Glyphosate is the world's most widely used herbicide. It is nonselective and has been used to control a broad range of weed species for the past 20 yr, without the appearance of resistant weed biotypes. However, a biotype ofLolium rigidumfrom a field in Northern Victoria, Australia, in which glyphosate had been used for the past 15 yr, failed to be controlled by label recommended rates. Based on LD₅₀values from pot dose-response experiments, this biotype exhibited resistance to glyphosate and was nearly 10-fold more resistant compared to the susceptible biotypes tested. The biotype was resistant to three different salts of glyphosate. The biotype was also nearly threefold more resistant to diclofop-methyl but was susceptible to other commonly used selective and broad-spectrum herbicides. Between the two-leaf and tillering stages of development, a susceptible biotype exhibited a small but significant decrease in tolerance to glyphosate, whereas tolerance of the resistant biotype remained unchanged with age. The resistant phenotype was verified in experiments in which seed was germinated in the presence of glyphosate. Observations on shoot and root growth of seedlings in these experiments suggested that the resistance mechanism might be associated more with the shoot than with the root.

Charles Sturt University commenced herbicide resistance monitoring in 1991. A random survey in 1991 to determine the level of resistance in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) to selective herbicides across the south-west slopes region of New South Wales found that 30% of samples were resistant to at least 1 herbicide. A subsequent survey of commercially available ryegrass seed found that 58% of these samples were resistant to at least 1 herbicide. As a result of these findings, a commercial testing service was established and has since received samples from a large proportion of the southern Australian cropping belt. Seventy-seven percent of samples tested were resistant to Group AI, 40% to Group B and 22% to Group AII herbicides. Lower levels of resistance were found to Group D (8%), Group C (1%) and Group M (0.4%) herbicides. The correlation between resistance in Group AI and AII herbicides was lower than expected given that these herbicides are considered to have the same mode of action. Within the Group AI herbicides the observed response of the samples was consistent across herbicide formulations. Resistance to clethodim varied from observed responses to other Group AII herbicides. The variation in resistance levels (and degree of multiple resistance) in each Australian state is discussed in relation to environmental conditions and cultural practices. The size of this dataset allows for the analysis of the relationships present among herbicide resistant annual ryegrass.

Bovine maternal behavior is known to be influenced by a variety of factors including hormonal mediation, breed, age, parity, host genetics and general management practices. Following centuries of varying levels of domestication processes, the behavior of the bovine cow has altered from that of her original wild ungulate ancestors, although many maternal instincts have remained unchanged. The influence of maternal behavior on calf health and performance is of interest to cow-calf beef production operations, as in most instances, the cow is solely responsible for rearing the calf until weaning. However, investigating the magnitude of this influence is challenging, in part because objective measurement of behavioral traits is difficult, particularly in extensive settings. In recent years, while a number of remote monitoring devices have been developed that afford opportunities for objective measurement of behavioral traits in livestock, characterization of physiological mechanisms that underlie superior maternal behavior, including identification of potential biomarkers remains elusive in cattle. Hormonal profiles during the periparturient period have been shown to influence behavioral patterns in both current and future generations in other mammalian species and may provide insights into the physiology of bovine maternal behavior. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe general characteristics of bovine maternal behavior and the factors known to influence it, including hormonal drivers, through which cross-reference to other species is made. Current methods of measuring and assessing behavior that may also be applicable to most production settings have also been reviewed. At present, there is no known hormonal assay that can be used to measure and/or reliably predict bovine maternal behavior post-calving or across generations. Being able to objectively assess superior maternal behavior, whether that be through remote monitoring, hormonal profiling or indirectly through measuring calf performance will be beneficial to livestock industries in the future.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the social relationships between individual sheep, and factors that influence this, through the novel application of the statistical multiple membership multiple classification (MMMC) model. In study one 49 ewes (ranging between 1 and 8 years old) were fitted with data loggers, which recorded when pairs of sheep were within 4m or less of each other, within a social group, for a total of 6days. In study two proximity data were collected from 45 ewes over 17days, as were measures of ewe temperament, weight and weather. In study 1 age difference significantly influenced daily contact time, with sheep of the same age spending an average of 20min 43s together per day, whereas pairs with the greatest difference in age spent 16min 33s together. Maximum daily temperature also significantly affected contact time, being longer on hotter days (34min 40s hottest day vs. 18min 17s coolest day), as did precipitation (29min 33s wettest day vs. 10min 32s no rain). Vocalisation in isolation, as a measure of temperament, also affected contacts, with sheep with the same frequency of vocalisations spending more time together (27min 16s) than those with the greatest difference in vocalisations (19min 36s). Sheep behaviour in the isolation box test (IBT) was also correlated over time, but vocalisations and movement were not correlated. Influences of age, temperature and rain on social contact are all well-established and so indicate that MMMC modelling is a useful way to analyse social structures of the flock. While it has been demonstrated that personality factors affect social relationships in non-human animals, the finding that vocalisation in isolation influences pair social contact in sheep is a novel one.

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is an Australian innovation, developed to target high proportions of weed seed retained at crop maturity by many major weed species. There is the potential, however, that a reduction in the average height of retained seed is an adaptation to the long-term use of HWSC practices. With the aim of examining the distribution of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidumGaudin) seed through crop canopies, a survey of Australian wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) fields was conducted at crop maturity. Nine sites with medium to long-term HWSC use were specifically included to examine the influence of HWSC use on seed retention height. During the 2013 wheat harvest,L. rigidumand wheat plant samples were collected at five heights downward through the crop canopy (40, 30, 20, 10, and 0 cm above ground level) in 71 wheat fields. Increased crop competition resulted in higher proportions ofL. rigidumseed in the upper crop canopy (>40 cm). The increase in plant height is likely a shade-intolerance response ofL. rigidumplants attempting to capture more light. This plant attribute creates the opportunity to use crop competition to improve HWSC efficacy by increasing the average height of seed retention. Crop competition can, therefore, have a double impact by reducing overallL. rigidumseed production and increasing seed retention height. Examining the distribution of wheat biomass andL. rigidumseed through the crop canopy, we determined that reducing harvest height for HWSC considerably increased the collection ofL. rigidumseed (25%) but to a lesser extent wheat crop biomass (14%). Comparison of + and − HWSC use at nine locations found no evidence of adaptation to this form of weed control following 5 to 10 yr of use. Although the potential for resistance to HWSC remains, these results indicate that this will not readily occur in the field.