Chicken Meat Eggs Honeybee Rice Horses Fodder Crops Pasture Seeds

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.

Budget:     $2,000,000

Background

The Australian chicken meat industry currently produces approximately 593,000 tonnes of chicken meat annually with a retail value in excess of $2.5 billion.

Production has increased dramatically over the past thirty years, to the point where chicken meat is now Australian consumers’ second most popular meat. Annual growth in production of 4% to 5% has been experienced by the industry over the past few years and it is expected that production will continue to increase at similar rates over the coming two to three years.

Most production is consumed domestically. A substantial expansion into export markets which commenced in 1997 has been set back as a result of restrictions placed on imports of Australian poultry products by a number of countries as a result of several outbreaks of Newcastle disease in NSW from late 1998 to January 2000.

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 objective for the industry over the coming year will be to re-establish its Newcastle disease free status, thereby regaining its favourable international image in terms of disease status.

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

Food safety issues relevant to chicken meat products will remain 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 organisms of concern to food safety.
• 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 2001-2002
 

• Continue to work with industry to provide the tools and programs necessary to re-establish Australia’s favourable status as free of Newcastle disease.
• Develop and evaluate alternative approaches to antimicrobial substances for the control of necrotic enteritis and for the maintenance of optimal growth performance in meat chickens.
• Evaluate alternative vaccination strategies for the control of coccidiosis in poultry.
• Australian poultry flocks are considered to be free from very virulent forms of infectious bursal disease virus. Research will be undertaken to confirm Australia’s status in this respect and to develop the tools that would be needed to identify any incursions of vvIBDV into the country and to differentiate such viruses from the genetically distinct Australian forms of the virus so that appropriate control measures can be implemented in a timely manner.
• Progress the development of nutritional strategies for optimising lean meat deposition in meat chickens by manipulating the fatty acid profile of their diets.
• Seek new approaches to minimising the levels of Campylobacter spp., which can be associated with food-borne illness in humans, on poultry meat products through an improved understanding of how flocks become colonised with this organism in the field and the development and evaluation of intervention strategies.
• Continue to collect, evaluate and disperse information that can be used by industry to enhance its environmental performance, particularly in the area of odour control from chicken grow-out farms and the management of farm and hatchery wastes.

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• Development of a database of information on the environmental performance of Australian meat chicken farms.
• Publication of a hard copy version of a combined Chicken Meat and Egg Program research report for 2000-2001 and its distribution to industry and researchers.
• Development of an Environmental Management System for Australian meat chicken farms and a strategy for its implementation.
• Detailed information to be provided on the nutritional value and limitations for use in poultry diets of canola and cottonseed meals.
• Data on the nutritional value for poultry of a wide range of feed ingredients to become available through the Australasian Livestock Feed Ingredients (ALFI) database.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002
 

• The re-establishment of Australia’s Newcastle disease free status, in part due to the research undertaken to establish the prevalence of Newcastle disease viruses, to attain an understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and to develop appropriate control strategies.
• More cost effective use by the industry of canola  and cottonseed meals in meat chicken diets as a result of improved and more reliable information becoming available on the nutritional value of these feed ingredients for chickens.
• More strategic use of insecticide applications to control beetle populations in poultry sheds.
• Improved standards of welfare to be achieved through the implementation of welfare audit systems and improved awareness of industry codes of practice.
• Improved control of several important diseases of economic importance to the meat chicken industry through the use of a range of vaccines, or improved vaccination strategies, and diagnostic tests made available through previously supported research.

CHICKEN MEAT SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	2,084,634	1,906,035
Total Revenues	1,802,500	1,819,800
Total Expenditure	1,981,099	2,170,512
Surplus/(Deficit)	(178,599)	(350,712)
Closing Balance	1,906,035	1,555,323
See Table 3 at page 93 for further details

 

Sub-Program 3.1: Chicken Meat — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include
 

Project No		Title	Researcher	Phone
CME01-01J	*	Molecular evaluation of responses to vaccination and challenge by Marek's disease virus	Professor Greg Tannock	(03) 9925 3088
CME01-05J	*	Efficacy trials of a maternally-delivered recombinant vaccine against coccidiosis	Dr Nicholas Smith	(02) 9514 4013
CME01-06J	*	Control of intestinal spirochaete infections in chickens	Professor David Hampson	(08) 9360 2287
CME01-07J	*	Typing of Pasteurella multocida	A/Professor Linda Blackall	(07) 3365 4645
CME01-15		On-farm reduction strategies for Campylobacter spp.	Ms Jeanette Miflin	(07) 3362 9520

