Program Overview

Background and Long-Term Strategy

In recent years, RIRDC has had enquiries related to the possibility of R&D investments on over 40 animal species. The scope covers the tropical/sub-tropical zones, including crocodiles, red claw and turtles, the semi-arid zones for emus while species such as kangaroo, ostrich, milking sheep, gamebirds, dairy goats and farmed rabbits are harvested or farmed in various environments.

Many of the species are native to Australia, including kangaroo and native geese. Some are feral, such as camel and wild boar, while some are now raised in captive/farm environments such as crocodiles, rabbits and emus. Some species are exported live, including buffalo, ostriches, rabbits and dairy goats.

Processing includes the use of abattoirs for meat from farmed livestock (e.g. emu, ostrich), as well as harvesting with initial processing in the field (e.g. kangaroo and wild boar). There are some dedicated abattoirs for some species such as emu, ostrich, gamebird and rabbit, but others such as buffalo and camel rely on using meat works that process mainly beef. Besides meat processed at abattoirs, some co-products are value-added in Australia, with the anti-inflammatory properties of emu-oil, for example, of considerable interest. Some of the goat and sheep milk processing occurs in factories, many of which process cow's milk. However, increasingly more sheep and goat milk is processed commercially on farm in a vertically integrated production/processing and marketing arrangement. Skins of some species are the most valuable commodity produced (e.g. crocodile, ostrich). Some skins are tanned and products developed in Australia (ostrich), while many of these are partially treated in Australia before exporting for leather production.

Many products are primarily exported (e.g. meat from ostrich, oil products from emus; some livestock skins). For others there are increasing export demands (e.g. goat cheeses, some gamebirds, crocodile). On the other hand, many others rely on domestic markets (e.g. duck, sheep milk and rabbit).

The success of New Australian animal products in domestic and export markets relies on differentiation, a focus on domestic niche characteristics and the maintaining of expanding competitive advantages. Key challenges are the threat of entry of new competition, the threat of substitution, the need to enhance food quality, the bargaining power of suppliers and the degree of rivalry between competitors. In many instances, there is competition from traditional and larger industries (e.g. meat, skins, milk). However, the uniqueness of Australian products should be exploited, for example products from native animals and improved genetics in aquaculture species.

International Competition - There will be increasing threats to gamebirds from importation of processed meats - similar to the recent experience of the pig and prawn industry.

Drought - Gamebirds, ratites and farmed rabbits are highly intensive production systems that are challenged by the effects of drought and grain prices.

Disease - Endemic and exotic diseases in Australian and competing countries can affect imports and exports in the short term. Examples in recent times include ostrich skins to Europe due to biosecurity of risks from South African skins, and the increase of export farmed rabbit meat in place of poultry, due to disease problems in Asia.

Key long-term strategies

• Marketing R&D, particularly regularity of supply and increasing both domestic and export opportunities
• Product development
• Feasibility studies for prospective industries
• Improving quality assurance for food security
• R&D in production, husbandry systems and components
• Involvement in R&D planning and implementation by value chain participants
• Benchmarking in production and processing to identify R&D and establish standards
• Using consumers and industry to access R&D results in product development
• Encouraging greater adoption of outputs
• Using post graduate and post doctoral personnel to increase R&D capacity
• Additional R&D to communicate value, safety and uniqueness of products, thereby avoiding negative publicity
• Encouraging international linkages for researchers and industry participants
• Communicating increased R&D information by assisting industry associations with the development of publications and with their national meetings for industry participants.