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The Department of Agricultural Sciences consists of animal science, plant science and farm management and agribusiness staff members.
The range of research conducted is quite extensive including: conversion of forests into pasture, alternative dryland pasture species, grain legume agronomy, sustainability in farming systems, nitrogen fixation and nitrogen cycling, shelter on dairy farms, economic viability of NZ farming systems, animal nutrition, immunology etc.
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Publication Restricted Dry matter accumulation of three cultivars of turnip (Brassica campestris L.) sown in Canterbury on five sowing dates(Lincoln University, 1997) Collie, B. N.Dry matter production of three cultivars of Brassica campestris L. (cv Appin, York Globe, and Green Globe) sown on five dates (28 January, 11 February, 26 February, 11 March, 27 March) was studied in the field during one cropping season. Sowing date had a large effect on maximum dry matter production, with yields of 1540 g DM m⁻² to 595 g OM m⁻² being recorded for plots sown on 28 January and 27 March respectively. Maximum yields of 1105, 1185, and 1327 g OM m⁻² were achieved by cultivars of Appin, York Globe, and Green Globe respectively. Dry matter accumulation was linearly related to intercepted PAR for all sowing dates. However, there was some variation in efficiencies of dry matter accumulation, with 11 February sown crops producing 3.29 g OM MJ PAR' intercepted, compared to 2.5, 2.3, and 1.6 g OM MJ PAR' for the 26 February, 11 March, and 27 March sown crops. There was no difference in efficiency of dry matter production between cultivars, at most sewings. However, Green Globe was more efficient at producing dry matter at the last sowing. Highest yielding crops also had the best WMAGR of about 21 gDMm⁻²d⁻¹. Time to canopy closure was faster for crops sown on 11 February, and 26 February than for the later sowing date of 11 March (58 DAS v's 82 DAS). Plots sown on the 27 March never achieved canopy closure. Reduced canopy development was shown to occur due to a reduced rate of leaf appearance and leaf expansion. Appearance rate differed over a 53% range for the four sowing dates tested, with new leaves appearing every 2.9 days (plants sown on 11 February), 3.6 days per leaf (sown 26 February), 4.7 days per leaf (sown 11 March) and 5.6 days per leaf (sown 27 March). Comparisons between sowing dates in thermal time showed no difference (p>0.05), with one leaf appearing every 40°C.d. Final leaf length was greatest in higher order leaves. Leaf 2 expanded to 35% of the total length achieved by leaf 6 from plants sown on 11 February. Varying temperatures caused large differences (p<0.05) in the duration (days) of expansion between sowing date, with plants sown on the 11 February requiring an additional 8 days for complete expansion of leaf 6. When expressed in thermal time above a base temperature (0°C), individual leaves showed no difference (p<0.05) in the duration of linear growth with leaf 2 requiring 323.8 °C.d for expansion verses 346. 7 of leaf 6. No difference was observed in growth rate between sowing dates for the expansion of leaf 2. The results are discussed in relation to the determination of phenological development by temperature and radiation, and their impact on the growth of turnips.Publication Restricted Early growth of chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) under various environmental conditions: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Horticultural Science (Honours) at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 1997) Foley, Lynette MaryThree experiments were conducted to examine the early growth and nodulation responses of Kabuli chickpea to: a) Low 'starter dose' nitrogen (0, 15, and 30 kgN/ha) under increasing water stressed conditions, with different inoculation methods (dipped roots, solution, solid peat) (trial 1); b) Increasing nitrate concentrations (0, 1, 2.5, 5 Mol NO₃- m⁻³) with different inoculation rates (0, 1x, 4x) under non-water-stressed conditions (trial 2); c) Applied nitrogen (0-90 kgN/ha) with increasing inoculation rates (field trial). Water stress had increasingly negative effects on all plant DW components, except for increasing root DW by 27%, 18 DAS. At final harvest (49 DAS), shoot, root, nodule, and DWs were reduced 65, 20, and 73% respectively. Root:shoot was consistently greater in stressed plants (70, 53, and 84%, at 18, 34 and 49 DAS). Interactions between nitrogen and irrigation (affecting plant and root DWs, 18 DAS) implied that reduced early growth due to mild water stress may be partially offset by nitrogen fertiliser through greater root (but not shoot) growth. However, at 34 DAS), water-stressed total plant DW did not respond to nitrogen, whereas total plant DWs of fully irrigated plants increased by =38% at both 15 and 30 kgN/ha. Inoculation method had little effect. Shoot DW's were increased with increasing nitrogen concentration (11 and 16 % at 15 and 30 kgN/ha, 49 DAS; 41, 85 and 148%, at 1, 2.5, and 5 Mol NO₃- m⁻³, 43 DAS). Rootshoot decreased with increasing nitrogen concentration at all harvests, except at 43 DAS.Item Open Access Light regulates secreted metabolite production and antagonistic activity in Trichoderma(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-01) Esquivel-Naranjo, Edgardo Ulises; Mancilla-Diaz, Hector; Marquez-Mazlin, Rudi; Alizadeh, Hossein; Kandula, Diwakar; Hampton, John; Mendoza-Mendoza, ArtemioSecondary metabolism is one of the main mechanisms Trichoderma uses to explore and colonize new niches, and 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6-PP) is an important secondary metabolite in this process. This work focused on standardizing a method to investigate the production of 6-PP. Ethanol and ethyl acetate were both effective solvents for quantifying 6-PP in solution and had limited solubility in potato–dextrose–broth media. The 6-PP extraction using ethyl acetate provided a rapid and efficient process to recover this metabolite. The 6-PP was readily produced during the development of Trichoderma atroviride growing in the dark, but light suppressed its production. The 6-PP was purified, and its spectrum by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy was identical to that of commercial 6-PP. Light also induced or suppressed other unidentified metabolites in several other species of Trichoderma. The antagonistic activity of T. atroviride was influenced by light, as suppression of plant pathogens was greater in the dark. The secreted metabolite production on potato–dextrose–agar was differentially regulated by light, indicating that Trichoderma produced several metabolites with antagonistic activity against plant pathogens. Light has an important influence on the secondary metabolism and antagonistic activity of Trichoderma, and this trait is of key relevance for selecting antagonistic Trichoderma strains for plant protection.Item Open Access An economic model evaluating competitive wheat genotypes for weed suppression and yield in a wheat and canola rotation(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-01) Nordblom, Thomas