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 2000–2001
 

• In partnership with State and Commonwealth governments and industry, completed a national survey of Newcastle disease viruses in the Australian commercial poultry industries, upon which Australia’s case for freedom from virulent Newcastle disease will be based.
• Prepared a strategy document for the management of very virulent bursal disease virus, should it ever enter Australian poultry flocks.
• Developed and published all modules of a complete set of distance learning materials for the meat chicken industry.
• Optimised vaccination strategies developed to assist in the targeted use of vaccines for the control or eradication of Newcastle disease.
• Developed an improved understanding of the ecology and insecticide resistance profiles of poultry farm populations of the darkling beetle, a common pest in Australian poultry houses.
• Information gathered on the types and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria present in Australian chickens.

 

 
 
 

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

Budget:     $2,112,401

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 led 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 recent review called by government into layer hen housing has resulted in a stronger emphasis on research into alternative egg production systems in Australia.  An additional outcome of this review is the call from government for the industry to take a more active role in self-regulation of management quality standards.  RIRDC is assisting the industry in answering this call by developing a national generic quality assurance program that addresses food safety, bird welfare, biosecurity and labelling.

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 2001-2002
 

• Assess the long-term impact to the industry, consumers, the community and the environment of a move away from traditional cage systems and/or to decrease stocking densities in cages.
• Assess the implications of domestic and international economic policy issues on the Australian egg industry.
• Develop improved information systems for statistical data.
• Study the value-chain of eggs and egg products.
• Assist in the identification and development of new value-added egg products including those with non-food applications.
• Improve knowledge of the nutritional value of eggs and egg products.
• Improve the food safety of eggs and egg products.
• Assist the egg industry to prevent and to minimise the impact of diseases.
• Investigate the influence of rearing strategies on laying hen performance and welfare.
• Develop internationally accepted methods of assessing hen welfare.
• Develop an accepted code of practice for the environmental impact of egg production.
• Assist industry in developing and implementing training materials.
• Develop improved communication channels for R&D results.

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• An annual research report
• Free monthly newsletter and a free biannual newsletter
• A review of the economic impact of changing Australian egg production systems
• Detailed information on the nutritional value and limitations for use in poultry diets of canola and cottonseed meal
• Data on nutritional value for poultry of a wide range of feed ingredients through the Australasian Livestock Feed Ingredient (ALFI) database
• An evaluation of Lathyrus cicera as a feed ingredient for layers
• Three PhD graduates in the flock health area.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002
 

• More cost-effective use of alternative vegetable protein sources in layer rations.
• Re-establishment of Australia’s Newcastle disease-free status.
• Increased number of producers with on-farm quality assurance programs.
• More efficient and targeted training and extension activities through a new initiative for funding of industry-organised group activities.

 

EGG SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	1,626,763	1,279,496
Total Revenues	1,735,500	1,816,000
Total Expenditure	2,082,767	2,205,895
Surplus/(Deficit)	(347,267)	(389,895)
Closing Balance	1,279,496	889,601
See Table 5 at page 95 for further details

EGG INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT FUND  SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	559,263	364,263
Total Revenues	35,000	20,000
Total Expenditure	230,000	100,000
Surplus/(Deficit)	(195,000)	(80,000)
Closing Balance	364,263	284,263
See Table 6 at page 96 for further details

