Food-borne pathogens - a key issue for all food animal industries

The modern consumer has an attitude that food safety is non-negotiable issue – the consumer simply demands food to be safe. Yet, at the same time, the modern consumer has an expectation that the food safety is the responsibility of others – the primary producer, the processing company, the supermarket, commercial food handlers and so on. Given this environment, all food animal industries have little choice but to regard food safety as a key issue. As an example, the chicken meat industry, via the two main industry funding bodies – the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (Chicken Meat) and the Poultry CRC – has a comprehensive research program that seeks to focus on reducing the risks of food-borne diseases at all points of the food processing chain – from the farm to the processing plant. The scale of the issue for all industries can be illustrated by an analysis of the problem of campylobacterosis – a major food-borne disease. It has been estimated that there are around 230,000 cases of campylobacterosis per year. In 1995, it was estimated that each case of food-borne campylobacterosis in the USA was costing between $(US) 350-580. Hence, a reasonable conservative estimate is that each Australian case in 2010 would result in a cost of around $500 (this includes hospital, medication and lost productivity costs). Hence, this single food-borne agent could be costing Australian society around $115 million annually. In the light of these types of estimated costs for just one food-borne pathogen, it is easy to understand the importance that all food animal industries place on food safety.

Plantation hardwood resource specifications required for planning small log sawing infrastructure investment in Queensland.

Improved information on the product quality of the plantation resource is needed to allow businesses to consider investing in the development of value-adding processing facilities. These facilities are likely to require customised design that optimises the utilisation of future small diameter plantation hardwood logs. This log resource will become available as wood supply in Queensland transitions from native forests to 100% from sustainable plantations. This resource will be controlled by plantations established prior to 2000. A survey of the three main growers (former Forest Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd, former Forestry Corporation of New South Wales, Hancock Queensland Plantation Pty Ltd) revealed that C. citriodora subsp.variegata – CCV (28.0%), Eucalyptus dunnii (27.5%), E. pilularis (23.0%), E. grandis (11.3%) and E. cloeziana –GMS (7.1%) were the most widely planted species in the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales subtropical hardwood estate and would potentially dominate the supply of plantation hardwoods to sawmill processing facilities.

Investigation of an emerging bacterial disease in wild Queensland groper, marine fish and stingrays with production of diagnostic tools to reduce the spread of disease to other states of Australia : final report

This project describes how Streptococcus agalactiae can be transmitted experimentally in Queensland grouper. The implications of this research furthers the relatedness between Australian S. agalactiae strains from animals and humans. Additionally, this research has developed diagnostic tools for Australian State Veterinary Laboratories and Universities, which will assist in State and National aquatic animal disease detection, surveillance, disease monitoring and reporting

Physical Oceanographic Influences on Queensland Reef Fish and Scallops : Final Report FRDC 2013/020

The project examined coastal and physical oceanographic influences on the catch rates of coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) and saucer scallops (Amusium balloti) in Queensland. The research was undertaken to explain variation observed in the catches, and to improve quantitative assessment of the stocks and management advice. 3.1 OBJECTIVES 1. Review recent advances in the study of physical oceanographic influences on fisheries catch data, and describe the major physical oceanographic features that are likely to influence Queensland reef fish and saucer scallops. 2. Collate Queensland’s physical oceanographic data and fisheries (i.e. reef fish and saucer scallops) data. 3. Develop stochastic population models for reef fish and saucer scallops, which can link physical oceanographic features (e.g. sea surface temperature anomalies) to catch rates, biological parameters (e.g. growth, reproduction, natural mortality) and ecological aspects (e.g. spatial distribution).

Biological data and model development for management of longfinned eels

Objectives: 1. Estimate population parameters required for a management model. These include survival, density, age structure, growth, age and size at maturity and at recruitment to the adult eel fishery. Estimate their variability among individuals in a range of habitats. 2. Develop a management population dynamics model and use it to investigate management options. 3. Establish baseline data and sustainability indicators for long-term monitoring. 4. Assess the applicability of the above techniques to other eel fisheries in Australia, in collaboration with NSW. Distribute developed tools via the Australia and New Zealand Eel Reference Group.

Implementing technologies and strategies to maintain resistance to sunflower rust

This project proposes to implement resistance gene pyramiding strategies through close collaboration with Pacific Seeds. These strategies have been developed by Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) researchers in two previous GRDC projects, DAQ356 and DAQ537. The gene pyramids will be incorporated into elite breeding material using techniques and technologies developed by DPI&F. These include the use of DNA markers. If successful, a range of elite lines/commercial hybrids containing strategic resistance gene pyramids will be available to growers. These lines will provide the industry with a directed strategy to manage the sunflower rust pathogen and reduce the risk of outbreaks of the disease.