L; Gurusinghe, Saliya; Hendriks, Pieter-Willem; Rebetzke, Greg J; Weston, Leslie ARecurrent selection for early vigour traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has provided an opportunity to generate competitive biotypes to suppress agronomically important weeds. Quantifying the potential benefits of competitive genotypes, including yield improvement and reduced frequency of herbicide application when incorporated into a long-term rotation, is vital to increase grower adoption. In this simple economic model, we evaluated a weed-suppressive early vigour genotype utilising on-farm experimental results and simulation analysis to predict gross margins for a seven-year wheat-canola rotation in southeastern Australia. The model applied a local weather sequence and predicted wheat production potential, costs and benefits over time. An early vigour wheat genotype was compared to commercial wheat cultivars for weed control, yield and actual production cost. With respect to weed control, three scenarios were evaluated in the model: standard herbicide use with a commercial cultivar (A), herbicide use reduced moderately by inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and elimination of the postharvest grass herbicide (B) or inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and withdrawal of both postharvest grass and broadleaf herbicides (C). Cost savings for the use of a competitive wheat genotype ranged from 12 AUD/ha in scenario B to 40 AUD/ha in scenario C, for a total saving of 52 AUD/ha. The model generated annual background gross margins, which varied from 300 AUD/ha to 1400 AUD/ha based on historical weather conditions, production costs and crop prices over the 30-year period from 1992 to 2021. The benefits of lower costs for each of the three scenarios are presented with rolling seven-year average wheat–canola rotation gross margins over the 30-year period. The limitations of this model for evaluation of weed suppression and cost benefits are discussed, as well as relative opportunities for adoption of early vigour traits in wheat.Item Open Access Impact of year and genotype on benzoxazinoids and their microbial metabolites in the rhizosphere of early-vigour wheat genotypes in Southern Australia(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-01) Weston, Paul A; Parvin, Shahnaj; Hendriks, Pieter-Willem; Gurusinghe, Saliya; Rebetzke, Greg J; Weston, Leslie AWheat (Triticum aestivum) is grown on more arable acreage than any other food crop and has been well documented to produce allelochemicals. Wheat allelochemicals include numerous benzoxazinoids and their microbially transformed metabolites that actively suppress growth of weed seedlings. Production and subsequent release of these metabolites by commercial wheat cultivars, however, has not yet been targeted by focussed breeding programmes seeking to develop more competitive crops. Recently, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation (CSIRO), through an extensive recurrent selection programme investment, released numerous early-vigour wheat genotypes for commercial use, but the physiological basis for their improved vigour is under investigation. In the current study, we evaluated several early-vigour genotypes alongside common commercial and heritage wheat cultivars to assess the impact of improved early vigour on the production and release of targeted benzoxazinoids by field-grown wheat roots over a two-year period. Using UPLC coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS QQQ), we quantified common wheat benzoxazinoids and their microbially produced metabolites (aminophenoxazinones) in soil collected from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of wheat plants over two growing seasons in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The benzoxazolinone MBOA and several aminophenoxazinones were readily detected in soil samples, but actual soil concentrations differed greatly between years and among genotypes. In contrast to 2019, the concentration of aminophenoxazinones in wheat rhizosphere soil was significantly elevated in 2020, a year receiving adequate rainfall for optimal wheat growth. Aminophenoxazinones were detected in the rhizosphere of early-vigour genotypes and also parental lines exhibiting weed suppression, suggesting that improved early vigour and subsequent weed competitiveness may be related to increased root exudation and production of microbial metabolites in addition to changes in canopy architecture or other root-related early-vigour traits. As previously reported, MBOA was detected frequently in both the rhizoplane and rhizosphere of wheat. Depending on the year and genotype, we also observed enhanced biotransformation of these metabolites to several microbially transformed aminophenoxazinones in the rhizosphere of many of the evaluated genotypes. We are now investigating the role of early-vigour traits, including early canopy closure and biomass accumulation upon improved competitive ability of wheat, which will eventually result in more cost-effective weed management.Publication Open Access Coopworth hogget and lamb liveweight gain on regenerative and conventional dryland pastures : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Holt, BreannaRegenerative systems have been proposed as a potential greenhouse gas mitigation strategy for New Zealand agricultural systems. They focus on a holistic approach which encompasses, plant, animal, soil and community health. Regenerative agriculture principles claim to naturally increase carbon storage, soil fertility and biodiversity while producing the equivalent harvestable product of conventional systems. This dissertation reports on the liveweight gain of Coopworth hoggets and lambs grazing conventional and regenerative dryland pastures under high (20 mg/kg) and low (10 mg/kg) Olsen P giving four treatment groups: high conventional (HC), low conventional (LC), high regenerative (HR) and low regenerative (LR). The research period was within the establishment phase of the ongoing regenerative agriculture dryland experiment at Lincoln University. Four 2-ha farmlets, of 20 paddocks each, were established between 10 December 2021 and 16 March 2023. Grazing management and pasture species were the main attributes under investigation. Animals under regenerative management grazed multi-species forages (>8 species), under high intensity, short duration, with high residual, rotational grazing. Whereas, conventional grazing management was rotational, with duration and rotation length based on pasture cover. Differences in animal liveweight gain (LWG), were explained by the pasture production and quality for each of the two Coopworth flocks (ewe hoggets and then ewe lambs) which grazed between 11 September 2022 and 3 August 2023. The first ewe hogget flock grazed between 11 September 2022 and 3 March 2023. These animals were replaced with new season ewe lambs from 3 March to 3 August 2023. Conventional treatments produced the greatest LWG. The Coopworth hoggets and lambs grazed on conventional pastures accumulated 42 to 60 (hoggets) kg LWG/ha and 15 to 28 (lambs) kg LWG/ha