Sub-Program 3.2: Eggs — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
CME01-01J	*	Molecular evaluation of responses to vaccination and challenge by Marek's disease viruses	Prof. Greg Tannock	(03) 9925 2779
CME01-05J	*	Efficacy trials of a maternally-delivered recombinant vaccine against coccidiosis	Dr. Nicholas Smith	(02) 9514 4013
CME01-06J	*	Control of intestinal spirochaete infections in chickens	A/Prof. David Hampson	(08) 9360 2287
CME01-07J	*	Typing of Pasteurella multocida	Dr. Pat Blackall	(07) 3362 9498
CME01-08	*	Improving mycoplasma vaccines - targets for defined attenuation	Dr. Phillip Markham	(03) 8344 7363
EGG01-02	*	Identifying key determinants of trends in egg production systems	Dr. Ray Trewin	(02) 6249 0134
EGG01-03		Is total egg avoidance really necessary for egg allergy treatment?	Dr. Maria Makrides	(08) 8204 6067
EGG01-07	*	Enriching the iron content of eggs to fulfil niche markets	Dr. Dean Revell	(08) 8303 7911
EGG01-08	*	Eggs with increased arachidonic acid for infant formulas	Dr. Robert Gibson	(08) 8204 5469
EGG01-09		Further development of a live attenuated vaccine for chicken anaemia virus	Dr. Glenn Browning	(03) 8344 7342
EGG01-10	*	Studies of cloacal haemorrhage and beak trimming in the laying hen (II)	Dr. Greg Parkinson	(03) 9217 4200
EGG01-11	*	Energy requirements of imported layer strains	Mr. David Robinson	(07) 3824 3081
EGG01-14	*	Inflammatory response to diet in the hindgut of layers	Mr. Robert Taylor	(02) 9872 7203
EGG01-18	*	Non-invasive stress assessment of commercial egg industry practices	Dr. Jeff Downing	(02) 9351 1600
EGG01-21	*	Welfare of laying hens in furnished cages	Dr. John Barnett	(03) 9742 0433
EGG01-23	*	Strain and rearing method for free range egg production	Mr. David Robinson	(07) 3824 3081
EGG01-24	*	Strain and rearing method for barn egg production	Mr. David Robinson	(07) 3824 3081
EGG01-26	*	Modifying egg production systems to meet changing consumer needs	Mr. Geofrey Runge	(07) 5495 1511
EGG01-29	*	Identifying communication mediums and issues for the egg industry	Ms. Vicki Noy	(07) 3367 1113
EGG01-32J	*	Effect of sorghum ergot on the egg chicken industry	Dr. John  Dingle	(07) 5460 1250
EGG01-33	*	National egg industry newsletter	Mr. Gerry Bolla	(02) 4348 1900

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 2000–2001
 

• Publication of an industry Biosecurity Code of Practice.
• Publication of a Quality Assurance Code of Practice and development of a national generic Quality Assurance Program covering food safety, bird welfare, farm biosecurity and labelling.
• In partnership with State, Territory and Commonwealth and industry completed a national survey of Newcastle disease virus in the Australian commercial poultry industries, upon which Australia’s case for freedom from virulent Newcastle disease is based.
• Optimised vaccination strategies developed to assist in the targeted use of vaccines for the control or eradication of Newcastle disease.
• Publication of a review of beak trimming methods.
• Publication of information on the energy and amino acid requirements of imported layer strains.
• Publication of a review of Salmonella Enteritidis epidemiology and control policies.
• Publication of an annual statistical report for the egg industry.
• Publication of the results of a disease and management survey.
• Publication of a detailed report and a short “plain English” report on land use conflict in relation to poultry industries.
• Development of a non-invasive test of stress in laying hens.
• Prepared a strategy document for management of very virulent IBDV, should it enter Australian poultry flocks.
• Completion of a distance learning training course for layer farm managers.
• Developed an improved understanding of the ecology and insecticide resistance profiles of poultry farm populations of Alphitobius diaperinus (darkling beetle), a common pest in Australian poultry houses.

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

Budget:     $430,000

Background

Australian honey has the reputation in the world market of 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 per year.

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 sector, the honey industry and associated industries.

Strategies for 2001–2002
 

• Update an evaluation of the economic importance to the Australian economy of the pollination services provided by honeybees.
• Investigation of methods for controlling ants around beehives.
• Investigation of a new approach to the control of varroa mites.
• Investigation of NIR technologies for predicting the productivity of honeybees from the nutritional value of pollen.
• Investigation of the gluconic acid producing bacteria symbionts of honeybees.
• Improved understanding of the fatty acid content of pollen and its importance to bees.

