BETTER ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMER DEMANDS

The animal component is essential to the stability, diversity and profitability of Australian agriculture. Our agriculture's success has been based on low cost production of ''clean green'' produce. Intensification is occurring wherever possible both to enhance and define product quality (eg feedlot beef) and to control costs (eg feedlot dairy). Ruminants are blamed for excess methane production that contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect. We can now reduce methane production but farmers can only adopt the new technology if it is also profitable. Luckily this should be the case. Ruminants are also blamed for heart attacks, because rumination saturates fats. We can overcome this, better tailor meat for the market and reduce costs at the same time. ''Clean green'' products are produced with as few chemicals as possible, whereas intensification usually is associated with increased use of chemicals. Can we replace unacceptable hormones and other drugs that may leave residues? Again the answer can be yes.