by Assoc. Professor Reza Barekatain
The PRF team is thrilled to announce that an ARC Linkage Project application “Hot weather, cool chickens: tackling heat stress through nutrition” led by the team of Professor Sonia Liu, A/Prof Reza Barekatain and Dr Mehdi Toghyani has been successful. This three-year ARC-funded project focuses on developing nutritional strategies to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens. The project represents an excellent collaboration with IFF Animal Nutrition and Health, with total cash funding of $1.4 million from the ARC, IFF, and the University of Sydney.
The project provides substantial support for a series of systematic research experiments, as well as funding for an early career researcher and postgraduate students throughout its duration.
This ARC Linkage Project aims to develop sustainable, heat-adaptive feeding strategies for broiler chickens by optimising dietary protein, amino acid, and net energy levels under increasing climate stress. With chicken meat being Australia’s most widely consumed and affordable source of animal protein, maintaining production efficiency and animal welfare is critical. The project will define optimal nutrient combinations and evaluate the role of feed enzymes and betaine in mitigating the impacts of heat stress. Outcomes will include practical feeding guidelines for both thermoneutral and heat-stressed production environments. Ultimately, the project will contribute to food security and strengthen the resilience of Australia’s poultry industry in the face of climate change and growing protein demand.
“This ARC Linkage success reflects the Faculty of Science’s commitment to world-class, partnership-driven research that addresses major challenges for industry and society. The project will generate important knowledge and practical outcomes to support sustainable food production, animal welfare, and resilience in the face of climate change.” Said Professor Marcel Dinger, Dean of Science at the University of Sydney.
Congratulations to Sonia and the entire research team on this outstanding achievement. This successful application further strengthens Sonia’s already impressive track record of securing competitive ARC funding.
