Project overview
The increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves as a result of climate change will increase the challenges of raising cattle in extensive pastoral systems of Western Australia. It is likely that livestock will experience heat stress more frequently, yet little is known about how the reproductive cycle influences an animal’s ability to cope with heat stress. Elevated progesterone, pregnancy and lactation are all associated with a reduced capacity to thermoregulate, suggesting females may experience critical windows of vulnerability throughout joining, gestation, and lactation.
This project will identify high-risk periods of thermal sensitivity by continuously monitoring body temperature, rumination, and drinking behaviour using intraruminal biosensors alongside biomarkers of oxidative stress and reproductive performance. Providing an important foundation for the development of strategies that can mitigate the effects of extreme thermal events on animal reproduction and welfare. As many of the detrimental effects of heat stress are mediated through oxidative stress at a cellular level, this project will also trial the supplementation of antioxidants to reduce damage caused by oxidative stress and enhance thermotolerance. The findings will be used to develop interventions that are designed to improve the heat resilience of cattle and inform management strategies for beef production in northern Australia.
Expected outcomes
The findings from this study will address knowledge gaps surrounding the interaction between heat stress and the reproductive cycle of cattle, and the efficacy of supplementing rangeland cattle with antioxidants to support thermoregulation.
The project will provide valuable baseline information for cattle raised in the Pilbara region, a region where research has historically been limited due to its remoteness. The project will increase awareness of critical thermal thresholds and vulnerable stages of reproduction in cattle, and identify seasonal and environmental conditions associated with increased reproductive risk.
The findings will inform management decisions around joining and calving, while improving the understanding of how management decisions can alter reproductive outcomes of cattle and the importance of data collection to inform these decisions.
Additionally, by trialling and evaluating the practicality of interventions such as antioxidant supplementation within the region, the project will prompt producers to evaluate their existing management practices and consider the adoption of new strategies. Collectively, the project will strengthen research in northern rangelands and guide future research, extension activities, and industry practice.
Photos provided by Oscar Jones, Curtin University
This project is supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Gascoyne Pilbara Rangelands Initiative.
FAQs
Why SMART SPRAYS?
Smart sprays have the potential to reduce evaporation and redirect water for increased crop yield and profit.
Smart sprays components:
- Biodegrade in marine, soil, and compost environments into CO₂, water, and biomass.
- Do not degrade into microplastics in the environment.
- Reduce reliance on fossil fuels and have a decreased carbon footprint as no fossil fuel feedstock is used.
- Do not need to be retrieved from the field – they will biodegrade in situ.
The main component of SMART SPRAYS can be produced by microorganisms through the use of a wide variety of renewable feedstocks, like organic wastes, waste canola oil, brewers waste and glycerol, creating a circular economy.
What’s the different between plastics and bioplastics?
Plastics and bioplastics can be categorised based on their origin/feedstock (biobased vs. fossil fuel based) and their degradation properties (biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable).
Feedstocks
Fossil-based feedstocks: Derived from petroleum, natural gas, or coal.
Biobased feedstocks: Derived from plants, algae, or agricultural waste products.
Differences in degradation
Download the fact sheet to learn more about plastics and bioplastics.
What’s the different between compostable and biodegradable?
Biodegradable materials are those that can be fully broken down into natural substances, such as water and carbon dioxide, by naturally occurring microorganisms. In waste management, the term “biodegradable” is broadly used to describe materials that degrade either under composting conditions or in the natural environment. The key distinction is that compostable materials are designed to break down within a specific timeframe under controlled composting conditions, where factors like temperature, moisture, and microbial activity are optimised to accelerate decomposition and biomass formation.
Certified compostable
Compostable refers to a product’s ability to biodegrade into non-toxic, natural elements within a defined timeframe under specific composting conditions. Both fossil-based and bio-based bioplastics can be certified as compostable. However, compostability claims should only be made if the product has been certified to a recognised standard, such as Australian Standards AS 4736-2006 or AS 5810-2010.
Biobased bioplastic biodegradable
Smart sprays belong to this category.
Bioplastics made from bio-based feedstocks that fully break down into natural substances, either under composting conditions or in the natural environment. PHA bioplastics, in particular, are known to degrade effectively in both soil and marine environments.
Fossil-based bioplastic biodegradable
Fossil-based biodegradable plastics make up a relatively small category, which includes materials like PBAT and PCL. While PBAT is both biodegradable and compostable, improper disposal can still have environmental consequences, as its degradation requires specific conditions to occur efficiently.
Biobased bioplastic non-biodegradable
Bioplastics can be derived from bio-based feedstocks while remaining non-biodegradable. These materials are chemically identical to traditional fossil-based plastics.
Conventional plastics non-biodegradable
These materials do not biodegrade. In Australia, 2.9 million tonnes of plastic waste are discarded each year, with only 13% recycled, while the remaining 87% ends up in landfill.
Reference: State of Bioplastics in Australia, CSIRO, 2024 with permission.
Download the fact sheet to learn more about plastics and bioplastics.
News
- Article, Regional Nodes
The Hub recently invited representatives from its eight Regional Nodes for a celebratory meeting and networking dinner, marking five years of collaboration to strengthen drought and climate
- Article, Field Notes
- Article, Field Notes
- Article, Case Study, Regional Soil Coordinator
- Article, Regional Soil Coordinator
- Article, PropaGATE
The PropaGATE project team and its partners presented on an innovative wastewater treatment trial at the WA Beer and Brewing Conference on 3 July, highlighting
Resources
- Webinar
- Podcast
- Webinar
External resources
Collaborators
Project team
Whitney Payne
University of Western Australia
Dr Kelsey Pool
University of Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Shane Maloney
University of Western Australia
A/Prof Serina Hancock
Murdoch University
Prof Dominique Blache
University of Western Australia
Dr Luoyang Ding
University of Western Australia
Dr Fiona Dempster
University of Western Australia
Dr Matthew Wolcott
Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit
Contact
Dr Kelsey Pool
University of Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Kelsey.pool@uwa.edu.au
Mary-Anne Glanzlowe
Extension Specialist and Knowledge Broker, South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
mary-anne.glanzlowe@gga.org.au
0400 191 378