combined with refined disease protocols to minimise the potential for treatments to adversely affect quality assurance and product image.

• Production of Honeybee Research Report 2000 as well as a range of final and short reports.

• Production of a pollination technology transfer resource package.

Budget: $3 150 000

Background

The Australian rice industry is primarily based in the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys of southern New South Wales, where some 2500 family farms produce between 1 and 1.4 million tonnes of paddy a year. It is one of the most productive and efficient rice industries in the world, with yields averaging 9.2 tonnes per hectare. The industry has a farmgate gross value of production of around $300 million and earns more than $500 million in exports (mostly of value-added rice in small branded packs) to more than fifty destinations.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Provide varieties that result in increased efficiency at the farm level, meet customer requirements and maintain pure seed quality.

• Improve crop establishment, agronomy/ physiology, nutrition and protection from weeds and diseases.

• Improve the sustainability of the rice farming system.

• Develop world best practice technologies for harvesting, handling, milling and processing rice.

• Foster and achieve innovation, both on and off farm.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Continue a new phase for the rice breeding and pure seed program which will, during the next five years, focus especially on improved medium grain of shorter growth duration, long grain, fragrant and arborio types.

• Further enhance the use of rotational weed management practices to enhance management tools to avoid herbicide resistance and also increase understanding of the biology of major weeds to improve the chance that non-chemical controls can be developed in the future.

• Increase understanding of nutritional requirements of the rice plant and their impact on grain quality and therefore improve the chance of improving the efficiency of rice production.

• Advance the next stage of biotechnology research to support longer-term development of the rice industry in Australia, as these technologies become appropriate.

• Continue support for the Cooperative Research Centre Sustainable Rice Production.

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• Finalise the publication of a new guide to quality rice production in south eastern Australia.

• Advance new breeding lines to the near release stage.

• Finish early work on rice cold induced sterility and pass activity in this area on to the CRC.

• Release significant results on rice nutrition, which provides guides to improved fertiliser use by growers.

• Provide information on a range of herbicides, which result in registration for use in Australia and support more effective development of an integrated weed management program for the industry.

• Annual rice R&D workshop, which updates progress for all projects and ensures input from all sectors of the industry.

• Production of a special rice R&D farmers’ newsletter.

• Updates of the Ricecheck recommendations booklet and associated Rice Notes to incorporate new R&D results and feedback from last year’s ‘crop evaluation records’ and their circulation to all growers prior to sowing.

• Regional pre-season technology meetings (8).

• About 200 regional grower rice discussion meetings organised for five crucial stages of crop development.

• One major field day and several regional field days organised on crucial R&D industry issues.

• Production of 8–10 research reports.

• Articles included in R&D publications and links established between rice industry websites and RIRDC’s website.

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• Improved international competitiveness of the rice industry through higher yielding and improved quality varieties, which are better focused on specific domestic and export consumer demands.

• Improved rice production methods resulting in reduced water use, more effective fertiliser application, improved integrated weed control methods and reduced harvesting costs and wastage.

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/ricr&d.html
 

RICE SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999-2000($)	2000-2001($)
Opening Balance	1,320,018	1,462,238
Total Revenues	3,2 ,015	2,905,000
Total Expenditure	3,097,795	3,310,500
Surplus/(Deficit)	142,220	(405,500)
Closing Balance	1,462,238	1,056,738

See Table 12 for further details
 

Sub-Program 3.4: Rice — new projects being funded in 2000–2001

Project No		Title	Researcher	Phone
RIC00-11	*	Effect of rice stubble burning versus retention on soil health	Mr Clive Kirkby	02 6960 1500
RIC00-13	*	Better extension for improved rice yields II	Mr Warwick Clampett	02 6960 1317
RIC00-16		Development of improved molecular detection methods for Bacillus cereus toxins	Dr Graham Burgess	07 4781 5472
RIC00-20	*	BASAGRAN for aquatic weed control in rice	Mr Malcolm Taylor	03 5872 2892
RIC00-22		Alternative methods and cultural practices for establishing seed and nutritional plots	Mr Russell Ford	03 5886 1391
DAN-185A		NIR for improved fertilizer predictions II – extension	Dr Graeme Batten	02 6951 2736

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

Achievements in 1999–2000
 

• Finalisation of several current stages of significant rice quality assessment activities and assessment of future stages.

• Release of the first parts of a new guide to rice production in south eastern Australia.

• Several new varieties advanced to testing for future release.

• Finalisation of the current stages of aquatic earthworm and bloodworm pests activities.

