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by Shirley Ray and Mellisa Offord
November 2007
RIRDC Publication No 07/117 RIRDC Project No US-124A
The newsletter is an important source of information for the Australian horse industry. It is a vehicle to communicate findings of international research, news from the RIRDC Horse R&D Program, updates of RIRDC projects and information from other RIRDC programs that may be of interest to the horse industry.
This report is relevant to those with an interest in the extension of horse industry R&D information.
Background
The horse industry is a
$15 billion industry but until the establishment of the RIRDC Equine Research
News, there was no independent information available to the industry. Extension
of research information has not been available, as this is not a role played
by the various State Departments of Agriculture. Until the Horse R&D
Program commenced in 1995, there was no vehicle for communication with
the horse industry and no availability of independent research based information.
Since the RIRDC Equine Research News was first published in June 1995, all major horse industry groups have received information about equine research that is of interest to the industry groups and also regular updates of research and development projects supported by RIRDC.
Aims/Objectives
The objectives of the Communication
and Information Programs for the Horse Industry project were to provide
a strong communication program to ensure widespread industry knowledge
of the RIRDC Horse R&D Program and to enable the results of the R&D
to be used by the Australian horse industry.
To achieve strong communication with the horse industry, the Communication and Information Programs for the Horse Industry project initiated three vehicles of communication:
Communicate with key
industry groups.
Methods Used
RIRDC Equine Research
News
The RIRDC Equine Research
news provides information to the horse industry on topical research from
around the world. The information is sourced from peer-reviewed journals
and research institution newsletters and publications, following literature
searches in the key areas on various databases with material being rewritten
for the lay audience.
The newsletter contains updates on current RIRDC funded projects as well as information on new RIRDC funded projects. Articles are published concerning RIRDC events and information from other RIRDC programs that might be of relevance to the horse industry is included.
RIRDC Horse R&D Program
Internet Website
The Internet website provides
the past and future editions of the newsletter, indexed and readily used
by researchers, horse organisations, individuals and groups in Australia
and overseas. Articles from past issues of the newsletter are grouped according
to topic and a search function is available which allows access to articles
based on key search words.
All past issues of the newsletter are available for download in PDF file format. This allows the viewer to download an issue in its original format for online viewing or to print and copy for other readers.
RIRDC projects are listed on the website with a description of the projects and contacts for researchers. The RIRDC Horse R&D Advisory Committee members are listed with a brief CV of each member. The website contains links to the RIRDC Corporate website; the viewer can link directly to the Horse Program objectives, 5-Year Plan for Horse Research and research publications.
Database of Equine Organisations
The database of equine organisations
was initiated in 1995 using mailing addresses sourced from horse associations
including the Australian Stock horse Association and Australian Pony Clubs.
New addresses and address updates are sourced from industry newsletters,
horse association websites and via direct contact to the database administrator
from interested parties. New additions to the database are collected by
the database administrator at industry events such as seminars, workshops,
Equitana and the Magic Millions horse sales.
The database was set up using Microsoft Access. This program allows individual mailing groups to be merged to Word documents for the mailing of the RIRDC Equine Research News as well as for invitations to workshops and special RIRDC events.
Results/Key findings
RIRDC Equine Research
News
This newsletter, of eight
pages, now has 42 issues produced and with on publishing by various industry
groups and articles in horse magazines, an effective distribution of more
than 100,000 people.
The industry feedback has been tremendously positive and there is awareness by the industry of the possible benefits of research.
Internet website
The RIRDC Horse R&D
Program Internet website has been well recognised internationally and is
now built into site links with organisations in the USA, the UK and Europe.
The Internet website provides an avenue for direct feedback from the horse
industry via an email link. Several other websites have used information
from the RIRDC Horse R&D website and this is done with acknowledgement
and a link back to the program website.
Database
The database has been constantly
maintained and updated and it is an extensive list of up-to-date horse
contacts, which is used for both the Communications project and for RIRDC
mail outs.
The database currently holds more than 2000 unique entries, which comprise horse associations, research institutions and individuals in the Australian and international horse industry, particularly international research organisations.
Implications for relevant
stakeholders
Since the beginning of the
RIRDC Horse R&D Program, there has been an extensive effort made to
communicate information about the Program and about R&D to the horse
industry. In repeated discussions with the industry and from our surveys,
communication comes across as one of the highest priorities for our R&D.
This is one reason why communication is one of the key components of the
Horse R&D Plan.
The Communication and Information Program for the Horse Industry has enabled the results of R&D to be taken up by the industry and has provided a vehicle for effective communication of the Horse Research Program within the diverse elements of the horse industry. The horse industry is a $15 billion industry but until the establishment of the RIRDC Equine Research News, there was no independent information available to the industry. Since the RIRDC Equine Research News was first published in June 1995, all major horse industry groups have received information about horse research projects that are of interest to the industry groups and also regular updates of R&D projects supported by RIRDC. These provide an important vehicle for defining the outputs of R&D and its benefits to the horse industry.
Recommendations
Ongoing support for a strong
communication program is necessary to ensure widespread industry support
for the Horse Research Program and to enable the results of R&D to
be used by the industry.
