Abstract:
Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 (Presidential Address) G.E. ROBARDS Two hundred years of livestock production is by world standards a short history. It is of interest to some, merely as a record of achievements against considerable environmental, social and economic difficulties. Others take a broader view in which past experiences are some guide to future developments. In this contribution, I do not intend to outline critically the history of the livestock industries in Australia, any more than I intend to review in detail the current state of knowledge: each is done in numerous other books and papers. Rather, I intend to examine my contention that despite all the past achievements of animal science and the livestock industries in Australia, the future will be far from dull. There are ample challenges and rewards ahead for individual producers, advisors, scientists and the Australian Society of Animal Production. The sheep which arrived with the first fleet in January had either died or been slaughtered by December 1788. A similar population decline occurred in 1'793 and it was not until further imports that numbers reached 526 in 1794 and 1531 in 1796. Some of these early sheep may have contributed to the flocks of ?&Arthur, COX , Riley and other breeders, but the emphasis on these early importations was supply of meat not production of wool. _ The first step in the dev&lopment of the world's predominant wool producing * industry was taken in 1800 when NacArthur sent eight fleeces to Sir Joseph &x&s, the President of the Royal Society in London. In 1807 the first cargo of 111 kg left for England and this grew to.lm kg by 1835, which was the first'year that wool ex-ports returned more to the infant colony than ex-ports of,fish products. Similarly, it was not until 1836 that tiool exports returned more than the value of m&t consumed locallp: By the*18610s the wool: industry was commercially sound in Australia and by the 1870s it surpassedBritain?s own'production. I' Apart from salted ships! provisions in the early years and a &mall trade in tinned meat from about 1860, meat excports did not commence inearnest until refrigeration was introduced in. the 1870s. In fact, meat exports did not really flourish unti'f after 1934 when chilled'rather than frozen meat was able to .a \i c compete with beef from South America.. The early growth of the colony and its livestock industries wa based ona mixed set of factors. The necessity to feed the growing population and the pressure of 65,121 sheep, 21,343 cattle and 1,891 horses on the Sydney plain. caused the renewedeffort to cross the Blue Mountains in 1813. Subsequently, the willingness of British Governments and investors to subscribe capital td agricultural enterprises and`public utilities such as railways and ports, enabled . the abundant grazing land beyond the mountains to 'be es$loited. The readiness of England and Scotland to utilise Australian wool tv'~ts part .of the-rapid exvion of their wool use, combined with a complex of relationships in Europe.' Britain had changed from Iiolland, as its source of materials in the seventeenth century, NSbi Departmen t of Agriculture, M&ie11 EUlding, Rawson Place, Sydney, 2000. 2 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Bad. Vol. 17 to Germany and Spain as the main sources of raw fine wool during the eighteenth century. However, between 1815 and 1849 Britain's imports of wool from Spain declined from 3.1 to 0.58m kg whereas imports from Australia went from 0.15 to 16.3m kg. The wool industry had been very important in Britain from the 12th century, but increased substantially in dimensions during the 19th century coinciding with a five fold increase in population between 1760 and 1913 due to advances in food production, sanitary engineering and preventative medicine. The accelerating demand for wool in Britain and the dispersal of the Spanish flocks to Saxony, Austria, France, Sweden, Britain and later the developing colonies of the Southern hemisphere, coincided most fortuitously with the potential for expansion of a wool industry-in Australia. Furthermore, the product in demand could be produced with relatively little labour or skill, and was relatively easyto store and transport, both factors which were very important to an underdeveloped and distant colony. LIVESTOCK -IoN AFTER 200 YEARS The Australian livestock industries have grown to a considerable size, particularly as the sheep, beef and dairy industries are based predominantly on extensive grazing in a continent characterized by relatively low and erratic rainfall. Only the poultry industry has developed to an overall advanced form of integrated, intensive production. Table 1 shows the estimated size of the main livestock industries in 1986/87. Recent pro.jections suggest that by 1992 sheep numbers will reach 175mtand beef cattle 29m. Table 1 Estimated livestock numbers (millions) in Australia during 1986/87 preliminary Australian Bureau of Statistics data The value ofthe livestock industries at about $9`,OOOm compares to $15,OOOm for mining, $17,OOOm for total agriculture and $4O,OOOm for manufacturing. Of the $9,WOm, meat represents about half, and wool one third, of the total value (Table 21. Table 2 Value of Australian livestock prod.tion during 1986/87 - preliminary AustralianBureau of Statistics data PROC. