Melbourne School of Land and Environment Dookie Campus

Research and Industry Partnerships

Dookie is the major rural higher education campus of the Melbourne School of Land and Environment (MSLE), The University of Melbourne. The University is recognised worldwide for the quality of its research, courses and graduates. The research goals of the Campus are to provide research training and research relevant to the needs of the land and food industries of north east Victoria in particular, as well as south-eastern Australia and beyond. The research program at Dookie Campus is incorporated with the commercial activities of the Dookie Farms.

Priorities for the Campus are growth in:

A number of specialist collaborative research programs are located at Dookie Campus. These are:

 

Impact Assessment for Genetically Modified Canola

Rick Roush, MSLE

Funding: Grains Research and Development Corporation

The aim of this research is to test for any theoretical agronomic issues associated with GM "Roundup Ready" canola in NSW, VIC, and WA

There are four key risk topics that have been raised for herbicide-resistant GM canola: (1) pollen flow or seed dispersal from GM to non-GM crops; (2) selection for resistance in weeds unrelated to canola through increased use of key herbicides, of which glyphosate and annual ryegrass are of particular interest; (3) outcrossing of GM canola and related weeds, such as wild radish; and (4) that volunteer canola may itself become a weed. All of these are of key interest to regulators for any future release of other GM traits in canola. We have designed detailed but straightforward experiments to search for any problems with the canola.

Our intensive field studies have not found any evidence of ecological or agronomic problems with GM canola. Indeed, we found even lower densities of GM canola volunteers along roadsides and in paddocks than we expected. Volunteers almost could not be found in commercial paddocks with typical weed control practices, and GM canola was only 15% of volunteers near receival points for GM canola. We thought it would be too early to find any increase in resistance to glyphosate in paddocks with a history of GM canola, but if anything, the small percentage of seedlings that survived glyphosate was higher from the non-GM than GM sites. As tested from seeds collected in the region and planted for testing at Dookie, the percentage of GM canola seeds found in non-GM canola crops neighbouring GM crops averages less than 0.2%, below coexistence thresholds, and in most cases, probably too low to be detected by standard commercial methods.

 

Weed Management in Grains in Southern Cropping

Charlotte Aves and Rick Roush, MSLE

Funding: Grains Research and Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative at the University of Western Australia

The project is examining novel approaches for weed management in Victorian Grain Cropping, including the use of “weed-seeker” spot spraying equipment for summer weeds, competitive cropping for summer weeds, weed seed destroying technologies at harvest, including the Harrington Seed Destructor, and improved cropping rotations.
After identifying and visiting sites in November 2010 in the Victorian Southern Cropping Zone, ryegrass densities were sampled estimated in December 2010 in paddocks where GM and non-GM canola had been grown in 2009-2010. Data are being analysed. Seed samples were also taken for later bioassays to compare resistance to glyphosate and perhaps other herbicides.
Planned experiments on summer weed control, especially using Weed Seeker technology, were made impractical in 2011 by highly unusual summer rainfall, but will be attempted again in 2012.

 

Effect of sugar and sugar substitutes on insulin sensitivity and adiposity in maturing pigs: implications for human childhood obesity and metabolic disease

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Funding: Commercially funded and a collaboration with Monash University and The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Excess adiposity in childhood is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals. While those with severe obesity are more likely to develop complications, numerous other factors, such as family history of type 2 diabetes and ethnicity, are also important in modulating risk. A better understanding is required of how these factors come together to modify long-term risk in order to develop targeted prevention and treatment programs. Numerous studies have investigated dietary determinants of obesity and associated metabolic disease (with evidence that fat and sugar intake are both important, but few have been constructed to specifically examine mechanisms. Also, studies that examine long-term effects of early nutrition need to be undertaken in cohorts of young children with prospective long-term follow-up (although these are notoriously difficult to undertake), or in animal species where close homology exists with humans. Pigs represent a useful species for the investigation of nutritional effects on later obesity and insulin sensitivity, with porcine models of obesity more closely reflecting the metabolic changes seen in human obesity than rodent models. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early dietary sugar or a sugar substitute supplementation on later body composition and insulin sensitivity in maturing pigs.

 

Amelioration of thermal stress impacts on animal performance and welfare in southern Australia dairy, beef and sheep industries

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Funding: DAFF and DA and is a collaboration between with The University of Queensland, Monash University, Arizona State University and Iowa State University

By 2030 it is likely average temperatures will increase by 0.5 to 1.5°C across southern Australia. Rainfall patterns are expected to change with south and south-eastern Australia likely to receive less. As a consequence there is likely to be an increase in the incidence of heat stress in livestock in Southern Australia with impact on the dairy and sheep industries. This project is aimed at providing information on how to predict the onset of heat events, an understanding of the physiology and biology of heat stress, knowledge of some of the predisposing conditions (other than ambient or radiant temperature), and some dietary means to mitigate or alleviate acute and chronic heat stress to ensure animal productivity and welfare.