more than those on RA treatments. This difference was attributed to greater crude protein content (20% CA, compared with 15% RA) and lower neutral detergent fibre (40% CA, compared with 46% RA) due to increased legume in the lucerne-based conventional diet. This meant animals met their daily intake requirements sooner which enabled increased total intake, due to increased rate of rumination. Pasture production and quality were affected by water stress in this summer dry rainfed environment. Pastures were shown to be water stressed from 13 November 2022, when 157 mm actual soil moisture deficit was reached, until March 2023. During autumn and winter 2023 pasture grew based only on rainfall. Soil water had not recharged until July 2023. There was no effect on pasture quality or legume production during the experimental period due to Olsen P treatments, however, further research over time is required to confirm these results.Publication Restricted Growth and nodulation of autumn sown chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as affected by additional nitrogen: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Horticultural Science (Honours) at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 1992) Stokes, Jo-Anne RuthTwo glasshouse experiments and a field experiment were carried out to examine the growth and nodulation response of inoculated Kabuli and Desi chickpea to application of nitrogen. In the glasshouse experiments, a range of nitrogen levels were applied (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, 50 and 100 mol N m⁻³). Leaf area and shoot dry matter production for both chickpea types, and nodule dry weight for Kabuli chickpea were measured. In the field experiment, autumn sown Kabuli and Desi chickpea shoot and nodule dry matter were measured to determine the response of chickpea to application of 100 kg N ha⁻¹. Application of nitrogen increased leaf area and shoot dry weight in the first glasshouse experiment by 36 and 42% respectively but had little effect in the second. Nodule dry weight of Kabuli chickpea decreased with increased application of nitrogen in both experiments by 42 % and 45 % respectively. In the field, application of nitrogen had little effect on shoot or nodule dry weight. It was concluded that autumn sown chickpea are able to survive a Canterbury winter, but survival of Rhizobium bacterium may be poor. Application of nitrogen may increase shoot growth in the longer term but has little effect initially. Nodule dry weight decreases with increased applied nitrogen. If nitrogen fertilizer is to be applied, spring and summer application is recommended.Publication Restricted A study of factors influencing the solids not fat of milk with particular reference to the effect of feeds having oestrogenic activity : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science(Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, 1952) Vial, Vivian. EdwardThe value of milk in the National dietary cannot be too strongly emphasized; no single food is nutritionally complete but milk must be regarded as a product which most nearly attains the ideal. There is a growing public awareness of the role of milk as a "protective'• foodstuff and as a supplement to the normal carbohydrate-rich diet of the average New Zealand household. In the past, milk quality has been synonomous with keeping quality and the bacteriological status of the milk passed on to the consumer, but more recently- through the medium of the press, Government departments and local bodies, the concept of nutritive status has started to assume the importance it warrants; even so, to the public in general, the value of the various milk components is only vaguely appreciated; New Zealand's liquid milk supply has been the Cinderella of the Dairy Industry for too many years since statistically it accounts for only 9% of the Dominion's total butterfat production.Publication Restricted Some effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas on the nitrogen nutrition of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) in the University of Canterbury(Lincoln College, University of Canterbury, 1978) Buwalda, J. G.Vesicular-arbuscular {VA) mycorrhizas are widespread in nature, occurring on more plant species than any other form of mycorrhiza {Gerdeman, 1975). Their importance in plant nutrition, particularly phosphorus nutrition, is now well established (Mossa, 1973a), and VA mycorrhizas may significantly influence the growth and composition of natural communities in soils of low available phosphorus. Vesicular-arbuscu:lar mycorrhizas have also been found to significantly influence the growth of agricultural crop (Khan, 1975b) and pasture (Crush, 1976) plants~ Different species of mycorrhizal fungi enhance the growth and phosphorus nutrition of the hos·t to varying extents, and inoculation of plants with more efficient species of mycorrhizal fungi would therefore appear profitable.Item Open Access Validation of a remote sampling sensor for measuring urine volume and nitrogen concentration in grazing dairy cattle(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-10) Mangwe, MC; Beale, N; Beckett, P; Tey, L; Curtis, J; Burgess, R; Bryant, RachealThe purpose of this research was to validate a urine sensor (Lincoln University PEETER V2.0, Canterbury, New Zealand) that records the time and volume of urination events for dairy cows in addition to collecting a proportional urine sample from all urination events. Sixteen multiparous Holstein × Jersey mid-lactating cows (101 ± 5 days in milk, 498 ± 24.2 kg body weight, 26.2 ± 3.07 kg/d milk yield; mean ± standard deviation) were allocated herbage diets ranging in protein and sodium content to generate a range of urine volumes and urine nitrogen (UN) concentrations. Total collection of individual urination events occurred during a 72-h measurement period where PEETER V2.0 sensors were attached to cows. A mixed model ANOVA using lme4 package (version 1.1-35.5) in R (version 4.3.3) were used to compare the means. The average urine event size was 2.65 ± 1.1 L for total collection by observers and 2.68 ± 1.1 L as recorded by the sensor (mean ± standard deviation; p = 0.730). The urine nitrogen concentration was 5.76 ± 1.2 g N/L for samples collected by observers and 5.85 ± 1.3 g N/L for the samples collected by the sensor (p = 0.583). The calculated UN excretion was 156 ± 45.1 g/day for direct measurements and 162 ± 40.0 g/day for the sensor (p = 0.539. Contrasts with simultaneously measured data were undertaken using Lin’s Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and a Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Correlations between the actual values and sensor values were strong, with little to moderate variability in the urine volume (CCC = 0.936, r = 0.937; n = 222), UN concentration (CCC = 0.840, r = 0.837, n = 48) and total UN excretion (CCC = 0.827, r = 0.836, n = 24). Considering the findings, the PEETER V2.0 urine sensor has the potential to reliably measure urine volumes and UN concentrations for estimations of the UN excretion of dairy cattle under grazing systems.Publication Open Access Behavioural traits to