Development of cloning technology for the Australian Pig Industry. Cloning has the potential to be the most efficient of the reproductive technologies developed for increasing genetic improvement in livestock. Currently up to 5% of cloned embryos develop to term in the pig. This is higher than that reported for cattle and sheep. Moreover the use of this technology in the pig does not appear not to result in the same sorts of problems and losses seen around the time of birth in these species ....Development of cloning technology for the Australian Pig Industry. Cloning has the potential to be the most efficient of the reproductive technologies developed for increasing genetic improvement in livestock. Currently up to 5% of cloned embryos develop to term in the pig. This is higher than that reported for cattle and sheep. Moreover the use of this technology in the pig does not appear not to result in the same sorts of problems and losses seen around the time of birth in these species i.e. the majority of cloned pigs appear normal and are healthy at birth. However before cloning can be used commercially, current efficiencies need to be increased approx two fold for this to be economically viable. The aim of the present study is to improve the efficiency of our current cloning protocol and develop associated technologies such as embryo freezing to facilitate commercialisation. This will ensure that the Australian Pig Industry remains competitive at a pivotal time in its development.Read moreRead less
Artificial intelligence algorithms to predict risk of injury in racehorses. This project will address the urgent need for predicting and preventing catastrophic and career limiting limb injuries and cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses due to over (or under) training. Using data from GPS and movement sensors integrated into saddlecloths, artificial intelligence algorithms will convert cumulative data on speed, gait, and stride characteristics during training, along with injury data, into a risk mat ....Artificial intelligence algorithms to predict risk of injury in racehorses. This project will address the urgent need for predicting and preventing catastrophic and career limiting limb injuries and cardiac arrhythmias in racehorses due to over (or under) training. Using data from GPS and movement sensors integrated into saddlecloths, artificial intelligence algorithms will convert cumulative data on speed, gait, and stride characteristics during training, along with injury data, into a risk matrix. Recorded heart rate and ECG data will also be analysed using artificial intelligence to detect early evidence of the development of cardiac arrhythmias. The system will improve racehorse welfare, providing a simple interface to warn trainers when risk of injury becomes high, in order to prevent catastrophic breakdown.Read moreRead less
Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project aims to provide a platform for competitive collaborations between universities, biotechnology companies and horse breeders: the end-users of technological developments in equine reproduction. The Thoroughbred and Standardbred bree ....Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Enhancing fertility for the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project aims to provide a platform for competitive collaborations between universities, biotechnology companies and horse breeders: the end-users of technological developments in equine reproduction. The Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries contribute over $6.5 billion per annum to the Australian economy and employ thousands of staff across their value chains. However, these industries suffer from breeding program inefficiencies that amount to over $800 million in annual losses. Expected outcomes are novel reproductive technologies and specialised research capabilities that will make the Australian equine industry a global leader.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the efficiency of equine reproduction: relevant to the Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding industries. The purpose of this project is to link the equine breeding industry with a major centre of reproductive research at the University of Newcastle. By creating this unique nexus, major efficiency gains will be achieved for this industry that will not only secure its international competitiveness but also significantly enhance its profitability.