• An innovative ground rig-spraying mechanism, developed as a substitute for aerial spraying.

• Assessment of rice blast fungicide development for Australia.

• Annual rice R&D workshop, which updates progress for all projects and ensures input from all sectors of the industry.

• Production of a special rice R&D farmers’ newsletter.

• Updates of the Ricecheck recommendations booklet and associated Rice Notes to incorporate new R&D results and feedback from last year’s ‘crop evaluation records’ and their circulation to all growers prior to sowing.

• Regional pre-season technology meetings.

Sub-Program 3.5:  Horses 

In 1995, RIRDC appointed an Equine Research and Development Advisory Committee to oversee a R&D program, following agreement by the then Australian Conference of Principal Racing Clubs (now the Australian Racing Board) to provide significant financial support. The Committee oversees the investment of government and industry funds in equine R&D projects.

Since the commencement of the program, additional financial support has been received from the Australian Harness Racing Council, the Equestrian Federation of Australia, the Australian Stock Horse Society, the Australian Quarter Horse Association, the Australian Equine Veterinary Association and the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club. The Committee has worked closely with the Australian Horse Industry Council in promoting and integrating the R&D program to meet the needs of the horse industry. The Five Year R&D Equine Industry Plan is reviewed annually by the key stakeholders, the most recent review being in November 1999.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Decrease wastage in the industry associated with injury and disease.

• Examine, develop and support projects associated with identifying and preventing injuries to riders.

• Ensure the communication of the latest relevant research information to the horse industry via newsletters, publications and our internet web site.

• Identify and support epidemiologically related projects.

• Encourage projects that involve collaborative work between discipline areas and institutions to ‘value add’ to the investment by government and the horse industry.

• Support exchange of information between local and overseas researchers.

• Develop industry-based research and development projects constructed around problems, issues and areas of interest that are critical to industry members, participants and stakeholders.  The aim being to further grow a research and development culture in the horse industry through building even closer links between day-to-day industry needs and the 5 year Horse Program Plan.

Strategies for 2000–2001

The projects recommended for funding in 1999–2000 will address major program issues by:
 

• further developing better communication and learning outcomes for the industry

• identifying the factors leading to herpes virus 1 infections in foals

• developing a test for standards for fodder quality

• developing a state-of-the-art manual on racetrack management

• developing better tests for laryngeal hemiplegia (“roaring”) in horses and the role of latent herpesvirus infections in respiratory disease.

Expected key outputs in 2000-2001
 

• A major seminar for the horse industry on latest research results.

• A review of the Five-Year plan developed for the horse industry.

• A handbook for racecourse managers that distils the most important information gained from the last four years of racecourse managers’ conferences.

• A ‘state-of-the-art’ book on laminitis in horses, distilling the principal findings from RIRDC-funded research over the past four years.

• Nutritional information to enable safer and more effective feeding of grain in horses.

• A strategy for learning and training in the horse industry following from a follow-up workshop in this area.

• Support for a major study into the economic impact of the horse industry.

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• A change in approach by veterinarians to the management and treatment of respiratory disease in racehorses, resulting from promotion of the research findings from major projects funded over four years.

• Increased awareness within the Australian horse industry of the fundamentalimportance of research and development to the welfare of the horse and the industry.

• Assisting the horse industry to have access to the latest research and technical information to help in key decision making processes.

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/equiRD1.html
 
 

HORSES SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999—2000($)	2000—2001($)
Opening Balance	157,959	51,559
Total Revenues	742,000	765,000
Total Expenditure	848,400	796,070
Surplus/(Deficit)	(106,400)	(31,070)
Closing Balance	51,559	20,489

See Table 10 for further details
 

Sub-Program 3.5: Horses — new projects being funded in 1999–2000

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
HOR00-29		Communication and Information Programs for the Horse Industry	Ms Shirley Ray	02 9351 1756
HOR00-16	*	Economic impact study of the Australian Horse Industry	Dr Peter Quinn	02 6248 6699
HOR00-06	*	Evaluation of laryngeal neuropathy grading by evoked potential response	Dr Leanne Begg	02 9399 7722
HOR00-10		Development of diagnostic tests and vaccines for Rhodococcus equi infection	Dr Michael Heuzenroeder	08 8222 3275
HOR00-11		Dr Daria Love	02 9351 2454
HOR00-15		Role of latent Equine Herpesvirus infections in respiratory disease	Associate Professor Graham Wilcox	08 9360 2448
MUL00-20		Objective measurement of fodder quality in the Australian horse industry	Dr Angus McKinnon	03 5573 0915

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design

Achievements in 1999-2000
 

• Continued support for equine research and development projects across Australia, with 20 projects currently in place, covering infectious diseases, reproduction, nutrition, athletic injuries, drug development, communication, lameness and working surfaces.

