Reducing Heat Stress in Livestock
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Landcare In Focus 1 February 2015 ~ www.landcareonline.com.au 2 3 4 Green Army to fight rice grass 5 DIVISION of the A part of round 3 of the Green Army has been Covering 130 Green Army Program, 6 assigned to the hectares, the rice Landcare Australia would like beautiful, but to assist Landcare groups in threatened,A Rubicon estuary in 7 grass infestation making an application. northern Tasmania to fight an Landcare Australia’s Green infestation of rice grass. in the Rubicon Army project officer Bruce Covering 130 hectares, the estuary is the Ashley says he is happy to 8 rice grass infestation in the second largest answer any questions people Rubicon estuary is the second may have – whether they are 9 largest in Australia. Introduced in Australia. farmers, members of commu- in the 1930s to stabilise river nity groups, Landcarers or banks, rice grass has instead apply for Green Army teams to people working or volunteer- 10 become a major pest whose be involved in their projects. ing in related areas of Landcare choking growth destroys the Applications for the latest and heritage conservation. habitat of birds, fish, crabs and round of Green Army projects “We are inviting anyone 11 other estuarine plants. can be submitted until March who thinks they might be able It has the potential to 17, 2015. to benefit from the resources invade up to 650 hectares of Landcare Australia, in of a Green Army in their area 12 the Rubicon, one of Australia’s partnership with recruitment to contact us,” Mr Ashley said. most beautiful estuaries, which expert ManpowerGroup, is “We can answer any is also under assault from sea one of the program service questions you might have, and 13 spurge, marram grass, sea providers and responsible for explain how a Green Army wheat grass, broom, gorse and tackling rice grass in the territory. It now occupies estuary conditions and tides, it delivering more than 90 Green team may be able to help you cape ivy. mid-1990s, supported by about a fifth of its possible will be great to see some Army projects allocated since get the most out of the 14 The Green Army team’s task Landcare funding. Other range in Rubicon estuary. rewarding outcomes to reverse the Green Army Program was resources available. We can is to work across mudflats and communities and government Landcare Australia’s Green the spread of this nasty weed.” launched last year. also help you through the along foreshores to man age agencies were tackling the Army project officer Bruce Landcare Australia is Manpower general manager round 3 application process to 15 weeds and restore the estuary’s problem around Tasmania up Ashley says it’s a great ramping up a host of Green Paul Bridgewater said: ”The become a Green Army project natural ecology, in a project until 2010, when funding for opportunity for the team to Army projects with strong Green Army Program as a sponsor.” 16 sponsored by Latrobe Council. rice grass control ceased. make a difference to the environmental and community whole provides great l People wanting to find out more about the The community of Port Without continual environment of the estuary. benefits this year and is opportunities for Australian Green Army’s round 3 can register their interest Sorell, which sits on the suppression, the weed has “Although it will be a bit of encouraging Landcare groups with Landcare Australia via greenarmy@ youth, and the Australian landcareaustralia.com.au or phone Bruce 17 Rubicon estuary, began reclaimed some of its former a challenge dealing with the to act as project sponsors and environment.” Ashley toll free on 1800 151 105. 18 Reducing heat 19 20 stress in livestock 21 RODUCTION losses along funded through the Australian with climate projections Government’s Filling the Psuggesting a rise in annual Research Gap program, along 22 average temperatures and an with contributions from state increase in the occurrence of government and universities, extreme weather events are private firms and industry bodies. 23 driving two separate research Heat stress occurs in projects into agricultural livestock when animals cannot adaptation and the reduction of effectively control their body 24 heat stress in livestock. heat and the body temperature One project conducted by rises to unsafe levels. It may the Dairy Futures Co-operative be observed when animals project is drawing upon readings) from 118 weather livestock enterprises in the June 2016. 