Identification of at-risk transition cows: Use of exosomal biomarkers. This project aims to improve the early diagnosis of cows at risk of infectious disease and debilitating metabolic syndromes. Animal health and longevity are pillars of the dairy industry. The risk of death is up to 6 times greater during the transition from pregnancy to lactation, making this ‘transition period’ the time for detection and intervention. If successful, this project will permit the focus of resources on high ris ....Identification of at-risk transition cows: Use of exosomal biomarkers. This project aims to improve the early diagnosis of cows at risk of infectious disease and debilitating metabolic syndromes. Animal health and longevity are pillars of the dairy industry. The risk of death is up to 6 times greater during the transition from pregnancy to lactation, making this ‘transition period’ the time for detection and intervention. If successful, this project will permit the focus of resources on high risk cows and reduce poor outcomes: lower milk production, involuntary culling and increased cow maintenance costs. Within this overall objective, a cost-effective project design will leverage partner facilities and existing networks to translate findings to farm use, thereby clearly delivering economic value.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101470
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shap ....Improving poultry health and performance through microbiota manipulations. The project aims to develop methods to modulate microbiota to improve poultry health and productivity and reduce the need for antibiotics. Probiotic administration is currently the only way in agriculture to restore imbalanced intestinal microbiota. Recent research shows that intestinal microbiota resist all new-coming bacteria and remove them from the intestinal environment. The initial inoculum at the time of birth shapes the gut microbiota for life and has the strongest influence on development of the immune system. Accordingly, at-hatch administration of proven beneficial strains to poultry is likely to ensure permanent colonisation with beneficial bacteria. This process would improve both the productivity and health of poultry and other agricultural animals.Read moreRead less