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 3 The proportional contribution of wool rises substantially when export earnings are considered (Table 3). Returns from wool account for about half of the income from livestock products, one third from all agricultural products and 10 percent of total export earnings. Table 3 Value of exports of Austdim livestock and livestock products durw 1986/87- preliminary Australian Bureau of Statistics data Preferential access to markets because of Commonwealth arrangements (particularly following the Ottawa agreement of 19321, a substantial inflow of capital and apparently unlimited natural resources, obviously contributed to Australia's ' expansion as an agricultural producer during the 100 year period from'the 1850s to 1950s. However, with hindsight, the signs were already present throughout this time that the prosperity'of Australiass livestock industries would be increasingly influenced b3; the d&&nds and values of overseas markets. The woo1 industry first suffered.a 'depression' .in the 1840s which was a reflection of lowered demand in Britain associated.with uncertainty and disruption following the N&eolonic.wars. , A similar domturn in the 1890s and the betterknown one of the 1930s still did not prepare our industries for the major changes of the i96Os -` and 1970s. ,, , After a second world.war America became much more outgoing> &xade reiat+oris,' and with subsidized agriculture and aggressive marketing/made a substantial :. impact on world'trade: This coincided with Ehe emergence.of.ex-co1onial ' countries not. only as self sufficient, but as #marketers seekingto d&elop an esqort income, usually in agricultural products. The ieaction in Britain and Xurope l& to,their own subsidies ,and. self.sufficiencyf~.discontinuance of se . preferential trading and development of the European Economic Community. I I I The xay nol; appears clear for Australian livestock industries, they must continue to find new markets and@ new products. The success in recent years of live animal exportsto the -Middle East, of wool exports to China and renewed meat 'exports to Japan, are all encouraging. However, there are vast populations in Asia and Africa takimtlittle of our products. my of these countries have their 'own economic problems, and exporting livestock products to them often will involve marketing, 'financial and even political aspects xhich appear to be , Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 outside the scope of producers and their marketing organizations. However, the need is obvious,,producers must support their representatives, Government , departments and individual entrepreneur in their efforts to open new markets or expand existinll: ones. Realistically, a political decision can determine our access to a particular market rather than a financial one. Even the main importers of our beef in recent years, the USA, Japan, Canada and Taiwan, may rapidly change their quotas, tariffs or regulations to limit imports of beef. Identifying populations with the financial resources to purchase livestock products is not the only challenge. Expanded marketing in Asia, Africa or the Pacific may require an acceptance of different tastes, fashions, customs or religions; any of which may demand products not familiar to local or European markets which have predominated previously. Our livestock industries have not been quick to accept or adapt to changed eating patterns or fashions in Australia: how much more of a barrier could there be to a unique demand from a potential new market? Also, we still have a need to develop beef and sheep meat production systems which ensure a uniform product on a year round basis for all our meat, not .just that from feed-lot operations. Furthermore, me must accept that whatever attitudes or evidence some may have about the safety of livestock products for human consumption, consumers are affected by widely publicized and respected opinions such as 'in 1983, 42 percent of deaths in Australia were due to diet-related heart disease'. In the light of such statements livestock producers and marketers must surely placecontinued emphasis on lean meat, 10~ fat milk, and diets and recipes which promote meat in balance with other recommended foodstuffs. To become the premier wool producing country in the world and a substantial exFrter of meat and live animals within two hundred years, from a zero 'base, is quite an achievement. There is no doubt that/initially, relatively unlimited grazing areas and adequate overseas capital were ma.jor positive influences. However, there have been problems to be overcome and many of the solutions are to the great credit of scientists and producers. The overcoming of trace mineral deficiency, the adaption and development of sub-clover as a specific pasture, the development of specialized drought feeding and livestock husbandry techniques, the introduction and exploitation of Bos taurus blood in northern Australia, and the pioneering work with protected proteins and sheep reproduction control, are unique achievements, to name just a feT<. The progress has not always been positive however: the introduction of rabbits; prickly pear and several weed species are notable inglorious happenings. 