Digestive Physiology of Crocodilians: Towards an Improved Diet and Feeding Regime for Use by the Farming Industry. Crocodile farming promotes the sustainable production and consumption of crocodile products without harming natural populations. The industry grosses over $15 million per year in Australia and $200 million worldwide. Costs associated with transporting and storing food are the single largest expense that crocodile farms have. Increases in the efficiency of converting food into growth ....Digestive Physiology of Crocodilians: Towards an Improved Diet and Feeding Regime for Use by the Farming Industry. Crocodile farming promotes the sustainable production and consumption of crocodile products without harming natural populations. The industry grosses over $15 million per year in Australia and $200 million worldwide. Costs associated with transporting and storing food are the single largest expense that crocodile farms have. Increases in the efficiency of converting food into growth will have positive economic benefits to the industry. Efficiencies can be produced by (1) increasing food absorption, (2) decreasing the energetic costs of digestion, and (3) producing a new food that is less expensive to ship and store. This project will directly address the first two of these and will lay the foundation for the development of the third. Read moreRead less
Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of ....Subspecies distribution and virulence of Streptococcus uberis. Streptococcus uberis is a significant cause of bovine mastitis. Attempts to produce a successful vaccine against S. uberis have been hampered by the lack of knowledge of phylogenetic relationships within the species and virulence mechanisms. It is uncertain whether pathogenic strains are clonal or are acquired opportunistically from a diverse population in the environment. This project aims to examine the phylogenetic structure of S. uberis by multilocus sequence typing and investigate control of virulence gene expression in S. uberis. The information obtained will be used to improve the formulation of a bovine mastitis vaccine developed by RMIT University and Vet Biosearch.Read moreRead less
Processing Pearl Nacre for Bio-Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has exciting potential to solve major health challenges of the 21st century. The proposed research focuses on developing health care products, derived from a renewable waste stream resource from the pearling industry, en route to establishing products to benefit the rural community, and beyond. The processed pearl nacre provides the possibility of alleviating problems associated with neurotrauma following injury, and for skin regenera ....Processing Pearl Nacre for Bio-Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has exciting potential to solve major health challenges of the 21st century. The proposed research focuses on developing health care products, derived from a renewable waste stream resource from the pearling industry, en route to establishing products to benefit the rural community, and beyond. The processed pearl nacre provides the possibility of alleviating problems associated with neurotrauma following injury, and for skin regeneration following burns. The recently established powerful multidisciplinary research team in partnership with Pearl Technology combines expertise in chemical processing, nanotechnology, biochemistry, neuroscience and tissue engineering, also providing a basis for quality research training.Read moreRead less
Aboriginal harvest of the northern long-necked turtle -- modelling population dynamics in support of a sustainable industry. The Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation wishes to establish employment opportunities that both strengthen traditional Aboriginal values and lead to economic self-sufficiency. We will use experimental approaches to model the demographic impact of Aboriginal harvest on the population dynamics of the northern long-necked turtle. The project will break new ground in studying dens ....Aboriginal harvest of the northern long-necked turtle -- modelling population dynamics in support of a sustainable industry. The Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation wishes to establish employment opportunities that both strengthen traditional Aboriginal values and lead to economic self-sufficiency. We will use experimental approaches to model the demographic impact of Aboriginal harvest on the population dynamics of the northern long-necked turtle. The project will break new ground in studying density-dependent responses to harvest in a long-lived turtle species. The project will also assist the Aboriginal rural community to decide the level of adult and egg harvest in support of a local industry to ensure that it is both ecologically and economically sustainable.Read moreRead less
Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier positi ....Using genomic information to understand and improve the quality of the Australian South Sea Pearl. Recently, mass-produced freshwater pearls from Asia have markedly increased in quality and begun to compromise our prestigious South Sea Pearl market. This presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity by improving their pearl quality and consistency. By adding genomics to the existing Australian pearl industry armoury we will help not only to maintain the premier position of the Australian South Sea Pearl in the market, but also to move it further ahead. Knowledge of the genetics of pearl formation will advance a range of hatchery and farm practices, such as selective breeding and pearl grafting, which in turn can enhance farm-based operations and the remote communities that support them.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured Sou ....Enhancing the Pearl: understanding the molecular genetics of pearl lustre, colour and size. Australia produces some of the most valuable pearls in the world. However recently the world has been flooded with high quality mass-produced freshwater pearls. This has begun to eat into our prestigious South Sea Pearl market and now presents Australian pearlers with a challenge to maintain market identity. We propose to respond this challenge by improving the quality and consistency of the cultured South Sea Pearl through gaining a detailed understanding of how the oyster genetically controls pearl biofabrication - focusing on pearl colour, size and lustre. This information will identify pearl oysters that are a source of high-quality donor mantle tissue and that can be used in selective breeding programs.Read moreRead less