• Continued the quarterly RIRDC Equine Research News as a major vehicle for disseminating information about the Equine R&D program, bringing the latest research information to the horse industry in a user-friendly format. The newsletter is distributed to more than 10 000 people in the horse industry and an electronic version is made available free of charge to all horse organisations to distribute to their members. It is estimated that the information reaches more than 100 000 people involved with horses.

• Further developed the Internet website that contains invaluable information about the equine R&D program, indexed articles of all previously published material in the RIRDC Equine Research News, the Five Year Equine R&D Plan and information on the Equine R&D Advisory Committee. Also maintained the electronic mail lists horsesci and aust horse.

• Produced the major book Feeding Horses in Australia and booklets on Respiratory Disease in Racehorses, Healthy Land – Healthy Horses, Training and Learning in the Horse Industry, Transport of Horses, Equine Pleuropneumonia (Travel Sickness), Drought Feeding of Horses and Reducing Dust in Horse Stables.

• Reviewed in November 1999, with the assistance of major horse organisations, the Five Year Strategic Plan for Equine R&D. This review enabled identification of key strategies for 2000–2001.

• Conducted a workshop on training and learning in the horse industry, which involved all major equine industry groups and those involved in formal training programs.

• Held the Fifth Annual RIRDC–Vetsearch Equine Research Awards in Melbourne, with the award for Major Industry Contribution going to Mr Keith Hyde. Awards for Equine Researcher of the Year and Equine Research Student of the Year were presented respectively to Dr Angus McKinnon of the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital and Dr Rob Christley of the University of Glasgow (formerly a PhD student at the University of Sydney).

 

Sub-Program 3.6:  Fodder Crops 

Objective: To facilitate the development and maintenance of a viable fodder crops industry

Background

Fodder is defined as the wide range of crop and pasture species that are grown, harvested and lightly processed to facilitate both on-farm use and domestic and export trade. The fodder industry is large with an estimated 20,000 producers on 46,000 properties across all States producing approximately 1.2 million tonnes of hay and other products a year. This production is traded as a wide range of fodder including lucerne, clover, pasture, cereal straw and others. The gross value of production at the farm gate is estimated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at $750 million a year and with value added it has a gross value of production in excess of $1 billion a year. About 80 per cent of production is for on-farm use, much of it made on the same property, but the off-farm traded fodder sector is increasing in size to supply domestic and export markets.

Fodder production is concentrated in Victoria and New South Wales. The largest domestic market users are the dairy and beef industries although the horse industry is also a significant user of fodder.

The animal feeds industry in East Asia is estimated to be US$10 billion, and it is perceived that a large untapped demand will enable the industry to develop many new opportunities. Australia to date has had limited success in this market. Japan is currently Australia’s most important export market, buying 7,200 tonnes of lucerne hay, 8,900 tonnes of lucerne meal and pellets, and 211,000 tonnes of other hay and chaff in 1996–97 worth approximately $57 million. The growth in the dairy, feedlot and livestock industries is providing opportunities for industry growth in the future.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Improve Australia’s competitiveness in the development and supply of fodder-based products for the intensive livestock industries in Australia and emerging livestock industries in East Asia.

• Develop varieties of fodder species that better meet existing and potential market requirements for domestic and export customers.

• Provide a clear understanding of and effective control mechanisms for disease, weed, pest and micro-organism impacts on fodder production.

• Ensure Australian-produced fodder in domestic and export markets meets customer expectations for quality in terms of product description and quality attributes, such as metabolisable energy, protein content and level of extraneous matter and residues.

• Ensure early successful adoption of R&D program outcomes.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Develop disease resistant, higher yielding oat cultivars with enhanced quality for hay production.

• Consolidation of objective measurement system being adopted by the fodder industry

• Identification of potential fodder legume crops for dryland hay production.

• Establish an R&D levy-based funding structure for the industry.

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• Identification of new fodder crop varieties.

• Recommendations for the use of microbial inoculants for improved hay preservation.

• A more accurate screening test for monitoring Corynetoxin contamination of fodder so that the industry can integrate this into its quality assurance system.

• Production and marketing of two research reports and associated short reports.

• Promotion of R&D results in industry newsletters and via field days.

• R&D overview sessions in the Australian Fodder Industry Association annual conference.