The effect of post harvest handling on selected native food plants

A commercial issue currently facing native plant food producers and food processors, and identified by the industry itself, is that of delivering quality products consistently and at reasonable cost to end users based on a sound food technology and nutrition platform. A literature survey carried out in July 2001 by the DPI&F’s Centre for Food Technology, Brisbane in collaboration with the University of Queensland to collect the latest information at that time on the functional food market as it pertained to native food plants, indicated that little or no work had been published on this topic. This project addresses two key RIRDC sub program strategies: to identify and evaluate processes or products with prospects of commercial viability and to assist in the development of integrated production, harvesting, processing and marketing systems. This project proposal also reflects a key RIRDC R&D issue for 2002-2003; that of linking with prospective members of the value chain. The purpose of this project was to obtain chemical data on the post harvest stability of functional nutritional components (bio actives) in commercially available, hand harvested bush tomato and Kakadu plum. The project concentrated on evaluating bioactive stability as a measure of ingredient quality.

The Use of Australian Honey in Moist Wound Management

This project has investigated the correlation between antimicrobial activity and the non-peroxide activity of particular Leptospermum-derived honeys. Initial investigations tested the efficacy of these honeys against one particular bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), while later studies assessed the effect of this honey on a range of food pathogens, animal pathogens (e.g. in mastitis) and human pathogens (e.g. golden Staph). Using honeys sourced from around Australia and screened against several reference microorganisms, the anti-microbial potency of one particular Australian honey (from Leptospermum polygalifolium) was shown to be comparable to NZ Manuka honey (from L.scoparium). The results of this screening of active honeys against pathogenic bacteria has supported the registration of honey by Capilano Honey Limited as a “Drug” with the Therapeutic Goods Administration based on its antimicrobial activity.

Developing Jungle Perch Fingerling Production to Improve Fishing Opportunities

This project has for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of hatchery production of jungle perch fingerlings. The research on jungle perch production has enabled a hatchery production manual with accompanying videos to be produced. This has given private commercial hatcheries the information needed to produce jungle perch fingerlings. Several hatcheries have already indicated an interest in producing jungle perch and will be assisted to do so in 2016. Currently jungle perch are not a permitted stocking species, so cannot be sold to fish stocking groups. However, hatcheries will be able to sell fingerlings to the aquarium trade or supply grow out facilities that could produce jungle perch for human consumption. Should jungle perch become a permitted species for stocking, this will provide hatcheries with a major new product option to sell to fish stocking groups. It would also benefit anglers by providing another iconic species for impoundment stocking programs. This could have flow-on benefits to regional economies through angler tourism. Should the pilot reintroductions of jungle perch into streams result in self-sustaining jungle perch populations, then there will be three restored jungle perch populations close to major population centres. This will create a new opportunity for anglers not normally able to target jungle perch. Since the majority of anglers who target jungle perch are catch and release fishers, angling is expected to have minimal impact on recovery of the populations. This project led to the development of a hatchery manual for jungle perch production and to a summary brochure. In late 2014 and in 2015 researchers were able to make the first ever releases of jungle perch fingerlings back into rivers and streams within their historical range.

Jungle Perch Kuhlia Rupestris Fingerling Production Manual

This manual consists of written descriptions of jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris production and video material to demonstrate each of the key production steps. Video links are at the end of each major written section in the document. To activate the link use ctrl click. The videos enhance the instructive ability of this manual. The keys to producing jungle perch are:  maintaining broodstock in freshwater or low salinity water less than 5 ppt  spawning fish in full seawater at 28C  incubating eggs in full seawater. Salinities must not be less than 32 ppt  ensuring that first feed jungle perch larvae have an adequate supply of copepod nauplii  rearing larvae in full seawater under bright light  use of gentle aeration in tanks  postponing spawns until adequate densities of copepod nauplii are present in ponds  sustaining copepod blooms in ponds for at least 20 days  avoiding use of paddlewheels in ponds  supplementary feeding with Artemia salina and weaning diets from 20 days after hatch  harvesting of fingerlings or fry after they are 25-30 mm in length (50 to 60 days post hatch)  covering tanks of fingerlings with 5 mm mesh and submerging freshwater inlets to prevent jumping.