CSIRO Livestock Industries scientist, Dr Caroline Lee, monitoring cattle behaviour at Armidale, NSW. (CSIRO)

Improved health, welfare and adaptation

CSIRO is working to ensure that livestock production systems are managed through ethical and socially acceptable practices that reduce the incidence and level of diseases, stress and pain in farm animals.

• 20 January 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Improving livestock health
• Improving livestock welfare
• Improving livestock adaptability
• Our staff and partners
• Projects and outcomes

Improving livestock health

Parasites, such as ticks, are increasingly developing resistance to anti-parasite drugs and new drugs are needed. On the other hand, some animals are naturally resistant to parasites and these animals may be good candidates for breeding programs.

We are working to improve the health of livestock by developing a range of solutions to control parasites that affect cattle and sheep, including worms, ticks and flystrike.

This research is focused on:

• developing DNA tests to identify cattle and sheep that are naturally resistant to parasites and flystrike
• identifying drug resistance genes in parasites, using modern DNA sequencing technology
• developing a cell-based test system, which does not require the use of animals, for generating improved anti-parasite vaccines
• developing high-throughput tests that identify and characterise new classes of anti-parasite drugs.

Improving livestock welfare

We are supporting ethical livestock production through a range of approaches that aim to minimise the stress of modern production systems on the animals. 

This research includes:

• assessing current standards of husbandry practices and wherever possible developing improved alternatives that cause minimal pain to production animals
• developing objective measures of animal welfare, such as stress levels, preferred feed, and stocking density of animals in a range of situations, including transport
• developing new methods to assess the emotional states of livestock (how they feel) in response to common management practices.

Based on this research we are providing scientific advice on the development and refinement of welfare regulations, guidelines and codes of practice used by Australian livestock producers.

We also work to ensure our code of practice for livestock protection and welfare is communicated and implemented within CSIRO Livestock Industries. 

Improving livestock adaptability

We are undertaking research to help breed production animals that are better adapted to a range of production environments and situations.

This research is aimed at:

• understanding the neurophysiological regulation of temperament
• We are undertaking research to help breed production animals that are better adapted to a range of production environments. 
  identifying genes that influence temperament and stress
• understanding the heritability of coping traits
• identifying DNA markers that predict polledness – the natural lack of horns – to help breed the horns out of Australian cattle.

Our staff

Our researchers include:

• Dr Aaron Ingham: researching the genetic basis of parasite resistance
• Dr Malcolm Knox: reducing the impacts of helminth parasites of livestock
• Dr Peter Hunt: improving control of ruminant parasites
• Dr Andrew Kotze: controlling parasites of livestock and humans
• Dr Nick Andronicos: fighting sheep gastrointestinal nematodes
• Dr Jen Smith: sheep breeding for wool quality and production
• Dr Drewe Ferguson: expert in meat science and stress physiology
• Dr Ian Colditz: improving animal health and welfare
• Dr Caroline Lee: improving livestock welfare
• Dr Ali Small
• Ms Moira Menzies
• Mrs Judi Kenny
• Ms Jody McNally.

Our partners

Our key collaborators and supporters are:

• Australian Wool Innovation Limited [external link]
• Meat and Livestock Australia [external link]
• Victorian Department of Primary Industries [external link].

Projects and outcomes

Breeding for Breech Strike Resistance

CSIRO has been collaborating with the sheep and wool industry to develop genetic alternatives to mulesing.

Combating the sheep blowfly

Funded by late sheep grazier Les Bett, CSIRO is continuing its research to eliminate blowfly strike – a devastating disease that affects sheep.

Improving conditions for livestock - on the road

CSIRO researchers worked with Australia’s farming industries to ensure objective science underpins animal welfare standards for road transport practices.

Breeding the horns out of cattle

A discovery by CSIRO scientists has been central to the development of an accurate DNA test that may help the Australian cattle industry end the painful practice of dehorning beef cattle.