UQ Gatton animal research facility at Beef Week

The University of Queensland’s Gatton Centre for Advanced Animal Science (CAAS) is attending Beef Australia 2012, Australia’s national beef exposition, in Rockhampton this week until May 12.

More than 75,000 local, interstate and international visitors are expected to Beef Australia 2012.

Manager of the CAAS research facility Keith Officer is looking forward to the conversations between producers, universities and the beef industry.

“We have a stall at Beef Australia 2012 to make people in the beef industry aware of the innovative research into animal nutrition, behaviour and welfare, disease prevention, reproduction and food safety that is occurring within our centre,” Mr Officer said.

“There is huge research potential within CAAS as it is equipped with biosecurity containment facilities, allowing scientists to collaborate on projects which aim to safeguard the Australian agricultural industry and improve human health.

“This is a message we are keen to share at Beef Australia 2012.”

Facilities at CAAS include:

• Biosecurity containment rooms for disease and vaccine research;
• A series of climate-controlled rooms for large and small livestock;
• Grouped and individual animal pens with associated metabolic crates for nutrition trials; and
• Feedlots, a feed processing shed, cattle handling yards, a sophisticated effluent waste treatment plant and large sterilisation capability.

CAAS is a research facility owned by UQ and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and it conducts animal research in the commercial, government and education industries.

For more information on CAAS visit the website www.uq.edu.au/caas.

Media: Erin Pearl, 0409 265 587