Expected key outputs in 2001–2002
 

• Improved information regarding the glycemic index of honey so that this can be used to provide advice for the use of honey by diabetics.
• Improved information regarding factors influencing the productivity of queen bees.
• Production of a new device for the detection of queen bees in managed hives.
• Improved guidelines for the management and control of a range of important bee diseases.
• Improved communications of R&D results through presentations at annual State Apiary Conferences and more effective presentation of R&D results.

Expected key outcomes in 2001–2002
 

• Improved crop pollination services.
• Improved disease management and identification of alternative treatments, which result in a reduction in the use of chemicals as part of the quality assurance program to safeguard the quality and image of honey.
• A significant set of floral resource databases, which facilitate improved honey production throughout Australia.
• A range of new medicinal and food processing uses for honey.
• Improved protection for Australia against the entry of major honeybee pests such as varroa mites.

HONEYBEE SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	347,782	264,529
Total Revenues	432,800	442,500
Total Expenditure	516,053	484,000
Surplus/(Deficit)	(83,253)	(41,500)
Closing Balance	264,529	223,029
See Table 9 at page 99 For further details

Sub-Program 3.3: Honeybee — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include

Project No		Title	Researcher	Phone
HBE01-01		Clarification of aspects of Varroa reproduction - first stage of a possible new control method	Dr. Denis Anderson	(02) 6246 4148
HBE01-02	*	Predicting the productivity of honeybees from the nutritional value of pollen	Mr. Ian Wallis	(02) 6249 2533
HBE01-03	*	A study of Gluconobacter - gluconic acid producing bacteria, symbionts of bees: development of biological control for chalk brood	Dr. Murali Nayudu	(02) 6249 3643
HBE01-09	*	Valuation of honeybee pollination services	Dr. Jenny Gordon	(02) 6248 6699

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 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 range of publications on improved honeybee nutrition in Australia.
• Production of several reports on the floral resources in various States and the value of these for honey production.
• Production of a new crop pollination and extension package CD to assist beekeepers to effectively manage and encourage a professional pollination service.
• Production of a CD of all past R&D for the honeybee industry.
• Development of a new R&D Newsletter for the program and distribution of this to industry.

 

 
 
 

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Objective:  To improve the profitability and sustainability of the Australian rice industry.

Budget:        $3,300,000

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 1.7 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.

As well as the research projects outlined in this plan the RIRDC Rice R&D Program is also a major partner in the CRC for Sustainable Rice Production, providing $0.5m per year for seven years. This CRC has an extensive research program which covers: sustainability of natural resources in rice-based cropping systems; sustainable production systems; genetic improvement for sustainable production; product and process development; and education, skills development and technology transfer. Details of progress with the CRC research are reported in detail elsewhere and are not specifically included in this plan. The RIRDC program has been adapted to complement and collaborate with the CRC program.

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 2001-2002
 

• Continue a new phase for the rice breeding and quality evaluation program, which will place significant emphasis on improved quality using more advanced quality assessment and breeding technologies, for example, genetic markers.
• 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 using functional genomics to support the longer-term development of the rice industry in Australia, as these technologies become appropriate.
• Increased emphasis on establishing a rigorous research base for bio-diversity and fauna assessment and management in rice producing areas.
• Increase emphasis on post-farmgate issues through investigation of novel rice based products, improved storage technologies and the consideration of the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical properties of rice.
• Continue support for the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production.

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• Finalise the publication of a new guide to quality rice production in southeastern Australia.
• Release two to three new rice varieties which will replace a major share of current production.
• Release significant results on rice nutrition, which will provide guides to further improved fertiliser use by growers.
• Provide information on a range of herbicides, which will 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) and 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.
• Articles included in R&D publications and links established between rice industry websites and RIRDC’s website.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002
 

• 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.
• A more experienced and better-trained pool of human resources within the rice industry.

