Research

Our Research Activities

The consultants at MacKinnon Project are constantly working on a diverse range of research works. These researches are majorly aimed at finding a solution to the problems of our clients. Asides from this research, which we carry out for our clients, we also carry out contract research for organisations that work in a private capacity and Trusts. These private organisations include Agritech companies, animal health companies, and agribusiness that value our autonomous and fair approach.

We at the MacKinnon project make a valuable contribution through the following ways:

  • By playing rendering advisory services on trial design
  • By making sure the addresses of work are important problems of the industry. 
  • By looking for, collecting, and gathering dependable operators from clients of the MacKinnon Project interested in huge and extensive commercial enterprises focussed on grazing.

Our work output is transmitted to producers, professional conferences, producer forum presentations, and other advisers via the network we have in place with consultants and clients. Our results are also published in various publications, journals, reports that are very centred on farming.

The bulk of our research projects revolves around roundworms, profitability, wool quality and wool production, time of shearing trail, etc. Most of our projects are funded by key funding bodies within the industries such as Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).

Internal Parasites

Comments from Internal Parasites Producers 

Below are the comments from co-operators as regards the advantages of IPM-s participation in farm-related works.

IPMs-1 (Peter & Jay Kolar,'Mure lane,' Coleraine)

“Over the past few years of being actively involved in IPM worm projects, it has been quite a journey, an interesting one at that. It has helped me place more focus on internal parasites on the farm. It has also given me more clarity on the fact the use of capsules should not be tolerated in the absolute management of the farm as the treatment can prove it cost intensive.”

“For a while now, the farm has been infested with worms, and the farm has been struggling with its control. However, the fact that these worms have drastically reduced in recent times has been quite pleasing. 

Profitability

At MacKinnon group, we have executed studies revolving around grazing enterprises’ ability to make profits, especially in areas prone to high rainfall.

These studies include but are not limited to:

  • The assessment of weather forecast in Australia
  • The synthesis of risk involved in the production of wool in areas with high rainfall
  • illustration of management of risk involved in the wool price.

Transfer of Technology

Eyre Network

This is a group developed by three consultancy groups with the lead as MacKinnon group. The project aimed to cater to wool producers and help them make more profits as time advances.

More than not, the project used active learning to serve as a means of identification for required areas of knowledge. 

Wool Quality

Staple strength and Fibre diameter is majorly the factor influencing the price of wool received. Some of the research areas which we have looked into are:

  • The valuation of measurement of staple strength 
  • The value of superfine wool as it relates to their topmost performance.