Editorial EditorialIn September I had the privilege of talking to the next generation of Scientists and Inventors at the local Regional Science Fair. What an enjoyable day, once again I was impressed with the innovation in the Technology Sections and the originality and creativity in the Living World Sections. With a few more replicates and some sturdier statistics some of the projects would be worthy entries in next years conference at Lincoln!
This newsletter is primarily to announce the call for abstracts for the Annual Conference 26-28th June 2001. The local organising committee, headed by David Scobie, have produced an excellent programme that will challenge your creativity and a social programme that sounds exciting. Make sure you read the announcement and note the deadlines. We encourage you to download the abstract form from the website and submit it electronically to the Executive Secretary by November 16. Talking about the Executive Secretary, I heard a rumour (or rather I am just about to start one...) that a pair of NZSAP Committee members are known to have recently crossed the Tasman, got tattoos and spent several days jumping up and down waving flags with kangaroos and/or white stars on them!
In this newsletter there are several news items from the USA; an update from Chris Burke after a year in Ohio, a report on the American Dairy Science Association and American Society of Animal Science Joint Conference by Chris Morris and a report on Tim Mackle's ADSA award. Congratulations Tim.
The Society welcomes Gwyneth Verkerk of the Dairying Research Corporation in Hamilton to the Committee as a co-opted member. Gwyn's responsibility will be for liasing with the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
At the Jubilee Conference in Hamilton this year we were entertained by John Scott recounting his memories of the late Dr McMeekan and the early days at Ruakura. For those of you who were unable to attend the conference or the evening Tribute to Dr McMeekan there is an article written by John. John Scott has been involved with Ruakura since 1955, most of the time with liaison work; he is a past President of the NZSAP and is actively dairy farming on the outskirts of Hamilton.
There are a number of announcements from the Committee for Animal Science Awards (and a gentle reminder that travel reports are due), nominations for the 2001 McMeekan and Sir Arthur Ward Awards and nominations for Honorary Life Membership. Details for all these awards can be found later in this newsletter and on the website.
The Management Committee looks forward to receiving your abstracts and award nominations and I would like to thank those members who contributed to this newsletter.
Catherine Morrow
NZSAP Annual Conference 2001However, it has not escaped the attention of this committee that the science of sheep and cows has been our comfort zone for a long time. Some might say it is no longer all that comfortable! Once upon a time deer were a novel species and they intellectually absorb a few of our members these days. So we will bring Novel species and products: beyond cattle and sheep meat, milk and fibre to our conference goers this year. If any of you are involved with the weird and wonderful, please get those abstracts in. Not just novel species, but novel products from the "same old same old".
Not only are our fields of science changing, but the outside world is changing too. The window into our world is no longer the journal or conference paper or the field day presentation, these days it is the nightly news, farming magazines, video and radio programmes. Indeed many of us work for the public good and the public feel they have a right to know what we are up to and why. Some of the public are in a pretty good position to tell us what they think we should be doing, so before it turns into a public inquiry you should find out what is expected of you. This may also be outside your comfort zone, but here is the chance to polish your side of the window. Media meets Science will bring the television, radio and print media to you and they will tell you what they want, what to do and what not to do. You will have the chance to rub shoulders with them and they will take your stories to the outside world.
The social events are not for the faint-hearted either so come prepared and throw something warm in your bag for the tour! Although you will be in Crusader Country, chain mail will not be necessary - courage obviously will. Swords will be drawn first thing Tuesday the 26th of June 2001 and return to your villages last thing Thursday the 28th.
Scobie
Conference Convenor
The local organising committee can be contacted through scobied@agresearch.cri.nz
Call for abstracts...
Guidelines for preparation of abstracts...
The Young Members Award
Eligibility for the Award is restricted to the following:
Please check the full rules
Science and Technology Award 2000
NZSAP Millennium CD-ROMContact the Executive Secretary, Lynne Smith for orders.
Tribute to Dr McMeekanIn between times his leadership at Ruakura was attacked; and he missed out on New Zealand's top administrative position: the Director General of Agriculture. A compelling, aggressive, sometimes coarse character, his rollicking, tempestuous life ended in tragedy.