RICE SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	1,951,642	1,681,292
Total Revenues	2,885,100	3,706,000
Total Expenditure	3,155,450	3,460,500
Surplus/(Deficit)	(270,350)	245,500
Closing Balance	1,681,292	1,926,792
See Table 13 at page 103 for further details

Sub-Program 3.4: Rice — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include
 

Project No		Title	Researcher	Phone
RIC01-01		A gene machine for functional genomics of rice	Dr. Elizabeth Dennis	(02) 6246 5061
RIC01-02		Increasing cold tolerance in rice by selecting for high polyamine content	A/Prof. Shu Fukai	(07) 3365 2340
RIC01-03		Influence of species on efficiency of barnyard grass control	Prof. James Pratley	(02) 6933 2864
RIC01-10		Next stage of developing a competitive rice inoculent strain	Prof. Barry Rolfe	(02) 6249 4054
RIC01-11	*	Improving quality through physiology - partitioning and transport of nitrogen and sulphur in rice	Dr. Melissa Fitzgerald	(02) 6951 2656
RIC01-14	*	Assessment of pesticide impacts on the biological health of the  rice ecosystem	Dr. Rai Kookana	(08) 8303 8450
RIC01-15		New aeration controller for flat bed storage	Mr. James Darby	(02) 6246 4197
RIC01-16		Production of novel rice flour fractions	Dr. Michael Southan	(02) 9888 9600
RIC01-18	*	Rice-based diets for protection against intestinal bacterial infections	A/Prof. David Hampson	(08) 9360 2287
RIC01-19		Waterfowl movements in agricultural and natural wetland landscapes	Dr. David Roshier	(02) 6933 2538

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 2000–2001
 

• Released the first stage of a new guide to quality rice production in southeastern Australia.
• Three advance new breeding lines have been progressed to the near release stage.
• Early work on rice cold induced sterility completed and passed on to the CRC.
• Released significant results on rice nutrition including update of ‘maNage rice’, which provides guides to improved fertiliser use by growers.
• Provided information on the effectiveness of several new herbicides and how they can be more effectively included in an integrated weed management program for the industry.
• Continued an extensive program of technology transfer via release of the annual RiceCheck production guidelines and organisation of hundreds of grower meetings at five critical stages of the production cycle.
• Support for a range of human capital development activities for both research and grower groups.

Budget:     $630,000

Background

The horse industry is one of Australia’s biggest industries and is worth more than $15 billion a year. There are more than 1.2 million horses used for racing, equestrian sports, and recreation and there is a large breeding industry, with Australia producing the second highest number of thoroughbred foals in the world, after the United States.

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 annual 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 Horse Industry Plan is reviewed annually by the key stakeholders, and a major review was undertaken in November 2000 involving all sectors of the horse industry and researchers. This review led to the development of the new Five Year R&D Plan for the horse industry, 2001-2005.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Decreasing the wastage in the Australian horse industry associated with injury and disease.
• Investing in biotechnology that will be of lasting benefit to the horse industry.
• Ensuring the transfer of the latest R&D information in appropriate formats to the horse industry.
• Finding mechanisms for optimising and determining fitness and reducing training-related diseases and injuries.
• Investing in postgraduate training to supply the expertise for the long-term benefit of the horse industry
• Maintaining and expanding the infrastructure needed for research and development to be undertaken by Australian research providers.

Strategies for 2001-2002
 

• Disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment:

-         Prevention and treatment of orthopaedic injuries to horses
-         Respiratory diseases –improving diagnosis, prevention and treatment
-         Improved vaccines for major diseases
-         Research into improving track surface
• Industry development, the environment and welfare:

-         Improved methods for determination of fitness in performance horses
-         Information transfer to the industry – publications and web-based information in key areas
-         Better management of the growing and developing performance horse
-         Pharmacology – improved drug detection methodology

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• Information on the size and economic impact of the Australian horse industry.
• International horse industry symposium, organised to bring local and overseas research findings to the Australian horse industry.
• Information on exotic diseases of relevance to the Australian horse industry, in a format showing relevance to all in the horse industry.
• Green paper on new genetic technologies and the significance of these for the Australian horse industry.
• A ‘state-of-the-art’ book on laminitis in horses, distilling the principal findings from RIRDC-funded research over the past four years.
• Understanding of the development and significance of major knee problems in performance horses.
• Completed tests on the efficacy of a newly developed recombinant vaccine against herpes virus infection.
• Handbook for racecourse managers distilling key information from RIRDC supported workshops over the previous five years.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002
 

• Improved international competitiveness of the Australian horse industry through the supply of healthier horses, with industry awareness of major diseases and need for preventative problems.
• Assisting the horse industry to have access to the latest research and technical information to help in key decision-making processes.
• Identification of breeding efficiency of Australian broodmares to enable future breeding industry benchmarking.
• More effective and economical feeding practices in the horse industry through the promotion of extensive research findings.

