Animal Production Research
The Animal Production Unit undertakes research and development to achieve continuous improvement in production technologies in livestock enterprises in the State. This function is essential to maintain long-term competitiveness and achieve sustained economic growth in the livestock industries (specifically beef, sheep and dairy industries) of rural NSW. Efficiencies are achieved through improvements in productivity, profitability and sustainability. This includes innovative farming technologies for the dairy industry, development of fodder conservation and stock feed technologies for the ruminant industries, meat science research into improved red meat eating quality, animal growth and development studies to enhance productive efficiency and biological and economic modelling to deliver easy to apply technologies.
Key research infrastructure
Resources include large-scale, pasture-based cattle and sheep breeding research facilities at Cowra, Glen Innes, Orange and Trangie, and animal house experimental facilities at Wagga Wagga and Armidale. Comprehensive laboratory facilities are available at some of these centres and at Menangle (near Camden), for meat science, nutrition, molecular genetics and other related experimental work. In addition, there is access to industry co-operator herds and flocks, commercial feedlots and abattoirs, industry data and a comprehensive research database.
Key research collaborations
Australian Lot Feeders Association, Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre, Australian Wool Innovation, Dairy Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies, Meat & Livestock Australia, University of New England, Charles Sturt University, Sydney University, breed societies, advisors and consultants, seed stock breeders, animal genetics service providers, meat processors, and other state agencies.
Scientists
Scientific Outputs
The Animal Production research unit has online summaries of its scientific outputs. In some cases the summary has the full outputs available as a PDF which can be downloaded. The scientific outputs are arranged by year of publication.
Scientists
Find a list of Animal Production Research scientists.
Contact
Mr Bill McKiernan
Research Leader, Animal Production Research
Phone: 02 6391 3827
Email: bill.mckiernan@industry.nsw.gov.au