 

Development of a ‘Dairy Risk Assessment Program’ (DRAP) as an internet based online tool designed to assist the Dairy industry in evaluating animal heat loading in Australian Dairy Herds.

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

The development of the internet based web tool known as the ‘Dairy Risk Assessment Program’ (DRAP) is a product of climatic, physiological, behavioural, and management data being collected and collated from different dairy herds and Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather stations. For the development of the current version of the DRAP, the data has been collected specifically from the research dairy herds located in Gatton QLD, and Dookie VIC. However, data from another 4 dairy sites across Australia will be incorporated into the DRAP software package to further enhance algorithm and prediction accuracy. A beta version of the model will be trailed in the 2011/2012 summer.

 

Development of dietary strategies to reduce heat stress in ruminants

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Dietary strategies have been aimed at reducing the amount of heat an animal produces as well as improving their ability to dissipate heat.

Dietary betaine is a naturally occurring molecule that can act as an osmolyte and maintain cellular ion concentrations and reduce the need for sodium/potassium pumping, a process that uses energy and produces heat. We have shown that dietary betaine can indeed reduce physiological responses (eg. rectal temperature, respiration rate) to heat stress in controlled studies in sheep at Dookie.

Mammals become insulin resistant during pregnancy and lactation as a normal means of diverting nutrients away from body tissues and towards priority tissues such as the fetus or lactating mammary

 

Effect of nano-chromium on growth performance carcass characteristics and glucose metabolism of finishing pigs

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Funding: The Pork CRC

Chromium (Cr) is an essential mineral element for human and animal. In the past two decades, various forms of Cr3+ have been used in pig diets in order to improve growth performance, insulin sensitivity, immune response, carcass trait, pork quality, and to reduce stress responsiveness. However, Cr3+ is normally poorly absorbed and utilized even when supplemented in an organic form perhaps in part because of the tendency to form large aggregates. The efficiency of uptake of 100 nm size particles by intestinal tissue was 15 to 250 fold higher compared to 1 μm size particles. It is possible that micro- or nano-sized chromium may be a means of improving the poor absorption of chromium and ensuring more consistent responses to dietary supplementation. The aim of these studies were to investigate the effect of normal size, micro- and nano- chromium picolinate on growth and carcass characteristics of pigs. To date we have found that dietary CrPic supplementation to finishing pigs can improve carcass traits especially in pigs fed high fat diet and μCr and nCr. The mechanism of action appears to be altering both adipose and skeletal muscle tissue insulin sensitivity.

 

Effect of immunocastration and dietary lecithin on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing pigs

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Funding: The Pork CRC and conducted in collaboration with Kansas State University

During sexual development, intact male pigs deposit androstenone and skatole into adipose tissue. These compounds are released during the heating and cooking of pork and can elicit an offensive odour known as boar taint which negatively impacts meat quality and sensory characteristics. Historically, pigs destined for fresh meat consumption in Australia and New Zealand are slaughtered prior to sexual maturity. Conversely, most other countries worldwide eliminate boar taint concerns by physically castrating male pigs prior to weaning. However, both of these strategies have considerable drawbacks. Slaughtering pigs at lightweights results in significant production losses and does not effectively eliminate boar taint compounds; whereas physical castration results in additional stress and pain for the pig, as well as poorer feed efficiency, lean meat yield and increased fat deposition. These drawbacks have prompted the development of a vaccine (Improvac®) that stimulates antibodies to block endogenous gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRH), which effectively inhibits testicular function. This protocol for this vaccine allows for the male pig to capitalize on its own metabolic efficiency until approximately 4 weeks prior to slaughter, when the second dose is administered, which allows time for boar taint compounds to be naturally metabolized and removed from the adipose tissue. Interestingly, some of the original efficacy studies for this vaccine were conducted at Dookie in the early 1990’s. This Australian invention is now registered in almost 70 countries. However, one of the limits to adoption in some markets is that there can be a reduction in carcass dressing percent relative to intact males and gilts. We have recently shown that supplementing lecithin in pig diets improves meat tenderness and carcass dressing percent. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to firstly investigate the impact of lecithin supplementation and immunocastration on growth performance, carcass composition and subsequent meat quality, and secondly to examine the cause of variation of dressing percent in immunocastrated boars relative to intact males and gilts.

