Corporate Body

CSIRO Division of Animal Physiology (1959 - 1975)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

From
1959
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
To
1975
Functions
Veterinary or Animal Health Industries and Industrial or scientific research
Location
Blacktown, New South Wales

Summary

The Division of Animal Physiology began as the Sheep Biology Section, part of the Division of Animal Health and Production. In 1959 it became a separate Division, conducting research into many areas, such as endocrinology, nutrition and ecology, relating to sheep and cattle. In 1975 the Division merged with the Division of Animal Genetics to form the Division of Animal Production.

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Details

From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962):

"The headquarters of the Division of Animal Physiology are at the Ian Clunies Ross Laboratory at Prospect, on the outskirts of Sydney. The programme of research is chiefly concerned with the physiology of merino sheep. The physiologists are trying to find out how breeding, feeding and management can best be manipulated to bring out those fleece qualities most sought after by the wool textile industry. They must carefully study the normal sheep to find out what biological factors influence the length, diameter, crimp, and soundness of the wool fibres. The reproduction rate of sheep, and the survival of lambs, are also important studies since selection for good characters can be intensified when the number of new lambs raised each year is high.

Research has also been aimed at finding out the answer to the question, "What makes one sheep produce more wool than another?" Some valuable information has already come out of this work. The part played by hormones in controlling wool growth has been closely studied, as has the effect of good and poor nutrition.

The other major topics of research at Prospect concern the influence of climate on sheep and wool production, and the efficiency of wool production-how much wool a sheep can produce from a certain amount of pasture.

During recent years the animal industries have levied themselves to provide funds for further research into their respective problems. New projects are being added to an ever-growing programme of research."

Timeline

 1953 - 1959 CSIRO Sheep Biology Laboratory
       1959 - 1975 CSIRO Division of Animal Physiology
             1975 - 2000 CSIRO Division of Animal Production
                   2000 - CSIRO Livestock Industries

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Ailie Smith

Created: 28 July 2000, Last modified: 7 February 2025

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