Genetics

Adelaide University looks into life of genetics pioneer JS Davies

Beef Central 09/08/2023

THE University of Adelaide is celebrating to life of a cattle industry pioneer who bequeathed the organisation $2m after he died in the 1960s.

John Stanley Davies. Photo: University of Adelaide

A formal event will be held next Thursday at the District Hall in Spalding, north of Clare, to launch a new podcast series looking at the of John Stanley Davies.

According to UA, JS Davies never married and spent his working life developing excellence in the strains of beef cattle. By the judicious introduction of imported animals, he made his stock some of the best available in the land and raised the standard of cattle in many parts of Australia.

Shortly after he passed away in 1968, UA and Prince Alfred College learned the two organisations were bequeathed his $2 million estate on a 1/5 to 4/5 share. His Will directed that the properties be carried on for 20 years and the income be used to promote research in beef genetics.

The University sold the estate in 2009 and in 2012 set up an endowment fund to invest research into animal production from the sale of the JS Davies estate along with another property.

Today, the Adelaide University’s Davies Livestock Research Centre brings together advances in technology and knowledge to improve animal productivity, welfare and the quality of food for consumers.

The centre delivers excellence in ruminant science to ensure the sustainability of the red meat industry. A multi-disciplinary approach to research is used to answer scientific questions and respond to industry challenges with the end goal being to optimise animal productivity, product quality and wellbeing. To do this the centre brings together experts in animal breeding, genetics, physiology, reproduction, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, physics and engineering.

The Centre brings together researchers from within the University and industry, collaborating with national and international research partners to study the interactions among genetics, physiology, management and the natural environment.

The centre’s multi-disciplinary approach involves disciplines as diverse as physics and human medicine to the study livestock species which opens new opportunities for scientific discovery and to realise ground breaking practical applications.

 

  • To listen to the podcast looking into the life and legacy of JS Davies click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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