Animal Production
Key research themes and capabilities of the Animal Production Unit are:
- FutureDairy, a new systems approach to dairy farming that will bring productivity and social outcomes through strategic intensive land use, supplementary feed strategies, and innovative farming technologies. This is combined with a strong extension program.
- Development of stock feed technologies to improve the science-based understanding of the digestibility and quality of feed grains and silage. An important component of this research is the national TopFodder program, which involves research on fodder conservation.
- CT scanning technologies to assess the body composition of live animals and carcases. The technology has been applied to characterising pig genotypes, to validate predictive abattoir tests for belly composition and to assess pulmonary disease status.
- Improved nutritional and environmental management to enhance productivity and welfare of ruminant livestock.
Key research collaborations
Major R&D (research and development) projects have been funded through Dairy Australia, Beef Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Pork Ltd, and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, with key collaborative linkages with the Universities of Sydney and New England.
NSW DPI is also involved in the National Dairy Alliance (a forum of R&D investors and providers and dairy industry representatives) to set priorities for dairy R&D investment.
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 scientists.
Contact
Bill McKiernan
Research Leader, Animal Production
Phone: 02 6391 3431
Email: bill.mckiernan@dpi.nsw.gov.au