 |
Applications
for RIRDC funding for 2008-09 are now CLOSED
Click
here for information on the application process, and to apply for
RIRDC scholarships
Objective:
To facilitate the development of
new and established industries based on rare natural fibres.
Research Manager: Dr
Peter McInnes,
phone: 08 85567 331, fax:
08 85567 289,
Address: The Range, Range
Road, WILLUNGA SA 5172. Email: mcinnes2@comstech.com
Key
long term strategies
-
Address, within budgetary limitations,
published strategies and targets in the 20032008 R&D plan
-
Identify constraints and solutions
hindering increasing mohair, cashmere, and alpaca production
-
Increase productivity on-farm
by investment in reproduction and breeding research
-
Enhance training to increase
research capability
Background
The Programs main
focus in on cashmere, mohair, alpaca fibre. However, camel hair and other
rare fibre projects are also included in the Program.
The estimated GVP of alpaca,
cashmere and mohair fibre in 20052006 was $2.825m. Compared to the previous
year in 20052006 production remained stable for cashmere, down 12% for
mohair, and up 20% for alpaca. In 2006, fibre prices increased 5% for mohair,
were buoyant for cashmere and up 7.5% for alpaca.
Projects funded in 20052006
cover many segments of the value chain for production (alpaca, mohair,
cashmere) to marketing (mohair).
Some
Key Performance Indicators
-
Changes in the GVP of rare natural
animal fibres
-
Improved reproduction techniques
in alpaca
-
Adoption and utilisation of
R&D results
-
Changes in the number of investors
in the supply chain
Strategies
for 200708
-
Increase productivity by improving
animal breeding innovations (alpaca, cashmere producing goats), and more
successful artificial insemination rates in alpaca
-
Develop further benchmarking
to increase production performance particularly for angora goats
-
Include as appropriate post-graduate
in projects to increase research capacity for the rare fibre industries
-
Continue to encourage international
linkages and overseas visits for industry representatives and researchers
Expected
key outputs for 200708
-
Further evaluation of sires
for the production of quality cashmere
-
Additional ways of communicating
to increase mohair production
-
Knowledge of the genetics in
fleece colouring in alpaca
-
Continued development of artificial
insemination technology in alpaca
Expected
key outcomes in 200708
-
Greater production from farm
but less farms producing commercial quantities of alpaca fibre
-
Increased use of software to
analyse options in mohair production
-
Increased use of superior sires
to increase cashmere production per animal
New
projects being funded or under consideration in 200708 include:
| Project
No |
Title |
Researcher |
Phone |
| PRJ-000054
(Joint with RNF) |
Advancing
artificial insemination in camelids, particularly the alpaca |
Chris
Maxwell |
02
9351 4864 |
Note: An asterisk (*) indicates
that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project.
 Research
Budget:
$322,000
|