HORSES SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	113,652	120,152
Total Revenues	796,000	741,000
Total Expenditure	789,500	763,200
Surplus/(Deficit)	6,500	(22,200)
Closing Balance	120,152	97,952
See Table 10 at page 100 for further details

Sub-Program 3.5: Horses — new projects being funded in 2001?2002 include

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
HOR01-04		Role of latent equine herpes virus infections in respiratory disease	A/Prof Graham Wilcox	(08) 9360 2448
HOR01-05	*	Establishment of an equine disease surveillance database	Dr James Gilkerson	(02) 6545 1607
HOR01-14	*	Pasture fructan concentration as a cause of equine laminitis	Dr Christopher Pollitt	(07) 3365 2063
HOR01-17		A clinical and genetic investigation of equine idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia	Dr Bryan Hilbert	(08) 9478 3022
HOR01-21		Evaluating equine immune responses to new EHV-1 vaccine candidates	A/Prof Millar Whalley	(02) 9850 8200
HOR01-22		Further development of vaccines against rhodococcus equi infection in foals	Dr Michael Heuzenroeder	(08) 8222 3275
HOR01-24		6th Australian racecourse manager's conference - 2001	Mr Arthur Stubbs	(03) 9844 1135

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 2000–2001
 

• Continued support for equine research and development projects across Australia, with 21 projects currently being undertaken, covering infectious diseases, reproduction, nutrition, athletic injuries, drug development, communication, lameness and working surfaces.
• 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 austhorse.
• Produced the publications Training and Fitness in Athletic Horses, Supporting Learning in the Horse Industry, Immunity in Foals, Strangles in Horses, Pasture and Young Horse Nutrition, Nutrition of Grazing Broodmares, their Foals and Young Horses.
• Reviewed in November 2000, with the assistance of major horse organisations and researchers, the Five Year Strategic Plan for Equine R&D. This review enabled identification of key strategies for 2000–2001 and a new Five Year Horse Plan for research and development.
• Conducted a workshop on genetics and new technologies available to the horse industry, which could assist selection of superior animals and identify genetic diseases.
• Held the Sixth Annual RIRDC–Vetsearch Equine Research Awards in conjunction with the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. The award for Major Industry Contribution went to Mr Bob Charley of the Australian Racing Board and the awards for Equine Researcher of the Year and Equine Research Student of the Year were presented respectively to Professor Daria Love of the University of Sydney and Dr Steven Holloway of the University of Melbourne.
• 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.
 

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

Budget:     $490,000

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 between 5 and 6 million tonnes of hay and around 2 million tonnes of silage per year. This production is traded as a wide range of fodder including lucerne, clover, pasture, cereal and others. The gross value of production at the farm gate is estimated to be about $900 million a year, which represents a 50% increase over the past 10 years. About 25-30% of fodder production is traded off-farm and this share has increased substantially during the last few years.

Fodder production is concentrated in Victoria and New South Wales, although Western Australia and South Australia are the major exporting states. The largest domestic market users are the dairy industry (40%), horse industry (25%) and feedlot industry (20%) and others (15%). In recent times there has been a growing trend for the dairy industry to rely more on off-farm purchases with recent estimates suggesting that more than 55% of fodder is purchased off-farm.

The animal feeds industry in East Asia is estimated to be valued at US$10 billion, and it is perceived that a large untapped demand will enable the industry to develop many new opportunities. The fodder industry has been taking advantage of this market with exports increasing significantly in recent years to around 500,000 tonnes. The largest market is current cereal hay into Japan but other markets such as Korea and the Middle East are growing.

During the past few years the Australia Fodder Industry Association has developed a case for the introduction of a statutory R&D levy to support a longer-term basis for an R&D program for fodder. This case has been submitted to the Government but a compulsory levy has still to be established. A small sub-set of the industry – the hay exporters – have agreed to introduce a voluntary levy on export hay to demonstrate that the industry is strongly committed to an R&D program. This voluntary levy is still being implemented, as a consequence it is still early to gauge just what level of funds will be contributed. The R&D program developed for this plan has taken this new levy into account; however, it may require some rearrangements during the year when the levy contributions are clearer.

