BETTER ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMER DEMANDS

The animal component is essential to the stability, diversity and prof itability of Australian agriculture. Our agriculture's success has bee n based on low cost production of ''clean green'' produce. Intensifica tion is occurring wherever possible both to enhance and define product quality (eg feedlot beef) and to control costs (eg feedlot dairy). Ru minants are blamed for excess methane production that contributes to t he enhanced greenhouse effect. We can now reduce methane production bu t farmers can only adopt the new technology if it is also profitable. Luckily this should be the case. Ruminants are also blamed for heart a ttacks, because rumination saturates fats. We can overcome this, bette r tailor meat for the market and reduce costs at the same time. ''Clea n green'' products are produced with as few chemicals as possible, whe reas intensification usually is associated with increased use of chemi cals. Can we replace unacceptable hormones and other drugs that may le ave residues? Again the answer can be yes.