• Production of two news articles on fodder research and their distribution to targeted media.

• One article incorporation in general R&D publications — for example, Shaping the Future.

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• Improved range of fodder varieties available to the Australia fodder industry, which will provide a wider range of better quality product for the industry.

• Improved fodder quality measurement standards accepted by all Australian testing laboratories and therefore an effective base for an industry-based quality assurance system to be developed.

• Production of an industry atlas, which has provided for the first time a comprehensive information base to support better industry decision-making.

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/fodder5yr.htm

Sub-Program 3.6: Fodder Crops — new projects being funded in 2000–2001
 

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
FCR00-05	*	Development of improved oat varieties for hay end-use	Dr Pamela Zwer	08 8303 9485
MUL00-20	*	Objective measurement of fodder quality in the Australian horse industry	Mr Peter Flinn	03 5573 0915
FCR00-17	*	Reliable Laboratory Test for Silage	Dr Alan Kaiser	02 6938 1852

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design

Achievements in 1999–2000
 

• Released new fodder varieties suitable for southern Australia.

• A fodder industry production atlas that has provided a better picture of the structure of the industry.

• Production of research reports and presentation of R&D results in industry Newsletter and at the industry’s annual conference.

Sub-Program 3.7: Pasture Seeds 

Background

Australia, with its diversity of climate and growing conditions, is able to produce pasture seeds ranging from temperate to subtropical species for domestic use and for export markets. The export value of pasture seeds exceeds $30 million.

Lucerne and clover are the major leviable seed crop. Total production of leviable temperate legume seed currently exceeds 10 000 tonnes. Perennial grasses (phalaris cocksfoot, tall fescue and ryegrass) are grown for seed in all States with Victoria having the greatest production.

Perennial grass seed production is not levied for R&D and thus research projects on perennial grass seeds is dependent on progress being made for the introduction of these levies.

The main subtropical grasses grown for seed in north-eastern New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory are Rhodes grass, Setaria, panicum, carpet grass and paspalum. While none of the tropical and subtropical pasture species are currently levied, the industry has indicated its support for a levy on these seeds, and industry and RIRDC will pursue this further in 2000. A levy base would provide the scope for an expansion of the research program to include subtropical species.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Develop export and import replacement opportunities for Australian pasture seed growers.

• Improve the technical and economic information available to suppliers and users of pasture seed.

• Improve the overall productivity and returns from producing and marketing quality Australian pasture seeds.

• Address environmental issues impacting on all facets of the pasture seeds industry.

• Improve communications within all sectors of the pasture seeds industry.

• Develop systems that support industry quality assurance and self-regulation.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Continue a concerted effort to improve the efficiency of production of lucerne seed through identification of varieties for increased seed yield, pollination techniques, evaluation and management of lucerne seed wasp and development of integrated control of lucerne yellows disease.

• Improve subterranean clover production through an extensive evaluation of best grower practices and networked-shared learning, development of fungal disease control methods and development of effective weed control practices.

• Develop improved water use strategies for irrigated lucerne seed production.

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• A guide to improved sub clover seed production.

• Several new legume varieties with good domestic and export potential.

• Development of an R&D Newsletter for the program.

• Promotion of R&D results in industry newsletters and via field days.

• Two new articles on pasture seeds research and their distribution to targeted media.

• Two articles incorporated in general R&D publications — for example, Shaping the Future.

Expected outcomes in 2000–2001

Improved international competitiveness and therefore increased exports of the Australian temperate pasture seeds industry via additional seed production varieties and better disease testing methods.
 

This sub-program has its own Five Year Plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/pastures.htm
 
 

PASTURE SEEDS SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	1999-2000($)	2000-2001($)
Opening Balance	253,120	274,420
Total Revenues	304,000	276,000
Total Expenditure	282,700	368,700
Surplus/(Deficit)	21,300	(92,700)
Closing Balance	274,420	181,720

See Table 11 for further details
 

Sub-Program 3.7 Pasture Seeds — new projects being funded in 2000–2001

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
PSE00-05	*	Undertaking a water audit for flood irrigation resourced by an underground aquifer – importance for lucerne seed production	Mr James De Barro	08 8755 3133

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

Achievements in 1999–2000
 

• Incorporation of a bacterial wilt test for lucerne seed developed in Australia into international testing protocols.
• Release of several new fodder varieties that enhance seed export opportunities.
• Production of a report on the production cost structure for the temperate pasture seeds industry.
• Finalisation of guides to the production and harvesting of seed from vigna parkeri.