Innovative test to beef up stock
A NEW breath-based pregnancy testing method for cattle has been put through its paces at James Cook University’s Fletcherview Research Station.
Funded by the Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Hub) Director Dr David Phelps said current pregnancy detection methods for cattle can be costly and dependent of the availability of veterinarians.
“This can limit the ability to identify breeders that should be sold to reduce stock numbers at critical times, such as leading into drought, or to improve productivity to build financial resilience as a buffer for future risks,” he said.
“A more affordable, effective alternative can help cattle producers make key decisions earlier.”
Produced by agritech company Ag
scent, field officers recently spent two days trialling the device at Fletcherview Research Station and Olga Downs Station, gaining valuable insights into northern Australian cattle and conditions.
“We’re used to carrying out our testing on the Angus cows and Holstein Friesians, so we found these Brahmans have a different temperament,” said Agscent Technical Officer Charlotte Wood.
“The device has held up really well in the heat, which has been great to test out because we don’t have this sort of environment down south, and it has been fantastic to talk to the
veterinary students and producers to better understand the nuances of the northern cattle system.”
Dr Phelps said the trial proved to be extremely valuable and a good example of how collaboration with producers, researchers and innovators could help improve agribusiness and drought resilience.
“It’s been great to bring Agscent to these stations so we can really test out the way the equipment cups to the cow’s nostril and give them a feel for the real world operation in northern Australia,” he said.
“They’ve worked with thousands of cattle down south, but these conditions are different and they’ve had the opportunity to experience the way the cattle behave and take back additional ideas to refine their testing equipment to ensure the Agscent pregnancy tester can be suitable for northern Australia.”
Director of JCU’S eresearch Centre, Professor Ian Atkinson, said the Agscent trial was especially exciting as it provided the opportunity to showcase Fletcherview Research Station, which is located just outside of Charters Towers.
“Fletcherview is a fully operational cattle property with approximately 600 head of cattle which have been bred to support research, learning and teaching for JCU’S College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences,” he explained.
“Having access to this facility opens up so many opportunities for research and technology trials to benefit TNQ’S producers.
“As the TNQ Hub continues to source leading innovators and researchers to pilot new technology here, it also provides JCU’S students with incredible hands-on learning opportunities so we can retain those skills in our region.”
The TNQ Hub has established the Muster Platform so producers can submit problems that affect them on their farm, and link them with these leading innovators, researchers and technological solutions.
To submit your problem, visit the Muster Platform: https:// www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/