 

Developing increased understanding, awareness and potential mitigation strategies for perennial ryegrass toxicosis in sheep production systems

Prof. Frank Dunshea and A/Prof. Brian Leury, MSLE

Funding: Meat & Livestock Australia; Grasslanz Technology, New Zealand

The purpose of this research is to generate reliable information on the sub-clinical and clinical effects of PRGT on productivity and physiology of sheep under controlled environmental conditions and grazing novel endophytes compared with wild-type endophytes. In addition, this Project will develop an animal model and experimental approach that will enable appropriate investigation of the efficacy of rumen detoxifying agents in alleviating PRGT and how this can be used on-farm. This will assist in the development of cost effective ways to mitigate reduced animal productivity and to reduce the risks to animal welfare in sheep enterprises and other livestock production systems. This research will also address significant knowledge gaps on how consumption of endophyte alkaloids affects nutrient partitioning and stress in sheep in different physiological states and exposed to different environmental temperatures. The latter is especially relevant for Australian conditions and a warming climate.


Screening for more efficient wool production using a physiological stress challenge

Prof. Frank Dunshea, MSLE

Funding: Australian Wool Education Trust; The University of Melbourne, Dookie

The major aims of this project have been to investigate:

a) The relationship between feed intake and efficiency of wool growth and sensitivity to a stress challenge in wethers from known sires and production history;

b) The relationship between birth type, plane of nutrition and stress responsiveness on efficiency of wool growth in wethers from known sires and production history;

c) The variation in feed intakes, liveweight gain and wool growth rate in an unselected group of young Merino ewes;

d) Whether body composition is different between ewes identified with low or high feed conversion efficiency and whether their sensitivity to a stress challenge is also different.

 

Mono-layer polymers to reduce evaporation

Prof. David Solomon and Dr Andy Hoi and others from Melbourne School of Engineering

It has been estimated that Australia may lose about 40% of its stored water to evaporation. This research, led by Professor David Solomon (Melbourne School of Engineering), an internationally renowned polymer expert and inventor of the polymer used in plastic bank notes throughout the world, involves the development of a mono-layer polymer that can be applied to surface of waterbodies to reduce evaporation. The chemistry of the polymer is being perfected in laboratory studies and its performance is being measured in large experimental tanks at Dookie campus, and field testing on farm dams on campus recently commenced. There are many technical challenges relating to stability and degradation, which are both affected by wind and temperature, and gas diffusion across the water’s surface. These are being addressed in the current work by increasing the length of hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail of the polymer, and increasing its molecular weight. Professor Solomon’s team have already made significant progress here and have increased the half-life of the polymer significantly through such experimentation.

 

FRM: Rivers, groundwater and environmental targets

Assoc. Prof. Andrew Weston, Melbourne School of Engineering

Funding: Project undertaken in collaboration with the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre/La Trobe University.

This project provides:

 

FRM: Real Time Information and Control Options for the Broken River

R. Farquharson, E. Weyer, S.K. Ooi, T. Ramilan, B. George, M. Stewardson, A. Western, G. Vietz, M. Sammonds

This FRM sub-project is an innovative study aimed at saving water released from Lake Nillahcootie to satisfy irrigation and environmental demands by improving the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of water deliveries to irrigators and the environment.

 

FRM: Flexible dairy production systems

Dr Kithsiri Dassanayake, MSLE

 

FRM: Opportunistic summer cropping

Dr Kithsiri Dassanayake, MSLE

This replicated on-farm field trial was established in late 2009 on a private property (owned by Mr David Cook, a leading and innovative young farmer) in collaboration with Riverine Plains Inc (which is a farmer-led research initiative in the region). This trial was driven by services the knowledge needs of the top performers in the broadacre cropping industry in the Broken catchment and other catchments in the southern Murray Darling Basin. This replicated field aimed at exploring opportunities for inclusion of a summer crop into the dry land cropping systems where stored soil moisture and also summer rain events can opportunistically be utilized to generate additional income supporting the cash flow under highly variable rainfall scenarios in the future.

 

FRM: Improved irrigation efficiency in perennial horticulture

Dr Nicola Cooley, Dr Kithsiri Dassanayake, and Prof. Snow Barlow, MSLE

The aim of this FRM sub-project is to optimise the gross economic returns from irrigation by improving the efficiency of irrigation practice. This research project aims to evaluate a number of innovative irrigation strategies on a range of crops namely, stone fruit (apricot), pome fruit (apple) and wine grapes (Shiraz) in the southern Broken River Basin.

 

Bio-energy research facility

Prof. Peter Scales, Melbourne School of Engineering

Capitalising upon the construction of the high-rate algal ponds as part of Dookie 21, Professor Peter Scales and the Solid-liquid Separations Group, Melbourne School of Engineering, will facilitate the development and demonstration of highly efficient on-farm bio-energy systems.