identify subclinical diseases of grazing ruminants : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Fan, BowenAnimal welfare and wellbeing can be improved through the early detection and diagnosis of disease. Subclinical infections in particular can be difficult to determine, however, animals may demonstrate subtle changes in behaviour. These changes related to eating, ruminating, inactive behaviour and active behaviour can potentially be identified and measured through sensor technologies. This thesis composes of a series of studies designed to explore changes in behavioural patterns of grazing ruminants experimentally challenged with subclinical infections using commercially available accelerometers. The objective of the first trial (Chapter 3) was to investigate the changes in grazing, ruminating and activities of grazing dairy calves infected with the internal gastrointestinal nematodes Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora and determine the behavioural patterns after receiving an anthelmintic treatment, using neck mounted sensor collars. At Day -12 relative to an experimental infection, animals were dewormed and fitted with Allflex EveryCow collars which can identify mutually exclusive behaviours such as eating, ruminating, resting, walking, medium activity, high activity and behaviour related to heavy breathing. On Day 0, they were allocated into one of two treatments, viz, Infected, in which animals were orally dosed weekly for three weeks with a 1:1 mixture of 20,000 O. ostertagi and C. oncophora L3 larvae, or Control in which animals remained uninfected, and grazed a new pasture that had not previously been grazed. Animals were rotationally grazed as a mob with weekly shifts and each break back-fenced to reduce the risk of self-infection. On Day 49, to assess the behavioural response following anthelmintic treatment, half of calves in each treatment were orally administered with the Matrix Oral triple combination anthelmintic and continued to be monitored, using a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design, viz, Control without Drench (COD), Control with Drench (CD), Infected without Drench (IOD), Infected with Drench (ID). Results showed nematode challenge increased daily eating time (+14.8 minutes per day, mins/d, P = 0.007) and reduced daily ruminating time (-9.8 mins/d, P = 0.001) and daily mid-activity duration (-5.3 mins/d, P = 0.023) in grazing calves. After 49-day challenge of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection, the mean faecal egg counts (FEC) of Infected and Control groups were 700 ± 181 and 33 ± 18 eggs/gram, respectively. Furthermore, there was a lack of a consistently high level of parasitism in the calves. To help determine if there was any potential for subtle changes in behaviour to be detected, three animals at the extremes of each of the initial intended treated groups, viz, animals in IOD and 3 animals in ID with the highest FEC and three calves in COD and four calves in CD with highest body weight gain were selected. Parasitism increased FEC and decreased daily live weight gain (643.7 g/day vs 790.6 g/day for parasitized animals and control animals respectively, P = 0.029) from Day 20 to Day 49. There were non-significant negative correlations between log10 (FEC+1) and behavioural measurements for daily eating duration (r = -0.085, P = 0.501), daily walking duration (r = -0.16, P = 0.191), daily mid-activity duration (r = -0.18, P = 0.155), daily high activity duration (r = -0.060, P = 0.636), and daily heavy breathing duration (r = -0.17, P = 0.174) with non-significant positive correlations for daily ruminating duration (r = 0.018, P = 0.889) and daily rest duration (r = 0.16, P = 0.197). In the parasitized animals with the high-level output of FEC, nematode infection significantly increased their mean daily eating duration (+34.6 mins/d, P = 0.020), compared with their uninfected counterparts, and had no effect on mean daily ruminating duration (-18.2 mins/d, P = 0.737), mean daily walking duration (-14.4 mins/d, P = 0.598), mean daily mid-activity duration (-10.3 mins/d, P = 0.498), mean daily high activity duration (-7.2 mins/d, P = 0.744). Moreover, nematode infection increased eating time during cooler periods of the day (+1.7 mins/h from 0400 to 0800 hours, +1.5 mins/h from 2000 to 2300 hours) and decreased in the early morning (-0.7 mins/h from 0000 to 0300 hours) and in the afternoon (-1.5 mins/h from 1300 to 1700 hours) (P < 0.001), and reduced the duration of mid-activity during most times of the day (-0.5 mins/h from 0000 to 0700 hours, -0.2 mins/h from 1100 to 1300 hours, -0.2 mins/h from 1500 to 2300 hours, and +0.2 mins/h from 0800 to 1000 hours, P = 0.007). In parasitized animals post anthelmintic drenching, heavy breathing duration was decreased (-0.1 mins/h) from 0200 to 0500 hours and then increased (P = 0.010) during most time of the day (from 0600 to 0900 hours, from 1100 to 1600 hours and from 2200 to 0100 hours) with fluctuations from 1700 to 2100 hours. In control animals post anthelmintic drenching, walking duration was reduced (P = 0.010) during early morning from 0100 to 0700 hours (-0.4 mins/h) and at dusk from 1700 to 1800 hours (-0.6 mins/h), and increased from 0800 to 1600 hours (+0.3 mins/h) and in the late evening from 1900 to 0000 hours (-0.2 mins/h), while heavy breathing duration was increased (P = 0.018) during most times of the day (+0.1 mins/h from 0500 to 0900 hours, +0.2 mins/h from 1100 to 0000 hours). Unfortunately due to an outbreak on Mycoplasma bovis on the research farm the first study was required to be terminated after only a short-time post-drenching. Due to biosecurity requirements continuing investigations in cattle was not an option and it was decided to instead use sheep as the species of choice for the remainder of the studies. A paucity of commercially available sensors for sheep meant that alternatives must be found and validated. Of these, the Cowmanager sensor tags were chosen due to their relative size and weight and possible suitability for a sheep ear. However, these tags had not previously been evaluated in sheep. The second trial (Chapter 4) was aimed to determine if the Cowmanager tags could provide an accurate and meaningful representation of the behaviour of sheep. In order to do this, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge model was used which provides a predictable and consistent short-term change in animal behaviour such as lethargy, and inappetence without long-term negative consequences. At recruitment (Day -10), twenty female Coopworth lambs of 8-10 months (mean live weight = 38.63 ± 2.04 kg) were weighed and fitted with CowManager SensOor ear tags which can identify mutually exclusive activities of five categories: eating, ruminating, inactive behaviour, active behaviour and highly active behaviour, and allocated within live weight strata to one of two treatments, respectively receiving 0 or 0.5 μg/kg body weight of endotoxin LPS with an experimental design of 2 × 2 Latin square. On Day 0, the lambs in the LPS group were intravenously injected with LPS contained in sterile saline, while the control lambs were