Mac was born in Otaki in 1908, the son of a peripatetic shopkeeper who became an alcoholic. His first schooling was at Whangamomona, while at Stratford he received agricultural tutoring. He was one of Massey's first 10 degree students in 1928 and after lecturing there went to Cambridge to do his PhD on the growth and development of pigs with Dr. (later Sir) John Hammond. He became Lincoln's first Professor of Animal Husbandry but McMeekan and Lincoln didn't gel - which was to New Zealand's advantage because in 1943 Mac became Superintendent of the Ruakura Animal Research Station and his innovative and influential career took off.
At that time Ruakura was little more than a 365 ha farm with minimal farm and office buildings. Mac took four months to develop a 10 year plan detailing the type of work to be undertaken, and the facilities and staff required. In fact he accomplished his target in five years. He attracted several first class scientists notably James in Artificial Insemination, Wallace in Nutrition, Whittlestone and Phillips in Milk Secretion and Harvesting, Hancock and Carter in Genetics and Statistics and Clare in Chemistry. Getting buildings erected posed major problems with wartime shortages and bureaucratic impediments. Mac rode roughshod over the latter and used every means available to get materials and labour to build research facilities. In fact No. 4 Dairy was operational before permission to build was granted.
In the decade 1948-1958 phenomenal progress was made, under Mac's leadership, in elucidating and developing principles and practices of animal production in a pastoral environment; and in 1958, 20 years after the disastrous outbreak of facial eczema which led to the establishment of Ruakura as an Animal Research Institute, the fungus responsible for the disease was identified.
During this period Mac started and was the principal star of the Ruakura Farmer's Conferences -taking the results of research to the farming community. He always delivered at least two stirring, often provocative papers, and chaired two days and evenings of talks. He was also a very prominent and outspoken advocate of higher salaries for Scientists and clashed with Federated Farmers and some politicians. At this time, Ruakura with a staff of about 120 socialised as well as worked together and again Mac was at the forefront of activities. After nearly 20 years at the helm Mac had his critics at Ruakura, several issues were involved, including the stroppines of some of his critics, but there was no doubt that Mac had 'been there, done that' and needed a new challenge and Ruakura a new leader.
Mac applied for the position of Director General of Agriculture in 1962 but lost out in a highly publicised case to Neil Webb, the head of Lands Department. Webb was a nice bloke, but when this comment was made to Mac, his reply was 'I know nice taxi drivers'. A major factor in his rejection for the position was strong opposition from people he had ignored, criticised or proved superior to in the past. Included were Senior Administrators, Federated Farmer leaders and Scientists from other organisations.
When his appeal was lost, Mac took up a Senior Advisory position with the World Bank, and over the next 8 years was responsible for the evaluation and approval or rejection of loans for agricultural development in many countries but especially in South America. He had a particular interest in Uruguay, and following his death, a memorial forest was planted there in his honour.
Mac retired from the Bank in 1970 and returned to his farm at Putaruru. In July 1972 he drowned at Westhaven Marina, within sight of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, after returning from a sailing trip.
Following his death an appeal to provide an appropriate memorial resulted in the completion of the McMeekan Communication Centre at Ruakura in 1976. While Mac would certainly have approved of such a memorial, he would have been the first to be highly critical of the downgrading of Agricultural Research in this county over the last 15 years - as an example there are no staff in the Centre these days - and even more so of the disposal of most of Ruakura in a Treaty settlement and it's subsequent on-sale for housing development.
John Scott
Membership
| Fiona Anniss | Morrinsville |
| Sandra Deans | AgResearch Invermay |
| Michael Harboard | Dipton |
| Mark Hyslop | AgResearch, Havelock North |
| Jane Kay | DRC, Hamilton |
| Sharon Kelly | AgResearch, Hamilton |
| Julia Lile | DRC, Hamilton |
| Danielle Marotti | AgResearch, Palmerston North |
| John Maban | Gisbourne |
| Michael Morris | Auckland |
| Pip Nicholas | DRC Hamilton |
| Nicky Roberts | AgResearch, Hamilton |
| Kuljeet Singh | AgResearch, Hamilton |
| Meryl Wastney | DRC, Hamilton |
| Andrew Miller | Outram |
| Vasco Beheregaray-Neto | Palmerston North |
| Paul Greenwood | Beef CRC, Australia |
McMeekan and Sir Arthur Ward Awards, Life MembershipThe Sir Arthur Ward Award recognises the successful application of scientific research or farmer experimentation through a series of trials or effective extension when applied to an aspect of animal production in New Zealand. The nominee may be an individual, a company or an organisation, and need not be a member of the Society. Nominations must be signed by two financial members of the Society and must contain documented evidence of how the nominee's efforts have made a substantial contribution towards the adoption of a practice(s) that has facilitated more efficient animal production in terms of output per animal, per labour unit or per farm. The phrase "adoption of a practice" is to be broadly interpreted and may relate to the development of a technique, a piece of equipment, or a husbandry practice; the effective encouragement of sound principles of animal production; or the development of a new aspect of animal production.