123 many areas, overgrazing of fragile 'vegetation or xhere soils are unstable; has led to iong term if not permanent degradation. The introduction of other animals which have become feral, such as pigs, dogs, foxes and cats has been less than helpful to our commercial ,livestock industries and our wildlife. These problems are particularly relevant for the . future. Australga has a remarkable record of excluding or quickly eliminating ma,jor exotic livestock diseases, but there is always going to be a challenge. Substantially increased tourism, reduced 'flying times and economic pressures on staff members and procedures have so far been counter balanced by improved disease detection procedures and human diligence. iiowever, a constant threat. is that. an outbreak of an exotic disease could have an enormous impact on our export markets. Livestock producers continually have increased efficiency of on-farm production to maintain local 'viability and ex-port competitiveness. The industries also have undergone substantial changes which make their products competitive overseas. In recent year s there has been progress through improved methods of packaging and marketing wool, a national language NMEX~) for describing livestockaproducts . 1 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 5 and adoption of complex procedures for shipping of live animals. 'The challenge for the future is not only in continuing these developments, but ,in looking for new ones. For example, adding value to our raw products before ex-port could have importance for employment, balance of payments, reduction of transport costs and competitive reasons. The trend towards processing of raw wool to the top stage, the development of new cuts of meat, and the developent of larger, iean sheep and goats for live exports, all appear to be areas for future expansion. DIVERSIFICA'I'ION IN THE LIVESTOCK INDUS~I~ important factors. One is a strong world market for with the rapid development of a good quality product the potential for grazing goats to control a range of enhance pastures for other livestock. Achieving this competition, while reducing the need for application at a time when there is such emphasis on maintaining virtually free from pesticides. The most noticeable development in recent years, at least in New South Wales, has been the emergence of a dynamicgoat industry. This statement could be challenged because goat production, particularly for mohair, has begun and ebbed previously. However, the present developents are occuring across a broad front of fibre, meat, leather and milk production and appear to be supported by two cashmere and mohair coupled in Australia, The other is important weeds and so with a minimum of grazing of herbicides, is important high quality products will there be a diversion of land from existing to new industries'?. One can a&e that market forces will decide how resources will be applied and what return will be gained. However, many of these potential developments could be important as b sburces of employment and export income. But which Government Department or, industry funding wy will make the initial risky investment? There are ' promising signs with the Western Awtralian interest in fat-tailed sheep. , production and in the New South Wales Department's supportfor assessing the + ' , - /. potential of goat production. _' . . . 9 I Diversificationcan be encouraged by> pcsitive market develobti. .Asdemand -'for large &an.wethers aslive sheep for exports and the const&temphas~s on reducing fat in&ally marketed lamb carcases are motives .for,importing large framed meatsheep types. . The%port of Texel,' (Columbia orC3xfordDo~ seems a .* realisticstep which surely'will receive impetus in the nearf~ture~ To date any positivemovk to impor*t newsheep breeds has been concentrate&on fecundity as '.~~t~ibutereEbdyfdrmarrkedimprovementin~e auStraG& sheep~industry, partictily the prime lamb section.. The threat of importing breeds with black .; wool, the cost of quarantine and evaluation, and the selection of stock of ' ,adequate genetic merit can be cited asproblems, but tie surely not insurmountable. Toalarge.extentour research funding procedures, Government supporting or agenciesand commercialagriculturalcompaniesaregearedto irivesting in the established livestock industries. Whilst it would be imprudent. to advocate~directing existingfunds and support from established industries, there is clearly a need for investment innew industries which can either offer There is a whole range of other livestock industries which may develop further. Deer production to supply a potentially large local market, carpet wool production to reduce imports, sheep cheese to reduce imports and develop exprts, geese and other poultry meat products such as squab, pheasant and quail to satisfy the local market and develop exports, fat tailed sheep for specialized export markets, buffalo and crocodile meat for the specialized restaurant trade; the list is considerable. A question for agricultural science in Australia, is how much effort should be directed towards these industries? Will they compete with, or compliment, existing livestock industries in terms of&cal and/or overseas markets? Will they be developed by hobby farmers or full time producers using land which is otherwise unsuitable for sheep, beef or dairy production, or 6 Proc; Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 diversification r`or esistim producers or incentives for people FGishing to . participate in agricultural prduction. This cannot all come from entrepreneurs, hence State advisory services, teaching institutions and Commonl;ealth funding bodies all need to consider ways of in.jectiq finances and/or resources into the evaluation and development of new or potentially different livestock industries. There is a paradox in that recent technological advances have accelerated at an almost exznential rate at a time iqhen the public and seemingly Governments, have become somewhat sceptical of what science can offer society. Consequently, in the agricultural areas there has been a growing emphasis on the need for studies; developents or services to be supported or evaluated in terms of hoI< much, `and hoI< soon, they can return earnings for any money expended. 