intravenously injected with sterile saline solution. Seven lambs (four lambs in the LPS group and three control lambs) were randomly selected and individually marked for visual identification for verification of the behavioural changes. To validate the data between visual observation and sensor recordings, the behaviours of the seven lambs were visually observed and recorded every minute for 60 consecutive minutes for two hours between 0900 hours and 1600 hours within three days around the period of LPS infusion. A week after the first intravenous infusion of LPS, the two groups were swapped and intravenously administered with 0.5 or 0 μg/kg body weight of LPS, and the experimental procedure was repeated for the second period. The behaviours of the same seven lambs previously marked for visual identification was recorded via visual observation based on the same procedure to compare with sensor recordings. LPS infusion elevated rectal temperatures after 4 hours from 39.31℃ to 39.95℃, indicating successful establishment of an acute fever response for comparison between groups (P < 0.001). Results showed there was good agreement between visual observations and sensors for active and not active behaviour, but poor agreement with eating and ruminating time. For each of the five recorded behaviours, time spent eating, ruminating, not active, active and highly active, the accelerometers were able to detect an effect of LPS challenge. Compared with the control, LPS infusion decreased eating time (-6.7 mins/h, P < 0.001), active behaviour (-8.4 mins/h, P < 0.001) and highly active (-2.9 mins/h, P < 0.001) and rumination time (-1.4 mins/h, P = 0.075) and increased inactive behaviour (+16.0 mins/h, P < 0.001) in challenged lambs. This provided validation of the Cowmanager tags for use in sheep. Alkaloids produced by ryegrass endoyphytes are known to cause changes in animal behaviour, inducing heat stress and ryegrass staggers in severe cases. In Chapter 5, the potential for CowManager SensOor ear tags to categorize changes in eating, ruminating and other behavioural activities of grazing lambs exposed to endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass was evaluated. Thirty Coopworth lambs with a mean live weight (± SE) of 33.6 ± 0.46 kg were allocated randomly within live weight strata to either endophyte-free cultivars of ryegrass (Control) or wild type endophyte-infected cultivars of ryegrass pasture (Endophyte). Live weight change, behaviour and incidence of ryegrass staggers were monitored over a 2-month grazing period. Moderately severe staggers (score 4/5) occurred in 40% of lambs in the endophyte treatment with a mean staggers score of 2.33 ± 0.41 (P < 0.001) for the endophyte group at the end of trial. During the period of ryegrass staggers, compared with those grazing the control pasture, lambs in the endophyte group had had no significant difference in eating time (-36.0 mins/d, P = 0.516), time spent being active (+29.9 mins/day, P = 0.556) and being inactive duration (-43.7 mins/day, P = 0.114), but increased time spent ruminating (+40.2 mins/d, P = 0.051). When comparing lambs in the same group with stagger score 4 and those with staggers score 1 or 0 during staggers period, these behavioural differences were even more pronounced though non-significance was presented (-82.2 mins/d for eating, P = 0.073; -62.9 mins/d for being inactive, P = 0.221; +124.0 mins/d for being active, P < 0.001; +48.9 mins/d for ruminating, P = 0.015), indicating that it was not a reflection of the different swards or the physical characteristics. Changes in the pattern of behaviours during staggers period were also evident as reflected in a diurnal alteration of each activity over time of the day. The challenge of toxic alkaloids produced in endophyte-infected ryegrass led to more time eating during cooler period of the day (P < 0.001) and more time being active for compensation during day-time (P < 0.001) as well as more ruminating time during night-time (P < 0.001) and less time being inactive (P < 0.001) and highly active (P < 0.001), especially in the lambs with severe ryegrass staggers. The final trial then compared the effect of a chronic subclinical infection with gastrointestinal nematode parasites on sheep behaviours (Chapter 6). At start of this trial on Day 0, thirty-six Coopworth ram lambs at 8-10 months of age were weighed, fitted with CowManager SensOor ear tags, and randomly allocated within live weight to one of four experimental groups, non-parasite exposure groups (NP), NP1 (n = 9, 34.89 ± 3.93 kg,) and NP2 (n = 9, 34.56 ± 2.82 kg), oral administration of parasites (OP), OP1 (n = 9, 34.89 ± 3.00 kg) and OP2 (n = 9, 34.44 ± 2.94 kg) with a three-times weekly trickle infection for four weeks with the equivalent of 130 Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta L3 larvae per kg live weight (LW) and 80 Trichostrongylus colubriformis L3 larvae per kg LW per day. After 4 weeks of infection, the NP1 group and OP1 group were orally administered once with an anthelmintic. Two weeks later, the NP2 group and OP2 group were orally treated once with the same anthelmintic. GIN infection resulted in a reduction in mean daily eating time (-91.7 mins/d, P = 0.001) and an increase in mean time spent being inactive (+88.4 mins/d, P = 0.001) and active (+7.4 mins/d, P = 0.017) with no differences in mean daily ruminating time (-15.5 mins/d, P = 0.395) and mean daily highly active duration (+12.7 mins/d, P = 0.400). Compared with the control, the animals challenged with nematode infection increased eating time during cooler period of the day (+1.5 mins/h from 2000 to 0200 hours) with less time spent eating during sunrise (-4.7 mins/h) and sunset (-1.7 mins/h) (P < 0.001). Further, compared with the control, the animals infected with nematode reduced daytime ruminating (-0.5 mins/h from 0600 to 1600 hours) and increased ruminating time at dusk (+0.5 mins/h from 1700 to 1900 hours) and in the evening (+0.8 mins/h from 2100 to 0000 hours) (P < 0.001). In addition, compared with the control, nematode infection increased inactive time of parasitized animals in the early morning/after sunset with a reduction during the late afternoon (-0.6 mins/h from 1400 to 1800 hours) and late evening (-1.1 mins/h from 2200 to 0100 hours) (P < 0.001), increased active duration in the early morning (+1.2 mins/h from 0400 to 0700 hours) with reductions in the late morning (-0.2 mins/h from 1000 to 1200 hours) and from late afternoon to evening (-0.3 mins/h from 1500 to 2200 hours) (P < 0.001), and increased highly active duration during most times of the day (+0.6 mins/h from 0300 to 1800 hours) with a decrease in the evening (-1.1 mins/h from 1900 to 0200 hours) (P < 0.001). Compared with the control animals, for the infected animals, anthelmintic drenching increased eating time during most of the daytime +1.6 mins/h with a decrease during cooler times of the day (-2.4 mins/h from 2000 to 0300 hours) (P < 0.001), increased night-time ruminating (+1.3 min/h from 2000 to 0200 hours) with an increase in the early morning (-1.1 mins/h from 0300 to 0800 hours) and in the afternoon (-1.0 mins/h from 1300 to 1800 