The Management Committee is also seeking recommendations for Honorary Life Members. The Committee shall consider nominations from members and announce them at the 2001 Annual General Meeting. Honorary Life Members shall be persons who have rendered significant service to the cause of animal production. In the past five years Life Membership has been conferred to Arnold Bryant, Alan Kirton, Ken Jury and the late Dudley Lane.
Nominations should be sent to the Executive Secretary, Lynne Smith.
NZSAP Award Applications
Recent Grant RecipientsGreg Anderson (Massey University) to attend the Neuroendo 2000 Conference being a satellite meeting of the 11th International Congress of Endocrinology, October 2000, NSW, Australia. To present the paper "What is the site of action for thyroid hormones in mediating estradiol negative feedback in the anoestrous ewe?"
Martin Auldist (DRC) to attend the annual meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, July 2001 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and to present a paper.
Cesar Pinares-Patino (AgResearch, Grasslands) to attend the 15th Symposium on Energy Metabolism of Animals, September, 2000 in Elsinore, Denmark. To present the paper "Some rumen digestion characteristics of sheep differing in methane emission" by C. Pinares-Patino, M.J. Ulyatt, C.W. Holmes, T.N. Barry and K.R. Lassey.
Animal Science Award ReportsJeremy Thompson, University of Adelaide, attended the International Congress of Animal Reproduction during July 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden.
A wide range of topics was presented both as plenary papers, specialist mini-symposia and a large number of posters. The conference opened with two excellent papers, with the theme of this first session entitled "Le maine de Dieu" ("The hand of God"), targeting the industrial potential and public perceptions of animal biotechnology, especially relating to nuclear transfer and transgenics. The first paper, presented by Ian Wilmut (Roslin Institute, Scotland) stated the opportunities and problems associated with these technologies, especially relating to efficiencies and animal welfare of the offspring derived following embryo manipulation. An outstanding paper followed this on the difficulties associated with representing biotechnology to the public, presented by P. Sandoe (The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark). The conclusion of this author is that scientists will not be able to simply give scientific fact and hope to appease the public discontent with such technologies by "education". The scientists need to be able to provide also an ethical viewpoint and be prepared to debate this point. Acceptance for the technology will only be gained if scientists are prepared to enter the ethical and moral debate.
There was a strong biotechnology theme to the conference, with other papers presented on topics such as various new techniques in analyzing gene expression (Marc-Andre Sirard, University of Laval, Quebec City), transgenic animal production (Heiner Niemann, Mariensee, Germany), vitrification/cryopreservation (Gabor Vatja, Monash University, Melbourne) and sperm sexing (John Dobrinsky, USDA, Beltsville). Most papers were excellent summaries of where the technology is at present and what barriers need to be broken in the future.
Jeremy Thompson
American Animal Science and Dairy Science Joint ConferenceThe Symposium contained a broad overview and some useful facts (e.g. about the state of play of USDA studies on Expressed Sequence Tags or ESTs). However, the details were left to individual conference abstracts/posters, or they were not reported at all. The Symposium also provided opportunities to meet individuals in the field on a one-to-one basis, but as usual the discussion within the formal sessions of the Symposium were disappointingly brief. Estimates of the size of the biotechnology industry were put forward, amounting to $6B per annum by 2005 and $20B per annum by 2010, although it depends how many types of technology are assumed to fit under this heading.
There were 200 protesters outside the ISAG meeting for a week, watched by the FBI, State Police, National Guard and State Troopers; they were probably at the wrong meeting, and their concerns might have been more relevant to a small part of the ASAS/ADSA Symposium.
