Livestock Production and Welfare Group
Partnering with industry for high impact research in livestock welfare
The Livestock Production and Welfare Group at the University of Sydney is partnering with industry to monitor and improve not only the welfare of the livestock in our care but also the productivity of the systems in which these animals are raised.
Our aims
Our particular interest is the behavioural and metabolic response of livestock when subjected to adverse welfare events and how these may be used to monitor animal welfare. Hunger, heat stress, predation, animal handling and the complex interactions between livestock are all elements contributing to reduced animal welfare, and each constitutes a programme of research in the group. By addressing these elements, we provide welfare solutions for industry whilst also improving farm productivity.
Our research
- Animal behaviour
- Pain management
- Agricultural technology
- Farm systems
Current projects
- Objective, practical, robust measures of welfare for the Australian red meat industry (Meat and Livestock Australia, Consolidated Pastoral Company and Allflex)
- Improving animal welfare in the red meat industry – pain relief (Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Country Choice)
- Managing pastures and cattle for maximum productivity in NSW Grasslands
- Best management of Napier grass to improve animal health and double animal protein production (Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute)
- Linking life-time objective measures of welfare to create a premium product from a whole supply chain welfare rating system
Our people
- Dr Sabrina Lomax
- Dr Dominique Van der Saag
- Professor Paul McGreevy
- Associate Professor Cameron Clark
- Associate Professor Peter Thomson
- Associate Professor Peter White
- A/Prof Russell Bush
- Dr Mel Smith
- Prof Sergio Garcia
Our collaborators
The Livestock Welfare Group collaborates with several industry partners and researchers both within Australia and overseas.
- Professor Christine Nicol (Royal Veterinary College, London)
- Professor Dan Weary (University of British Columbia, Canada)
- Professor Nina von Keyserlingk (University of British Columbia, Canada)
- Dr Amanda Doughty (Allflex)
- Australian Country Choice
- Consolidated Pastoral Company
- Agersens
Students
My undergraduate project conducted at the University of Kentucky, USA focused on calving behaviour of dairy cattle. Through this study, I became fascinated with understanding cattle behaviour from an individual and herd perspective.
Applying this background, my PhD aims to challenge common practice of both the dairy and beef industries to optomise weaning of calves using behaviour, production, technology and biological markers.
My PhD project is entitled ‘Monitoring and mitigating heat stress in cattle’.
The observable elevation in temperature and the frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change has increased the interest in heat stress effects on livestock productivity and welfare. Estimates of environmental heat stress are required for heat stress relief measures in cattle. The thermal stress indices have been in use for years but unable to represent individual animal responses on real time basis. Cattle’s responses to environmental heat stress vary based on animal factors and individuality that necessitate real time monitoring of individual cattle. Therefore, my research primarily focuses on validation of a sensor based real time heat stress monitoring method for individual cattle. Once the method is validated, nutritional mitigation strategy for heat stress will be applied to susceptible animals isolated by using the validated method.
Education and training
In addition, the Livestock Welfare Group contributes to training in this important area, through contributions to undergraduate teaching through to support for higher degree research (postgraduate) students seeking specialist training in this field. It also provides community outreach by presentations to school groups etc.
Opportunities
For information about opportunities to study or collaborate with us, please contact A/Prof Cameron Clark at cameron.clark@sydney.edu.au
