DairyBio

DairyBio is the dairy industry’s leading bioscience research program and is a joint venture between Dairy Australia, Agriculture Victoria and the Gardiner Foundation. DairyBio is a five-year investment in dairy bioscience (July 2016 to June 2021).

The DairyBio Animal Program is targeting an additional value of $350 per cow per year in Australian dairy herds through genetic improvement, lower costs by enabling selection for health traits and developing improved breeding management tools. Genetic improvement for traits associated with cow health, fertility, efficiency and longevity will lead to greater farm income and improved sustainability and animal welfare, all are vital for a vibrant future of the dairy industry.

The DairyBio forage program projects are designed to breed plants with higher yield, higher energy and higher persistence for future commercial release and are aiming to have cultivars available in 2030 that will improve pasture productivity by up to $800 per hectare per year. The DairyBio Forage program focuses on three key areas of pasture performance – yield, persistence and quality. Yield increases of up to 40 per cent are possible with new hybrid breeding methods and the development of genomic selection tools for pasture. Quality of pastures will increase through new breeding technologies that reduce the indigestible part of ryegrass and improve environmental impacts. Persistence will increase through endophytes (fungi) with novel properties and through breeding for drought tolerance.

For more information visit the DairyBio website.