Animal welfare
Animal welfare - Beef CRC - Beef Genetic Technologies
 Dr Drewe FergusonProgram Manager, Adaptation and cattle welfare (02) 6776 1354 or Drewe.Ferguson@csiro.au |
| The Beef CRC is working to improve the adaptability of the national beef herd. Scientists are working in several areas including developing ways to reduce the impact of parasties (ticks). |
 It is estimated the beef industry in Australia incurs losses of approximately $175 million each year due to the impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases and the costs of treatment to ensure compliance with regulatory protocols for stock movement. These costs and the growing concern about the use of chemicals on food safety and the environment. This is why the cattle industry and governments worldwide have identified the development of a tick vaccine with 12 months immunity duration and 90 per cent efficacy as a high priority. |
| Besides working to develop a new tick vaccine the Beef CRC has also developed a test which could be used to identify whether ticks are resistant to certain chemical controls. |
| The Beef CRC is also looking to give producers an alternative to the practice of dehorning. To that end, the CRC is planning to develop a commercially viable (low cost) genetic test for detecting polled, African horn and scur gene status. A review commissioned by MLA highlighted the need to develop a DNA test to increase the number of polled animals in the beef cattle population. Having a definitive tool to identify and breed genetically polled beef cattle which will enable de-horning to be phased out could bring about massive benefits for the cattle industry. This project won a prestigious Eureka award in 2009. |
| An increase in consumer concern about animals which produce food and fibre is impacting buyer behaviour. Furthermore, there is the very real possibility that animal welfare may one-day be used as a trade barrier to lucrative export markets. Therefore, the Australian beef industry must be able to assure consumers and markets that our animal welfare standards are of the highest nature. The Beef CRC is helping to put the industry on the front foot by developing an set of objective measures of animal welfare. |
