Dairy Innovation News and the ‘Ask the Researcher’ virtual forums aim to get research adopted on-farm through introducing the research and the researchers directly to farmers and service providers while it is on-going to enable timely informed decision making.  We know that there is no point doing incremental and transformational research for the necessary profitability improvements if the findings just get put in a folder on the shelf.

October 2020 edition 

• Milk mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) for management and genetics
• Future forages for warmer and changing climate
• Genetic improvement: Driving productivity
• Meet the researchers: Dr Marlie Wright and Dr Meaghan Douglas

“Ask the Researcher” MIR Prediction Technology – 12.30pm on 21^st October 2020 

Join Murray Dairy extension officer Ross Read and Agriculture Victoria research scientists Dr Jo Newton and Dr Phuong Ho to hear more and ‘Ask the researcher’ about the application of MIR technology on-farm

• MIR prediction of fertility: Research to identify cows that rank low and high for fertility.
• MIR prediction of blood metabolic profiles: Research estimating the genetic parameters of metabolic disease and enable subsequent genomic prediction.
• MIR detection of pregnancy status: Post 150-day insemination found to be reliable
• MIR mapping of genes affecting milk composition: ongoing research with a larger dataset.
• MIR prediction of lameness: A practical application of the technology for on-farm prediction of lameness is difficult as lameness is subject to environmental conditions

“Ask the Researcher” Future Forages – 12.30pm on 11th November

Join Gipps Dairy extension officer Karen Romano and Professor Kevin Smith Tune to hear more and ‘Ask the researcher’ about future forages modelling and the implications for research and on-farm activities

• Modelling shows a substantial drop in profitability from a changing climate
• Current locations of breeding and testing sites for pastures are inadequate
• New forage species and traits will become more important over time
• A warmer, drier climate with more extreme weather events will adversely affect nutrition and persistence of current forage

“Ask the Researcher” Genetic Improvement – 12.30pm on 2^nd December 2020

Join Murray Dairy extension officer Ross Read and Agriculture Victoria research scientist Professor Jennie Pryce to hear more and ‘Ask the researcher’ about genetic improvement, the NBO and ABVs at the Genetic improvement virtual forum – 12.30pm on 2^nd December 2020

• Genetic gain has doubled in sires since 2010
• DairyBio drives innovation through improving and developing new ABVs, that are adopted into DataGene’s BPI and HWI
• A BPI of 300 means that the animal is $300 more profitable than the average
• Increases in reliability are valued at $27 per cow per year
• The new National Breeding Objectives will be released in early December