Collars make mating simple, keep labour costs down
With the mating season in full swing, cow sheds and farmers across the country have been busy.
Tiny nanoparticles less than a thousandth of a millimetre in size are providing a promising new method to protect sheep against flystrike, according to University of Queensland research.
Senior Research Fellow Dr Peter James from UQ's Centre for Animal Science believes nanotechnology could be part of the solution to a problem that costs the Australian sheep industry AU$73 million a year.
"New methods that can provide longer periods of protection are required to counter the development of resistance to flystrike, insecticides and to support the reduced reliance on mulesing, a surgical technique that has been relied upon over many years," James says.
The Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) funded project is designing and testing unique silica nanocapsule particles with surface spikes purpose-built to give prolonged periods of protection against flystrike and lice.
"We've had very promising results during testing with the slow-release formulations giving extended periods of protection in comparisons with more conventional formulations."
James, who heads the project, says the results showed the careful choice of active ingredient can ensure minimal residues or off-target effects for the sheep.
"Nanocapsules offer new, labour-efficient options fro managing flystrike and could also help counter the risk of blowflies developing resistance to treatment," he adds.
"Historically, chemical pesticides have been delivered in relatively large doses to achieve extended protection, but in slow-release formulas doses can be smaller."
James explains that by using nanocapsules, the chemical can either be delivered at steady levels over a prolonged period or designed to release only when needed.
Materials scientist Professor Michael Yu says UQ had patented the silica nanoparticles that feature a hollow cavity and a porous silica shell.
"We've tested a number of designs, but the most promising is a nanoparticle that has whisker-like spikes which cover the outer surface," Yu explains. "These spikes help the capsules 'stick' to either the fleece fibres or to the blowflies."
AWI general manager research Dr Jane Littlejohn has welcomed the research and says nanotechnology had the potential to increase the range of treatment options available to woolgrowers.
The next stage of the research will be to move the study out of the laboratory and test the technology in the field.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.
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