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 2001-2002
 

• Development of new forage legume varieties suitable for fodder production in northern Australia.
• Continued development of new oaten hay varieties, which are applicable across all Australia.
• A major effort to expand the objective measurement system for fodder to silage and also to include new measures of palatability.
• Finalise the implementation of a voluntary R&D levy for export hay and establishment of an industry wide funding base for fodder R&D.

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• Commercialisation of several new oaten hay varieties.
• Commercialisation of a new microbial inoculant for hay preservation.
• Identification of early indicators of the factors critical to hay palatability.
• Promotion of R&D results in the new R&D Newsletter, industry newsletters and via field days.
• Hold an R&D overview session during the Australian Fodder Industry Association annual conference.
• Production of two news articles on fodder research and their distribution to targeted media.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002
 

• Improved range of fodder varieties available to the Australia fodder industry, which 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 the development of an industry-based quality assurance system
• A better informed fodder industry through the availability of an industry atlas.

Sub-Program 3.6: Fodder Crops — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include
 

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
FCR01-03		Development and commercialisation of a new perennial forage legume (forage peanut {FP} Arachis glabrata) for fodder production in semi-arid tropics of Northern Australia	Mr. Fergal O'Gara	(08) 8999 2233
FCR01-04		Testing hay treated with mould-inhibiting, biocontrol inoculum	Dr. Sharon Brown	(07) 3365 2408

Achievements in 2000–2001
 

• Identification of several new fodder legume crop varieties.
• Several new oaten hay varieties progressed to the near release stage.
• 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.
• Development of an R&D Newsletter for distribution to industry.

Objective:  To facilitate the growth of a profitable and sustainable pasture seeds industry based on a reputation for the reliable supply, domestically and internationally, of a range of pasture seeds.

Budget:     $370,000

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 crops. 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 are dependent on progress being made toward 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 continue to pursue this further in 2001. 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 2001-2002
 

• Development of a new effort to determine effective weed control in the white clover industry.
• A concentrated effort to overcome seed production constraints for two new fodder legume species: sulla and purple clover.
• Improved control strategies for pests and disease in lucerne seed production.
• Improved water use management for lucerne seed production by improved measurement of water balance information.
• Development of a new program five-year plan.

Expected key outputs in 2001-2002
 

• Improved weed control technologies for new temperate legumes.
• Improved pollination of lucerne seed through the successful introduction of leaf cutter bees to Australia and development of appropriate management practices.
• Identification of strategies to improve lucerne seed yield and productivity.
• Management strategies to effectively control lucerne seed wasps.
• Development of a set of best practice production guidelines for sub-clover seed production.
• Continued production of an industry R&D Newsletter.
• Promotion of R&D results via a series of grower meetings and field days.
• Production of research reports for project results and inclusion of summaries of these in grower focused publications.

Expected key outcomes in 2001-2002

Improved international competitiveness and therefore increased exports for the Australian temperate pasture seeds industry via new pasture seed varieties, a better understanding of best production practices and costs, and better disease management strategies and testing methods.

PASTURE SEEDS SUB-ACCOUNT
BUDGETED	2000—2001($) Forecast	2001–2002($) Budget
Opening Balance	262,706	252,386
Total Revenues	357,000	297,200
Total Expenditure	367,320	393,700
Surplus/(Deficit)	(10,320)	(96,500)
Closing Balance	252,386	155,886
See Table 12 at page 102 for further details

Sub-Program 3.7 Pasture Seeds — new projects being funded in 2001–2002 include
 

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
MUL01-14		Seed production limits for sulla and purple clover as fodder	Dr. Mike Ewing	(08) 9380 1876
PSE01-05		Effective weed control for the Australian white clover seed industry	Dr. Zulfi Jahufer	(03) 9637 8508

Achievements in 2000–2001
 

• Finalisation of a new lucerne seed disease test and incorporation of these in international seed testing protocols.
• Release of several new temperate pasture species that have enhanced exports and provided a range of new rotation and fodder production options for the domestic market.
• Identification of best practice strategies for sub-clover seed production.
• Introduction of regional grower meetings and an R&D Newsletter.
• Held several project-focused seed production field days.

 


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