hours) (P < 0.001), increased inactive duration in the morning (+0.9 mins/h from 0200 to 1000 hours) and in the afternoon (+1.3 mins/h from 1200 to 1700 hours) with a decrease in the early evening (P < 0.001), reduced active duration from 0300 to 0500 hours (-0.6 mins/h) and from 0700 to 1400 hours (-1.1 mins/h) with an increase from 1500 to 1800 hours (+0.9 mins/h) and from 2000 to 0200 hours (+0.9 mins/h) (P < 0.001), decreased highly active duration during most of the daytime (-1.1 mins/h from 1000 to 1800 hours) with an increase in the evening (+2.2 mins/h from 1900 to 0100 hours) (P < 0.001). In summary, the results from these trials demonstrate that altered behavioural patterns of grazing animals due to health challenges of diseases or toxins can be detected through commercially available sensor technologies. Acute health challenge in lambs can increase inactive duration and compensate to reduce eating duration, rumination duration, active duration and highly active duration in a short period, whereas chronic endophyte staggers challenge in lambs results in increased daily active duration and daily ruminating duration with a decrease in daily eating duration, daily inactive duration and daily highly active duration. Chronic subclinical parasitic challenge in dairy calves can induce an increase in daily eating duration and daily rest duration, and decrease daily durations of ruminating, walking, mid-activity, high-activity and heavy breathing. However, chronic subclinical nematode challenge in lambs can result in a decrease in daily durations of eating, ruminating and an increase in the daily durations of being inactive, active and highly active. The magnitude and duration of total daily behavioural changes varied under these health challenges. Moreover, both chronic subclinical GIN challenge and chronic challenge of toxic alkaloids in endophyte-infected ryegrass can increase eating time during cool periods of the day, decrease time spent being active during nighttime with an increase in the daytime in grazing lambs at pasture. However, chronic subclinical GIN challenge can increase inactive duration at sunrise and sunset and decrease daytime ruminating and increase ruminating duration in the evening, while chronic challenge of toxic alkaloids can increase ruminating duration with a reduction in inactive duration during most of the day. Consequently, behavioural changes detected by commercially available sensor technologies evaluated in these studies could be applied as a useful and potential tool to identify changes in behavioural patterns of each category under infection challenges of diseases or toxins, indicating animal health status and determining the need of treatments for individuals or a whole mob.Item Open Access A systematic review and meta-analysis of cow-level factors affecting milk urea nitrogen and urinary nitrogen output under pasture-based diets(Elsevier Inc., 2024) Mangwe, Mancoba C; Mason, Winston A; Reed, Charlotte B; Spaans, Olivia K; Pacheco, David; Bryant, RachealWith dairy cattle farming under pressure to lower its environmental footprint it is important to find effective on-farm proxies for evaluation and monitoring of management practices aimed at reducing the risk of nitrogen (N) losses and optimizing N use efficiency of dairy farm systems. Urinary N (UN) is regarded as the most potent source of N emissions. In contrast to confinement systems, there have been few studies from pasture-based systems associating on-farm animal and nutritional factors with UN output. Thus, the aims of this meta-analysis were to collate a database from pasture-based research to: (a) investigate the associations of management, dietary, and animal variables with MUN concentration, and daily UN output; (b) describe the MUN-UN association; and (c) assess whether animal, management, and dietary factors influence the relationship. We developed a data set consisting of 95 observations representing 919 lactating dairy cattle fed pasture-based diets, which was compiled from 32 unique research publications that reported both MUN and UN output. Multi-level, mixed meta-analysis regression techniques were used to analyze the data. Initially, all variables were assessed as the sole fixed effect in a 2-level random effects model, accounting for within publication heterogeneity. Meta-regression techniques were then used to assess the relationship of all variables with MUN and UN output, respectively, accounting for 3 sources of variability: the sampling error of the individual observation, within publication heterogeneity, and among publication heterogeneity. At the univariable level, despite more than 10 dietary, animal, or management variables being significantly associated with MUN, none explained a large amount of the MUN variation. The variables that explained the greatest amount of variation were dietary crude protein (CP) content and the nitrogen: metabolizable energy content ratio, which explained about 33% and 31% of the variation in MUN concentrations, respectively. Combining factors in multiple regressions improved the model fit, such that the variation within publications explained by dietary CP and N intake increased to 40.0% in the final multiple meta-regression model. For UN output, individual variables explained a greater proportion of variance reported among observations, compared with MUN, whereby diet CP content (pseudo R² = 66.1%), N to metabolizable energy intake ratio (pseudo R² = 64.0%), N intake (pseudo R² = 58.3%), and MUN (pseudo R² = 43.5%) explained the greatest amount of the total variation. Milk urea nitrogen, N intake and dry matter intake were associated with UN output in the final multiple meta-regression model. Substantial heterogeneity existed in both MUN and UN among publications, with among publication heterogeneity accounting for 73.4% of all the variation noted in MUN, and 88.6% of all the variation in UN output. As such, the meta-analyses could not predict MUN and UN to any great extent. It is recommended that a consistent approach to measuring and reporting MUN concentrations and UN output is carried out for all future research in pasture-based systems.Item Open Access Comparison of suckling and artificial rearing on calf growth and milk requirements in pastoral dairy systems(CSIRO, 2024-11-07) Bryant, Racheal; Beckett, Paige; Tey, Lucas; Burgess, Riki; Curtis, Jeffery; Heiser, Axel; Turner, Sally-Anne; Hodgkinson, Alison J; Hills, JamesContext. Dairy calf-rearing practises have the potential to influence profitability through milk requirements at rearing, and affect lifetime productivity and market access from an animal-welfare perspective. Aims. The aim of this research was to compare calf growth and milk requirements by using conventional artificial rearing (AR) and restricted milk allocation with AR and high milk allocation or suckled calves. Methods. Forty-five Friesian × Jersey calves were allocated to be either AR on 6 L/calf.day, (ARC) or 12 L/calf.day, (ARH), or suckled with dams in a cow–calf contact system using partial contact (15 h/day, CCC). AR calves were fed, and intake measured, using an automatic feeder, whereas CCC calves had access