Sue Galloway was able to present details of the Inverdale gene at the ASAS/ADSA Symposium, because the full story had appeared in Nature Genetics, a few weeks before. Her presentations at ISAG and ASAS/ADSA seemed to attract much interest and discussion, after the formal session. The work spanned 21 years, highlighting the fact that some major gene discoveries (along with their mode of action) may take considerable time and effort to progress through the whole 'pipeline', i.e. characterisation of the phenotype/ gene segregation studies / and gene- and then protein-identification. Other genes such as myostatin (double muscling) have also taken more than 20 years, although AgResearch was not involved there until the late stages. Time will tell whether things will begin to speed up now, with the draft of the human genome published.
Chris Morris
US AwardThe National Milk Producers Federation Richard M. Hoyt Award is given annually to one outstanding graduate student chosen from all the Universities in the USA and Canada that offer graduate programmes in dairy science, dairy production, dairy processing, and food science. The award recipient must have completed their post-graduate degree within a year of being nominated and their work must have direct application to problems of the dairy industry.
Dr Mackle, a first class honours graduate and senior scholar from Lincoln University in Canterbury, is researching ways to increase the value and health properties of milk at DRC in Hamilton. He has recently completed a Ph.D. majoring in Animal Science with minors in Dairy Chemistry and Nutrition at Cornell University in New York, USA. Research conducted by Tim as part of his Ph.D. thesis, demonstrated that the potential for the udder to produce valuable milk protein is not fully used, even in well-fed cows. Milk protein yield can be increased by up to 25% through manipulation of the cow's internal signalling systems - this basic work may someday result in technology to increase milk protein production, on-farm.
Dr Tim Mackle can be contacted at Dairying Research Corporation, Hamilton, tel: (07) 838 5734; email: macklet@drc.co.nz
News from Abroad: Chris Burke in the USAFran has a Research Associate position here at OSU in the Neurobiotechnoloy Centre. She says, "The research is challenging and I am enjoying the stimulating environment". We have been taking every opportunity to explore various parts of the US and Canada. The fish are not particularly attracted to my style of fishing, but the lakes and State Parks provide a great retreat from the 'rat-race' of Columbus. Incidentally, the city of Columbus has a similar population to Auckland. The hub is OSU with 100,000 staff, students and hangers-on. It's a big place.
I think one of the most unusual things for me is the variable climate. The summers are hot and humid (you can hardly breathe) while the winters are extremely dry and cold with several weeks of snow on the ground (and you can't breathe properly then either). We have tornados mostly in the spring, but haven't seen one yet. We frequently have thunderstorms of the ferocity I have never experienced. New Zealand does not have seasonal weather by comparison.
I hope I have given you all the impression that I'm enjoying myself and prospering here at OSU...cos' I am. Again, I thank the NZSAP for awarding me a travel grant back in 1998 when I was prospecting the US for a PhD position.
Kind regards
Chris Burke
Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, 2027 Coffey Rd, Columbus OH 43210, USA. e-mail: burke.205@osu.edu or BCoolKiwis@aol.com
Primary Resources Advisory Committe of the RSNZThis committee provides a linkage with kindred societies (Grasslands, Agronomy, Forestry, Soils, Horticulture, Plant Protection, Veterinary Association) to consult with Government and the media. It has, through the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand, a statutory right to consult with Government and hence provides a platform (or lobby group) from which the scientific community can exercise political influence, a role which individual scientists and their societies tend to shy away from.
Its Terms of Reference are as follows.
We can have some confidence that this committee will become an important vehicle for gaining access to the ears of people who exercise influence over issues such as future agricultural employment opportunities, the safeguarding of the primary industries from biological pests, public attitudes to the primary industries, and personnel and funding resources for research in this sector.
It is envisaged that this committee will meet more frequently than once per year.
Graham Barrell
Animal WelfareMassey University's Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre was officially launched in Palmerston North on 9 August 2000. The centre, which started operating about 18 months ago, draws together Massey's expertise in animal welfare, health, psychology, sciences, technology and applied and professional ethics. It provides practical, science-based and ethical advice, education and solutions to animal welfare problems, and bioethical analysis and education.
Mr Hodgson, Minister of Research, Science and Technology who addressed about 75 people who attended the launch, said the pairing of animal welfare and bioethics was "a mighty fine idea," especially when one considered the current debate about genetic engineering. Mr Hodgson said bioethics was "here to stay" and informed debate set and adjusted society's limits in technology. He praised the multi-disciplinary nature of the centre, its New Zealand and international networks and the depth and breadth of the expertise of those involved. Mr Hodgson, who trained at Massey as a veterinarian, led a private members bill to Parliament while in Opposition last year. This eventually became the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
The centre's other two principal scientists are animal welfare area leader Associate Professor Kevin Stafford and bioethics area leader Mr James Battye.
