Research Manager:
Dr John Freestone
Phone: 02 6576 4200
Fax: 02 6576 4020
Email: john.freestone@rirdc.gov.au

Objective: Assist in developing the Australian horse industry and enhancing its export potential.

Research Budget: $630,000

Some Key Performance Indicators

• Analysis and availability of new technologies and their significance for the future of the horse industry.
• Data on the size and economic significance of the Australian horse industry.
• Identification of causes, and approaches to management, of major respiratory diseases that are important to the export/import activities of the horse industry.
• Information transfer to the horse industry via symposia, electronic and print media.
• Information available on more scientific approaches to training and fitness in athletic horses.
• Availability of Information to assist racecourse managers in racetrack management.

Background

The horse industry is one of Australia’s biggest industries and is worth more than $8 billion a year. There are about 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 national 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 in equine R&D projects of partnership funds from industry and government.

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, the Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Club, Hawkesbury, Mr Gerry Harvey, Magic Millions, International Racehorse Transport and Ms Barb Vial. 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. A major review to formulate the new 5 year plan was undertaken in November 2000 involving all sectors of the horse industry and researchers. This review led to the collaborative development of the new Five Year R&D Plan, 2002-2006, for the horse industry.

Key sub-program strategies

Strategies for 2002–2003

Expected key outputs in 2002–2003
 

Expected key outcomes in 2002–2003

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

Achievements in 2001–2002

Research Manager:
Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: 02 6272 4152
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: jeff.davis@rirdc.gov.au

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

Research Budget: $500,000

Some Key Performance Indicators

• Identify key market opportunities.
• Rate of release of new fodder varieties.
• Rate of adoption of practices for nutrient, pest and disease management.
• Development and implementation of improved quality standards by the industry.
• Improved industry communications.

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 Australian and South Australia are the major exporting states. The largest domestic market users are the dairy industry (40%), horse industry (25%) 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 currently cereal hay into Japan but other markets such as Korea and the Middle East are growing.

Several years ago, the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) 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 was submitted to the Government but was not supported at that time. However, AFIA is about to revisit this issue with the Government. In 2000/2001 a small sub-set of the industry – the cereal hay exporters – introduced a voluntary R&D levy on export cereal hay to demonstrate that the industry is strongly committed to an R&D program. The level of funds collect via this voluntary levy are not finalised for the first year but provide encouraging signs that the program will have increased levels for R&D investment. The R&D program developed for this plan has taken this new levy into account, however, it may still require some rearrangement during the year when the stabilised levy contribution pattern becomes clearer.

Key sub-program strategies

Strategies for 2002–2003

Expected key outputs in 2002–2003

Expected key outcomes in 2002–2003

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

Achievements in 2001–2002

Research Manager:
Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: 02 6272 4152
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Email: jeff.davis@rirdc.gov.au

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.

Research Budget: $380,000

Some Key Performance Indicators

• Improved domestic and export seed sales.
• Improved information flows to industry.
• Improved range of species for specificenvironments.
• Improved management strategies to improve the environmental aspects of seed production.
• Implementation of quality assurance systems for industry.

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 2002. A levy base would provide the scope for an expansion of the research program to include subtropical species.

Key sub-program strategies

Strategies for 2002–2003

Expected key outputs in 2002–2003

Expected key outcomes in 2002–2003

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.html

Achievements in 2001–2002