'I'his approach is understandable and acceptable enough if it were not for the fact that many advances in agricultural and associated technology have come from chance findings or imaginative ideas. There needs to be support for research based on innovatory ideas and for producers, advisors and teachers who are willing to try nelj approaches. Hopefully, this concept has reasonable support in a wide enough representation of teaching and research groups, and particularly in societies such AM?, to ensure that Australian agricultural science will continue to generate, test and eventually apply findings based on innovatory ideas, and not just those which can readily be assessed to have a high potential for immediate returns. Genetic engineering is the most publicised development of recent years, and there is no doubt that considerable research resources will be expended in this area over the next few years. The developent of vaccines for disease control, the control of internal and external parasites and the modification of digestion and growth characteristics, particularly of ruminant animals, are likely areas of progress. Initially the relatively cheap production of compounds such as growth hormone through genetically engineered microbes will probably find practical application. Eventually, the need for repeated dosing will be overcome by slow release technology or manipulation of the genetic ma&w of livestock to permanentlyalter their potential for producing compounds such as growth hormones. It is unfortunate that University, BIRO and state department research is not more closely integrated. If it was, there is little doubt that Australia . could lead the world in the application of genetic engineering to dryland farming, particularly for the extensive livestock industries. . Many other developments provide exciting possibilities for the future.. tie area is electronics fdr identification of stock and products, implants to monitor body ' temperature changes for heat detection or disease control, and for auto&tic feeding;reduction of labour in stock handling, data processing and communications. The further development of hormones for controlled breeding of livestock, manipulation of growth rate, carcass composition and milk production, will greatly'affect efficiency of production in most livestock industries. Chemical control of defleecing and imuno-castration will change husbandry practices, andtwinning in cattle will lead to the development of a h*ole new set of husbandry and management procedures. Robotics may well change the nature and. cost of shearing, deboning and other labour intensive processes associated with ., livestock products. Reproductive manipulations in the form of embryo transfer, multiple ovulations, egg splitting and embryo and semen storage have all made rapid progress. In only a few years it is now theoretically possible for a cow to give birth to herself through egg splitting and implantation of frozen embryos; one can only assume that the next few years will see remarkable developments. The economics` .of Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 7 selection purposes and application of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer techniques for masimising the impact of top producing lines. The 'beef, ~001 and prime lamb industries are now following this trend with sound development of national performeince recording schemes Breedplan, ~oolplan and Lambplan. applying these techniques beyono the research tooi stage or even beyond the entrepreneurs wishi= to capitalize on unique or top produciw iivestock, is more challenging. The industry adoption to varyi- degrees of ultra-sound detection of sheep foetuses and related management systems is nowhere near Alvin to the intensific- cation in the pig and poultry industries, but it is a step for the extensive livestock industries. .-% it has 'been for a long time, the dairy industry- is more intensive than the sheep and beef industries, and more involved with artificial breeding and herd improvement schemes, record keeping for All these developments will require continuing substantial research imput. Also they will require evaluation in commercial situations and in many cases the applied research and extension programmes may need to be technically more detailed than in the past. In fact, advisory work and consultancy will `become increasingly challenging areas. Economic pressures on producers and the increasing range of tapes, videos, satellites and computers for communication, will mean either specialist advisors or periodic specialized training for general advisors. CCNSIDEXATIONS FOR IWUW LIVKSWK PHODUCTIM The livestock industries will need to continue their attention to animal welfare and environmental pollution issues. This will mean not .just the creation of a good image by gradual modification of husbandry and handling methods, but genuine attempts to devise new methods of housing intensive stock such as pigs . and poultry, and finding alternative methods for mulesiw