For more information contact: Professor David Mellor Email: D.J.Mellor@massey.ac.nz, Chair of Animal Welfare Science, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University
Upcoming EventsEvents are listed on the Royal Society Events Calendar see http://www.rsnz.govt.nz/news/events/index.php
New Zealand Grassland Association Annual Conference, Invercargill, New Zealand, 31 Oct-2 Nov 2000. For more information contact Tania Horton, 2 RD, Invercargill; email: Horton@southnet.co,nz; http://www.grassland.org.nz
SciTech 2000 - An Exhibition of Science and Technology, Christchurch, New Zealand, 15-18 Nov 2000. Contact Martin.Svehla@ccc.govt.nz; http://www.tp2000.org.nz/
10th International Wool Textile Research Conference, Aachen, Germany. 26 Nov-1 Dec 2000. For more information contact Dr Brigitte Kuppers, Deutches Wollforschungsinstitut; www.dwi.rwth-aachen.de/
Australasian Society for Immunology 30th Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia, 10-15 Dec 2000. Contact PO Box 991, Rockdale, NSW 2216; Tel +61 2 9567 9322; email: admin@asi2000.org; http://www.asi2000.org
Society for the Study of Fertility Winter Meeting, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 15-16 Dec 2000. SSF Winter Meeting is a joint meeting with VFS. Includes a Symposium: "The Rise and Decline of Ovarian Follicles" Delegates are encouraged to submit an abstract for presentation, deadline 31 August 2000 http://www.ssf.org.uk ; registration: a.denis@fbu.uu.nl. For more information contact Jan Uilenbrook, Endocrinology and Reproduction, Erasmus University, P.O. Box 173; Tel +31 10 408 7581; Fax +31 10 408 9461; email: uilenbroek@endov.fgg.eur.nl or visit http://www.eur.nl/fgg/endov/SSF2000/
XXXIV International Congress of Physiological Sciences Christchurch, New Zealand, 26-31 Aug 2001. "From Molecule to Malady" Abstract and registration deadline is 31 January 2001. For more information about the Congress or the 40+ satellite meetings in Australia and New Zealand Tel +64 9 360 1240; email: info@tcc.co.nz or visit the website http://www.iups2001.org.nz
ANZCCART New Zealand Conference Hamilton, New Zealand, 28-29 June 2001. "Learning, animals and the environment - changing the face of the future". For further information, email anzccart@rsnz.govt.nz
International Animal Agriculture and Food Science Conference Indianapolis, USA, 24-28 July, 2001. Joint Annual Meeting of American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, the Poultry Science Association and the Reciprocal Meat Conference of the American Meat Science Association. Abstracts deadline 15 February 2001. For more details Contact Fax: +001 217 398 4119; Email: fass@assochq.org; Website: www.fass.org/fass2001
12th International Symposium on Lameness in Ruminants Orlando, Florida, USA, 9-13 January 2002. Precedes the North American Veterinary Conference. Abstract deadline 15 May 2001, papers by 1 September 2001. For further information ruminantlameness.com
World Deer Farming Congress III Austin, Texas, USA, 20-23 February, 2002. In conjunction with the 2002 NADeFA Annual Conference. For more information contact the North American Deer Farmers Association. Tel +001 301 459 7708; Fax + 001 301 459 7864; website: www.nadefa.org
5th International Deer Biology Congress Québec City, Canada, 25-30 Aug. 2002
6th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores Yucatan, Mexico, October 2003.
9th World Conference on Animal Production (WCAP-2003) Port Allegro, Brazil, October 2003. The theme is "New technologies in Animal Production for the well being of the human populations around the world". More details in a later newsletter. email: wcap.2003@ufrgs.br; website: www.wcap2003.ufrgs.br
2000/2001 Management Committee
About this issue
This newsletter is compiled, copied and distributed at AgResearch Ruakura.
Any contributions should be forwarded to:
Catherine Morrow
AgResearch Ruakura,
Private Bag 3123,
HAMILTON
Email: morrowc@agresearch.cri.nz
