Faculty of Veterinary Science

Vet Science researchers leading rural innovation

Press release
28 September 2009

Three researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Science were among the 14 young Australians awarded the 2009 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Dr Leah Bradbury, a vet at the University of Melbourne, received the top prize for her research into the use of carprofen for long-term pain relief in sheep.

She received the $30,000 Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Award and the $20,000 Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Award. The grants will allow Leah to expand her research into determining the optimal timing and dosing levels for pain management in sheep.

Traditionally, sheep husbandry practices such as tail docking, castration and mulesing have been carried out without pain relief. And even now, if producers wish to use local anaesthesia their options are limited.

Leah is investigating the effectiveness of carprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, for use in juvenile and adult sheep.

"My goal is to develop a single sustained release injection that gives long term pain relief – hopefully lasting up to seven days," said Leah.

With animal welfare one of the highest profile issues currently facing livestock producers, Leah's research will provide valuable new knowledge to the industry.

The awards were presented by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke at Parliament House on 15 September 2009.

“The future of our primary industries depends on the next generation of young people seeing the career opportunities available in the sector,” Mr Burke said.

“There are no better role models than Dr Bradbury and the 13 other young Australians who received grants to support their innovation and talent."

Winners were required to submit a proposal for an innovative project that would address a significant issue for Australia’s rural industries. Applicants could apply for one of 13 award categories, ranging from aquaculture and eggs to meat and wine.

Kylie Hewson, a PhD student at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, received the Australian Egg Corporation Limited award for her ongoing studies on the avian infectious bronchitis virus vaccine.

The virus can affect entire commercial chicken flocks, causing significant reductions in egg production, however the most widely used of the available vaccines can cause a severe reaction in young chickens. Kylie plans to put her $20,000 grant towards studying a variant strain in the vaccine, with the aim of improving vaccination strategies and the health of Australian poultry.

Putting an end to a growing problem in the Australian dairy industry is key driver behind the Faculty of Veterinary Science's third Science and Innovation Award winner, Dr Tracy Stirling. She is looking at whether breeding for higher levels of a particular hormone in Holstein bulls can improve fertility of dairy cows.

“Evidence suggests that pregnancy rates for dairy cows have decreased by around one per cent every year over the last ten years,” said Tracy.

Her project has potential to significantly improve productivity of individual dairy cows through breeding selection, and as a result improve industry profitability.

 

For further information please contact Hinalei Johnston, Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: h.johnston@unimelb.edu.au

top of page