Professor John Yovich (right) receives a cheque from National Australia Bank General Manager Trevor Hunt and Peiter Bergshoeff, while NAB Research Fellow in Equine Medicine Dr Sharanne Raidal looks on.

THE study of viral respiratory tract infection in horses - the horse equivalent of asthma - and improving meat quality in prime lambs are two of the major research projects currently being funded by a three-year $240,000 scholarship from National Australia Bank.

Scholarship recipients, NAB Research Fellow in Prime Lamb Quality Dr Robin Jacob and NAB Research Fellow in Equine Medicine Dr Sharanne Raidal, commenced their studies at Murdoch in July last year.

Since then, Dr Raidal’s research interests have focused on equine viral respiratory tract and respiratory diseases, the high incidence of ‘latent’ viral infection in racehorses in Perth, and identifying the major injury and disease problems in racing populations.

She has also investigated pleuropneumonia - or horse travel sickness - and foal immunity.

Dr Raidal, who last year won the Ausrichter Poster Prize at the annual Bain-Fallon conference in Perth, has also been successful in gaining a grant from the Rural Industries Research and Develop-ment Corporation (RIRDC) for research into the role of latent equine herpesvirus infections in respiratory disease.

Dr Robin Jacob’s National Australia Bank sponsored dark cutting meat project is well underway with 10 research trials completed and three more planned.

He is studying the factors regulating the levels of glycogen - a key metabolite determining lamb quality - in the muscle of prime lambs.

Dr Jacob said some 500 merino lamb producers had attended field days recently to hear about the prevention of dark cutting meat.

“The State’s major lamb processors have really embraced the project, giving valued co-operation and support at abattoirs,” said Dr Jacob.

“As well as facilitating trials, the work with the processors has provided a comprehensive insight into the management of lambs during the marketing process.

“This is expected to lead to further research and recommendations.”