of sheep, dehorning of cattle and castration of young animals. There are improvements to be made not just in community relationships and image, but in financial returns from reduced bruising during handling and transport, and possibly in meat quality through reduced darkening of meat caused by stress. When market size is clearly limited, as it isin the dairy and egg industries, the concept of quota production'is sometimes imposed and subsequently leadsto the present situation of steadily reducing producer numbers in the particular industry. Numbers also fluctuate with changes in the margLn between costs and returnsleading to the present decline in .pig farmer numbers on the one.hand,. and increase in sheep pr&ucers *on the other.As al&,' kfuojmnt pricesinone'industry attract additionaJ producers an&r result ,in increased stock ~nu&ers.. The, concernmust be that productionwill rise markedly over a number of years and put downward pressure on prices. Such is the situation~ith the wool industry, although market watchers .are suggesting that beef, prices. will come underpressure in the early 1990's probably+'a few years r before wool prices come under pressure. It is important for us to accept that international prices for commodities such as bee$ can be markedly affected by . ,: factors largely unrelated to agriculture.. If American interestrates fall for whatever reason, their capital investmeni in lot feeding becomes more attractive , and over a few years can reflect in the relative price and competitiveness of our beef. Equally so, internal factors can have an adverse affect on sections of local livestock industries, such as the relative disadvantage to the red meat industries of restricted trading hours. Australia has relied, to a very great extent, on research funding being provided by Governments or by.iridustry funding bodies managinglevies from producers with match$ng Government grants. There has been a slow move tow&x& entrepreneurs and 8 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. VoZ. 17 private companies funding research on a contract basis. This continues to '& viewed cautiously by many producers and scientists who are sceptical of patents, contracts and tied funding. However, if we follow overseas trends in this, as in many other facets of society, then there is every likelihood that contract research on 'behalf of private companies and eventually industry funding bodies, will be more common in Australia. As already expressed, my own concern with this developent is the possibility that innovative research will be restricted even further. There are many possible developments for the livestock industries; hoT<ever, it is certain that the next few years will see further exploitation of hyrid vigor through planned crossbreeding in the beef, meat sheep and possibly Merino sheep industries. Similarly, we can assume that computers will play an increasing role through information transfer, databases, financial and management packages, and models to'assist decision making in everything from selective breeding and nutritional management to t&ole farm management and alternative entevrize comparisons. Less encouraging is the likelihood that following the current pesticide issue there will be further attention, at least by some overseas , markets, to compounds such as growth promotants, antibiotics and heavy metals. In the areas more favoured in terms of soils and rainfall, livestock production has expanded in conjunction with pasture improvement and problems have arisen such as soil erosion, acid soils and salination in various areas. These problems will require continuing research; however, they appear minimal compared to the plight of much of our rangelands in semi-arid and arid areas. Overstocking, burning, clearing and rabbits have all contributed, not just to the demise of native pastures, but also to soil erosion from both wind and tqater. The problem is a national one which will only be properly dealt with if Governments are prepared to provide special finances. Returns from livestock production in' these areas are far too low to warrant investment by private landholders or industry funding bodies, and the work is too long-term for most institutions or agencies unless there is a guarantee of long-term funding. . ., The future for a society such as the Australian Society of Animal Production is encouraging not just as a means of scientists, advisors and-producers getting together to consider technical presentations of recent findings and esperiences. There is a real challenge for a Society, such as ours, to maintain scientific standards in the livestock sciences no matter hhat the economic restraints, and to encourage young scientists and innovative producers to try neti ideas and to strive for increased and more efficient livestock production no matter what the immediate market prospects. We have to accept that large components of our livestock industries, particularly wool and beef, are related to overseas , finances and fashions, and livestock producers can have little,influence on them. We have to rely on marketing experts,. financiers and politicians to do their .job. For our part, there is a large number of problems to be solved and an even greater array of opportunities to be tested. Much has been achieved in 200 years * of livestock production\ in Australia but more than enough challenges'remain for a generation or two yet of keen scientists, enthusiastic advisors and innovatory pr@ucers,'