to their dams between 1500 hours and 0600 hours. Calves were transitioned off milk, once they reached at least 75 kg liveweight (LW), by gradually reducing their milk allocation (AR) or reducing access to their dam (CCC). Key results. Milk consumption for ARH was greater than for ARC calves (382 vs 450 L/calf, P < 0.05), whereas for CCC calves milk-yield difference between dams for the control and suckling groups during the suckling period and over the full season was 706 and 1048 L/cow respectively. There was no difference in weaning weight of calves (87 ± 1.7 kg LW), but, owing to differences in pre-weaning growth rate, age to weaning was youngest (P < 0.05) for CCC (55 days), followed by ARH (62 days) and ARC (73 days). Respective growth rates between birth and weaning (P < 0.001) for CCC, ARH and ARC calves were 0.955, 0.873 and 0.755 ± 0.028 kg/day. Although there was a growth check among CCC calves during the weaning period, there were no post-weaning differences in growth rate among the groups. Conclusions. Increasing milk allowance had the benefit of improving calf pre-weaning growth rate, giving the option of weaning calves either earlier or when heavier. However, milk yield losses under suckling systems may be too high to warrant the elevated pre-weaning growth of calves. Implications. The costs–benefits of high milk allocation or suckling systems need to be ascertained over the lifetime of the animals to assess long-term survival and productivity outcomes.Item Open Access Regenerative management effects on pasture production: Initial data from a dryland farmlet experiment(New Zealand Grassland Association, 2024-10-31) Watson, Kaitlin; Moir, James; Black, Alistair; Moot, DerrickData comparing pasture production in sheep farmlets subject to regenerative or conventional management and high or low soil fertility were collected in the first 1.5 years of a dryland experiment at Lincoln University. The data were retrieved from eight replicates of a 20-replicate design. In those replicates, the regenerative management combined diverse pastures and rotational grazing at high stock densities and frequent shifts. The conventional management combined lucerne pastures rotationally grazed at lower densities and frequencies. The high and low fertility treatments received 64 and 4 kg/ha P fertiliser respectively before sowing in December 2021. For July 2022–June 2023, regenerative management resulted in greater average pasture mass (2.6 versus 1.7 t DM/ha) of different botanical composition (5% prairie grass, 19% tall fescue and meadow fescue, 21% lucerne, 7% chicory, 7% plantain, a total of 10% cocksfoot, timothy, phalaris, white, red and sub clovers, 4% weed and 27% dead versus 70% lucerne, 11% weed and 19% dead) but lower annual pasture yield (8.7 versus 11.5 t DM/ha). Reducing P neither decreased pasture and legume yields nor increased weed. The two managements did not differ in their ability to produce pasture with less P. These initial results provide quantified evidence for farmers making decisions about regenerative agriculture.Item Open Access Pasture formulation for optimised yield and weed suppression under sheep grazing and irrigation in Canterbury(New Zealand Grassland Association, 2024-10-31) Shampasivam, Arulmageswaran; Black, Alistair; Moot, DerrickFarmers need evidence to make decisions about what forage species and how much of each species to use in their pastures. This paper provides data from a study that aimed to formulate a sheep pasture from a diverse pool of six species. At Lincoln University, 69 monocultures and mixtures varying widely in sown number and proportions of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, plantain, white clover, red clover and subterranean clover were examined under sheep grazing for 4 years. Measured pasture functions were annual total herbage and weed yields. On average total yield increased and weed yield decreased with increases in number of species, but species’ proportions determined the optimal pasture. For example, on average six-species mixtures had 1.6 t/ha more total yield and 1.8 t/ha less weed yield than two-species mixtures (12.1 and 3.1 t/ha) at year 1. However, several pastures of equal number of species had above-average total and below-average weed yields. The pasture that maximised yield and weed suppression (14.1 and 0.3 t/ha per annum) had sown proportions of 0.5 ryegrass and 0.25 each of white and red clovers based on seed count; equivalent to 9.7, 1.3 and 9.0 kg/ha for a total sowing rate of 20 kg/ha.Item Open Access Geometry of milk liners affects milking performance in dairy cows(Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation, 2024-09-16) Herath, G; Kudrass, D; Bryant, Racheal; Al-Marashdeh, OmarThe geometry of milk liners may affect milking performance and cow comfort as the milk liner is the only part of the milking machine that comes into contact with the teat. To determine the effect of alternative shape of milk liners we compared square (SQR) vs. the conventional round (RND) teat cup liner on milking performance and comfort of dairy cows. Treatment milk liners were randomly allocated to clusters within each side of the 12 a side double up-herringbone dairy shed in a complete randomised block design over two periods. Milking performance data from a total of 10 065 (late stage of lactation and once-A-day milking frequency, LATE) and 18 048 (early stage of lactation and twice-A-day milking frequency, EARLY) milking events were automatically recorded by a DeLaval milk meter, and separately analysed for LATE and EARLY, respectively. In EARLY, cow comfort behaviour was also recorded during afternoon milking sessions. Across the two study periods, average milk flow rate, milk flow rate during 0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 s after cluster attachment, and milk flow rate at cluster take-off were higher in SQR compared to RND treatment. Proportion of time in a milking session with low milk flow rate and duration of milking session were less in SQR compared to RND treatment. However, effect of geometry of milk liner on peak milk flow rate was inconsistent across the two-study periods. Peak milk flow rate was higher (P < 0.001) in SQR than RND in LATE, but higher (P < 0.001) in RND than SQR in EARLY. Stomping and kicking behaviours of cows were similar between treatments. Results of this study suggest that square milk liners potentially improve milking performance, without adverse effect on cow comfort compared to conventional round liners. Long-Term, multi-site studies are required to confirm potential teat-end health benefits associated with square milk liners and further verify these results.Item Open Access Endophyte mixture effects on ryegrass staggers in sheep(New Zealand Grassland Association, 2024-10-31) Milsom, Andrew; Black, Alistair; Bryant, Racheal; Eady, ColinEpichloë endophytes protect ryegrass from insect pests, but no strain provides both the highest level of insect protection and lowest risk to livestock health. This study examined mixtures of endophytes to find combinations that could mitigate ryegrass staggers in sheep. At Barenbrug NZ, Courtenay, pastures varying