AARN Upcoming Events

AARN April Seminar

Thursday 19th April ATTWOOD, VICTORIA

Details and registration here

AARN Seminar Thursday 5 July 2018 Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW

Thursday AARN line-up:

Dr Shawn McGrath Charles Sturt University Lecturer in Whole Farm Management, Charles Sturt University Topic – Recent research feeding supplements that include vitamin D metabolites for sheep – the effects on vitamin D and calcium status of sheep and the potential applications. After graduating from the University of Sydney, Shawn worked in agribusiness for 8 years including roles as a supply chain coordinator in the beef industry and agribusiness banking. In 2010 Shawn commenced a PhD at CSU Wagga where he investigated management of late-pregnant and lambing ewes on dual-purpose wheat crops in southern NSW. Shawn then worked as a researcher on an MLA-sponsored project at CSU with White Dorper and Merino ewes grazing dual-purpose crops and investigating potential pasture options for finishing lambs in the spring, including novel legumes. He was also subject coordinator and lecturer for the undergraduate subject Animal Nutrition in 2014. In August 2015 Shawn commenced in his current position as Lecturer in Whole Farm Management in the Fred Morley Centre, where his focus is on applied research within livestock and mixed-farming systems. Dr Joe McGrath Nutritionist Topic – New developments in skeletal health in dairy cows. Ca, P, Vitamin D and their implications for health, longevity and the environment Dr Joe McGrath is the Ruminant Technical Manager in Asia Pacific for DSM Nutritional Products. Prior to this he was a lecturer in ruminant nutrition with the University of New England, he now holds the position of Adjunct Senior Lecturer. His research career has focused on the interaction of macro minerals and vitamins, particularly metabolites of vitamin D and calcium and phosphorus in beef and dairy cattle. As well as methane reduction, yeasts, probiotics and enzymes in the feedlot environment. Before engaging with academia Dr McGrath was involved in the Australia beef feedlot industry as a feed manager (nutrition, milling and commodities) with Rangers Valley Feedlot, one of Australia largest beef businesses (Wagyu and Angus Beef). In his current role Dr McGrath works in the ruminant hot spots of Asia, primarily focusing on dairy and beef production in both developing countries and more advanced production systems. In this role he develops nutritional strategies for ruminant systems in all environments and sees first-hand the role of advanced nutritional strategies in modern production systems. Dr Paul Greenwood NSW DPI Livestock Systems Senior Principal Research Scientist beef industry unit, and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Environment and Rural Science at the University of New England Topic – Measuring and improving the efficiency of intake at pasture Dr Greenwood has a joint appointment with CSIRO Agriculture where he leads a major new research initiative on efficiency at pasture focussed on the use wireless sensor networks to measure intake of grazing livestock. Dr Greenwood has headed NSW DPIs research efforts on “Biological validation and gene expression underpinning gene discovery for beef yield and quality characteristics” and “Regulation of growth, carcass composition and beef quality” within the Australian Beef Cooperative Research Centres (Beef CRCs). His research team has undertaken extensive work on long-term consequences of fetal and neonatal growth and nutrition in ruminants, and he has contributed to research programs on temperament and stress in relation to productivity, efficiency and meat quality. Dr Surinder Singh Chauhan Animal Scientist Topic – tbc Surinder’s research program strives to deliver solutions to promote sustainable, and efficient livestock production systems (cattle, sheep, goat, and pigs) capable of producing quality animal protein for the consumers. The premise of his research program is to develop suitable strategies (molecular genetic markers to assist in selection for thermotolerance, and nutrigenomics approach to regulate metabolism) to mitigate heat stress impacts on food animal production, and to identify and deliver innovative tools to improve meat quality (specifically by elucidating the genetic, molecular and biochemical basis of meat quality). Fernanda Zamuner PhD candidate in the animal production group within the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Melbourne Topic – The effects of parity and number of kids on metabolic health and milk production in commercial goats Supervised by Prof Brian Leury, Dr Sandy Cameron and Dr Kristy DiGiacomo, Fernanda’s research focuses on dairy goat physiology and metabolism. Her PhD research is focussed aims to understanding the impact of parity and number of foetuses on milk production and metabolic health in dairy goats in order to better understand the relationship between metabolic stress, lipid mobilisation and immune dysfunction during the transition period and throughout lactation.

Other Conferences & Meetings

Beef Australia

Rockhampton, Queensland 6 – 12 May 2018 http://beefaustralia.com.au/

Australian Society of Animal Production

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 2 – 4 July 2018 (see above under AARN Upcoming Events) http://www.asap.asn.au/2018-conference/

10^th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores

Clermont- Ferrand, France 2 – 6 September 2018 https://symposium.inra.fr/isnh2018