25 Research Centre aims to eat less, become restless and 700,000 DNA marker stations in dairying regions future, should average temp- Filling the Research Gap identify dairy cows that have a production decreases. Other genotypes from 3700 Holstein around Australia. eratures rise and the number of funds nationally coordinated greater tolerance to heat stress symptoms include animals and 1241 Jersey herds to The University of extremely hot days increase. research to deliver practical 26 and will result in a genomic grouping, seeking shade, develop the genomic breeding Melbourne research builds on Established farm options for land managers breeding value being developed panting, slobbering or excessive values for heat tolerance, so previous studies where feed management strategies such to reduce greenhouse gas for tolerance to heat stress. salivation, foam at the mouth, young bull and heifer calves can additives were shown to reduce as the provision of shade, the emissions, build soil carbon 27 The second project open-mouth breathing, lack of be screened for their genetic the effects of heat stress on adequate supply of water and and adapt to changes in climate conducted by the University co-ordination and trembling. potential to cope with heat sheep, but which may be more even cooling systems help while improving productivity of Melbourne will determine The initial consequence stress. The project will draw suitable to intensive livestock reduce heat stress, but further and profit. 28 whether feed additives such of heat stress is reduced feed on production records such systems where administering effective management practices l More information on research projects as dietary betaine, chromium intake and loss of production. as milk yield, protein and fat additives daily to feed rations will likely be required in future under the Filling the Research Gap program and antioxidants can be used In extreme cases it can lead to percentage, and merge it with can be effectively managed. to safeguard animal welfare may be found at the Department of Agriculture to alleviate heat stress in dairy organ tissue damage and death. heat load data (specifically Heat stress may well be and farm productivity. Both website at: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ 29 cows and pigs. Both projects are The Dairy Futures CRC temperature and humidity a growing financial cost to research projects will finalise in climatechange/carbonfarmingfutures/ftrg 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 1 Landcare In Focus February 2015 ~ www.landcareonline.com.au 2 3 Landcare briefs International Year of Soil 4 2015 is the International Year of Soil. Soils are often called 5 Almost 300 a neglected resource and a challenge to all is to take a moment and consider how our soils are involved in producing 6 food, fibre and energy. If we keep our soils healthy they can store water and reduce 7 flooding. Soils can also store organic carbon and slow the groups given release of carbon into the 8 atmosphere. They have a role in buffering climate change and rising temperatures. To 9 find out what is happening to celebrate the International Year of Soil in Australia visit the Soil 10 Science Australia website www. up to $20,000 soilscienceaustralia.com.au. Advisory Committee 11 with a strong agricultural focus practices on Kiana station in The inaugural meeting COMMENT by BARNABY JOYCE of the National Landcare or a focus on delivering the Northern territory. Advisory Committee was held ast year marked the positive environmental Other projects include the 12 25th anniversary of the in Canberra on Thursday, outcomes. Digging up the Dirt on soil November 27, 2014. Members launch of Landcare some of the successful health project, working with of the committee met for 13 nationally in australia, projects include feral animal six farming families in central the first time following their Land in recognition and control in the Collombatti area Queensland, support for the formal appointment to discuss celebration of this important prickly acacia eradication in their role in implementing 14 milestone, the australian the Gillat River, Queensland, the Australian Government’s Government announced a We know that and rabbit eradication at Mt National Landcare Program. 25th anniversary Landcare Rothwell in Victoria. The committee will advise the 15 Grants Program to more than Natural heritage Ministerial these practical projects, Board, comprising the Minister support the movement and like all the work Landcare its on-the-ground work at a three- quarters of for the environment, the hon groups do, will provide Greg hunt MP, and the Minister 16 local level. farmers identify lasting benefits for our for Agriculture, the hon Barnaby the 25th anniversary environment and agricultural Joyce MP, on a range of issues Landcare Grants 2014-15 will with the Landcare related to the National Landcare 17 landscape. Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce. see almost 300 community movement. the agriculture projects Program and are looking to groups and individuals across receiving grants will support help increase recognition of the Landcare ‘brand’ and the value 18 australia share in $5 million in farmers. the support that local Landcare working in over 6000 landcare project grants. of NsW, working with farmers We know that more than groups give them in looking groups, and so I’d like to thank it brings to all Australians and sectors.