widely in sown proportions of perennial ryegrass infected with nea3, nea12 and standard endophyte (SE) were sown in May 2019 and tested with lambs in summer and hoggets in spring 2020. In summer, sown proportions of >65% nea3, <35% nea12 and no SE delayed severe staggers (score 4–5) by 1 week. Alkaloid profiles of these pastures included the tremorgens epoxyjanthitrem I (<0.28 ppm) of nea12 and paxilline (<0.15 ppm) and terpendole C (<1.37 ppm) of nea3. In spring, sown proportions of >65% nea3 and <35% nea12 and/or SE did not induce staggers (score 0–0.1). Those pastures had low concentrations of the potent tremorgen lolitrem B (<0.30 ppm) of SE, epoxyjanthitrem I (<0.39 ppm) of nea12 and paxilline (<0.09 ppm) and terpendole C (<0.41 ppm) of nea3 and SE. The optimal endophyte formulations that minimised staggers across summer and spring were >65% nea3, <35% nea12 and no SE.Item Open Access Behavioural patterns of lambs detected with tri-axial ear-mounted accelerometers while grazing endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12) Fan, Bowen; Bryant, Racheal; Greer, AndrewThe infection of the endophytic fungus (Epichloë festucae var. lolii) within perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pastures can produce toxic alkaloids, including lolitrem B and ergovaline which can negatively impact animal welfare and behaviour through causing ryegrass staggers as well as poor growth and increased sensitivity to heat stress. Wearable 3-axis acceleration sensors can provide an alternative to automatically monitor individual grazing livestock who need essential treatment to minimise the impact of grazing pastures infected with an endophyte. The objective of this study was to categorise changes in ruminating, eating and other behavioural activities of grazing lambs exposed to endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass via commercial accelerometer sensors. Lambs were fitted with the ear-mounted accelerometer sensors (CowManager SensOors, Agis, Harmelen, the Netherlands) and allocated randomly within live-weight strata to graze either endophyte-free (Control) or wild−type endophyte-infected (Endophyte) perennial ryegrass pasture. Live weight change, behaviour and incidence of staggers were monitored over a 2-month grazing period. Moderately severe staggers (score 4/5) occurred in 40% of lambs in the Endophyte treatment with a mean staggers score of 2.33 ± 0.41 across the group. Compared with control lambs, endophyte-infected lambs compensated for reduced eating (−36.0 min/day) and inactive (−43.7 min/day) duration in favour of increased ruminating (+40.2 min/day) and active (+29.9 min/day) duration. The sensors also identified diurnal adaptations in behaviour of lambs which were affected by endophyte staggers, presenting significant effects of endophyte challenge by hour interaction on the diurnal eating duration (P < 0.001), diurnal ruminating duration (P < 0.001), diurnal inactive duration (P < 0.001), diurnal active duration (P < 0.001) and diurnal highly active duration (P < 0.001). In conclusion, these sensors were able to detect subtle changes in the behaviour of grazing sheep that can be used to detect subclinical symptoms of ryegrass staggers when consuming ryegrass staggers.Item Open Access Agroecology for the city—Spatialising ES-based design in peri-urban contexts(MDPI AG, 2024-10) Morris, Richard; Davis, Shannon; Grelet, Gwen-Aëlle; Gregorini, PabloThe design of urban systems that allow growth while also maximising ecosystem services is identified as an important priority for creating a Good Anthropocene. An ecosystem service (ES)-based approach to landscape interventions maximises the provision of ESs, and in doing so, repairs and reinforces threatened ecological planetary boundaries. As an urbanising planet, cities are critical frontiers of human interaction with these planetary boundaries, and therefore a critical arena for ES-based intervention. Globally, the predominant pattern of urbanisation is dedensification, an outwardly expanding trend where cities are growing in physical extent at a higher rate than their population growth. We therefore require spatially explicit tools capable of reconciling dedensification and Good Anthropocene visions. We propose a methodology that integrates agroecology and urbanisation and is focussed specifically on the supply of targeted regulating ESs. This ‘Agroecology for the City’ differs from conventional urban agriculture discourse and its preoccupation with food security. Our research interest is agroecological farm systems’ (AFSs) capacity to provide critical life support services in a spatially effective manner to urban systems. Our recent research introduced a new GIS-based model (ESMAX) and a spatial agroecology approach that identified AFS configurations at a 1 ha scale which maximised the supply of three regulating ESs, as well as multifunctional performance across all three ESs combined. In the present research, we apply this process at a larger scale, with 1 ha and 4 ha AFS parcels being integrated with a real-world 200 ha peri-urban residential development. The AFS parcels and built-up areas are configured differently to maximise the supply of ESs identified as critical by the local community. We found that arrangements with AFS parcels interspersed evenly with built-up areas provided the best multifunctionality across the four ESs tested. This supports pathways for a Good Anthropocene that work with the global urbanising reality of dedensification and underpin the need for a hybrid science of rural/urban systems.Item Open Access Variation in the exon 3–4 region of ovine KRT85 and its effect on wool traits(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-08-01) Chai, W; Zhou, Huitong; Gong, H; Wang, C; Hickford, Jonathanα-keratins are structural proteins in the cortex of wool fibres and assemble in an organized fashion into keratin intermediate filaments. Variation in these keratin proteins affects the structure and characteristics of wool fibre, making keratin genes ideal candidates for the development of gene markers that describe variations in wool traits. A region of KRT85 spanning exon 3–4 (including the entire exon 3, intron 3, exon 4 and part of intron 4) was investigated. Two banding patterns defining two variant sequences (A and B) were observed in this region, and these were characterised by the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms. The effect of this variation in the exon 3–4 region of KRT85 on wool traits was investigated in 463 Merino × Southdown-cross lambs. The frequencies of these two variants in these sheep were 55.6% and 44.4%, respectively. Three different genotypes were observed with frequencies of 32.6%, 46.1% and 21.3% for AA, AB and BB, respectively. The presence of A was associated with an increase in greasy fleece weight and clean fleece weight, while the presence of B was associated with an increased wool prickle factor. These findings should be replicated in a broader range of sheep breeds to determine whether the associations are robust and to clarify whether the observed effects are attributable to breed differences or to gene effects themselves.