 

Microwave control of weeds in cropping systems

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: GRDC, RIRDC and the Yorke Natural Resources Management Board

These 4 different projects look at different aspects of the problem. It is finding quite good support from the grains industry here in Australia at the moment, even though they know that the energy costs are going to be higher than chemical control. I have recently received an enquiry from New Zealand about this work as well. I’ve had funding from the GRDC, RIRDC and the Yorke Natural Resources Management Board to support these studies:

 

Microwave treatment to reduce the energy associated with crushing sugar cane – supported by the SRDC

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: Sugar Research and Development Corporation

Using microwave technologies to reduce the energy costs associated with crushing sugar cane - $35,000 – 2009 to 2010 – Project completed. This was an experiment based project in collaboration with my colleagues at Jams Cook University that determined the effect of microwave treatment on sugar cane strength and juice quality. Three refereed papers are currently in press from this study.

 

Microwave treatment of lucerne hay to increase its digestibility by ruminant animals

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: The University of Melbourne

Using microwave heating to enhance the digestibility of lucerne hay - $5,000 – 2008 to 2009 – Project completed. This was an experiment based project that determined effect of microwave treatment on the digestibility and animal growth performance from lucerne hay. Microwave treatment increases the rumen digestibility of lucerne fodder by at least 10 %, which leads to an 8 % improvement in animal performance when used in a controlled feed trial. An expression of interest is being prepared for Meat and Livestock Australia for some follow up research and we are about to do a scoping study on the effect of microwave pre-treatment on the digestibility of sorghum. One refereed paper has already been published and another is currently in press from this work.

 

High performance drying of plantation grown eucalyptus timber – an ARC supported project to continue the CRC Wood Innovations work on microwave preconditioning of wood prior to solar drying

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: Australian Research Council

High performance drying of plantation grown eucalyptus timber - $450,000 – 2009 to 2010 – Project partially completed before being abandoned under the ARC funding rules because of financial problems with one of the industry partners as a result of the global financial crisis. This project explored microwave preconditioning of timber prior to solar drying. Early data demonstrated that microwave preconditioning can reduce the drying time in a solar kiln by almost 50 % compared with control samples dried under the same conditions.

 

Detection and treatment of termites and decay in wood-in-service – an ARC supported project

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: Australian Research Council

Use of microwave technologies to detect and eradicate termite and fungal infestations in timber in service - $762,000 – 2009 to 2012 – Project is ongoing. This project is exploring several microwave technologies (transmission based and radar based) to detect termites and decay in wood. Laboratory based experiments show that the microwave detection of termites and decay is relatively easy and field systems are being developed for deployment and evaluation. It has also been demonstrated that microwave heating can kill termites in wood; however this is because of steam generation in the moist wooden material rather than direct heating of the insects. Other technologies are being investigated as potential detectors, but microwave systems seem to be the most promising so far. Two refereed papers are currently in press from this study.

 

On Farm Energy production – regional infrastructure project

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

Funding: Regional Infrastructure Development Fund

Development of an On-Farm energy production and storage system - $200,000 – 2011 to 2012 – Project is ongoing. This is part of the larger infrastructure project being implemented at Dookie Campus. It will establish a small demonstrator system that will use wind and solar energy to pump water from a low elevation dam to a high elevation dam or header tank and then use this water to generate electricity on-demand using a micro-hydroelectric generator.

 

Study of overland transport strategies that may have been used by the ancient Olmec in central Mexico

Dr Graham Brodie, MSLE

This is a collaborative project with the Archaeology department of LaTrobe University where we have applied GIS analysis to land scapes in central Mexico to identify viable over land transport corridors for the transport of the Olmec’s Colossal Heads. The Olmec moved 20 to 40 tonne stones over a distance of at least 80 km from their source to their final destination. The analysis included considerations for timeliness of transport and human capability. One paper is currently under review from this work and another is being prepared.

 

Impact of extreme heat on Viticulture: An Investigation into Adaptation Strategies

Sally Foletta, MSLE

Extreme heat events and significant seasonal fluctuations in water allocations pose a serious threat to Viticulture. Viticulture is particularly susceptible to such impacts, due to the lengthy vine establishment times and the perennial nature of this crop. This project aims to research the economical and physiological impact of extreme heat events on viticulture in South-Eastern Australia. The project will initially undertake a desktop analysis using existing data and models to assess the economic impacts of extreme heat events on wine grape production. This information will be used to explore vineyard management practices to mitigate against extreme heat events. Some of the identified mitigations strategies are then being assessed via field trials in the Dookie College vineyard.

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