Animal Science
The Animal Science group supports development of Australia’s livestock industries and the ethical care and managementof animals in five key areas of research:
- animal welfare and behaviour;
- genetics and breeding;
- reproduction;
- nutrition, physiology and metabolism;
- forage production and utilisation.
Collectively the group has expertise across many animal species from companion animals to domestic livestock, with the latter being the main focus of research (dairy cattle, beef and sheepmeat animals, pigs).
Basic/strategic research contributes to advances in the rate of genetic improvement in livestock species through use of marker assisted selection methods, and the development of improved breeding indices for elite sires, and the development of welfare methodologies.
Strategic/applied research findings impact on: livestock management practices that underpin the production efficiency and profitability of livestock industries (eg. improved stock handling practices leading to higher animal performance and reduced animal welfare problems; advanced dairy cattle reproduction technologies and strategies including management of extended lactations; ration formulation for more profitable feeding and manipulation of product quality traits; complementary pasture/forage crop systems for more profitable feeding of dairy cattle; grazing management practices for improved pasture utilization and control of groundwater recharge; management of biodiversity (agri-environmental policy development); and development of policy for the proper care and management of animals kept as companions to humans or in confinement (such as racing greyhounds in kennels, or domestic cats kept indoors).