Nutrition and reproduction

Obesity and related disorders

Obesity is a threat to the health of populations in most of the countries of the world, including Australia. Increasing incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in both developed and developing countries in recent decades has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide.

In Australia, over 67 per cent of men aged 25 to 64 years and 52 per cent of women in the same age group are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Currently, the cost of obesity and obesity related illnesses in Australia is more than $1.2 billion a year.

Programs available:

• Role of renin-angiotensin system in the development of obesity and insulin resistance
• Role of gut microbiota in the development of obesity and related diseases in animals and humans
• Adipokines as the link between obesity and insulin resistance syndrome.

Nutrition and fertility in dairy cows

The Australian dairy industry has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Milk production per cow has increased steadily by 1.5 to 2 per cent per year while fertility is declining by 1 per cent per year during this period. Poor fertility is the main reason for culling of dairy cows and if the trend continues the viability of the dairy industry will be threatened.  Urgent action is required to stop/reverse this trend.

Programs available:

• Biomarkers of fertility in the milk of high producing dairy cows
• Use of milk urea nitrogen to improve nutrition and fertility of dairy cows
• Adipokines and fertility in dairy cows.