Dr Kendra Kerrisk

Principal Research Fellow
Faculty of Veterinary Science
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
CO4 - MC Franklin Lab,
Werombi Rd, Camden, NSW 2570
Ph:+61 2 4636 6327
Mob: 0428 101 372
Fax:+61 2 4655 2374
E:

Qualifications

BAppSc (Hons), PhD

Teaching Areas

Automatic Milking.
Milk Harvesting.

Projects

Future Dairy

Research

I developed a strong interest for the Dairy Industry whilst conducting undergraduate and post-graduate studies at Massey University in New Zealand. After completing my bachelor degree I undertook an Honours degree on “Quantitative Trait Loci analysis for milk colour in New Zealand pasture fed dairy bulls”.

Upon completion I took on a position of Technical Assistant at the WestpacTrust Agricultural Research Station in Taranaki (NZ) employed by the Dairying Research Corporation.
In 1999 I was successful in securing a scholarship through the New Zealand Large Herds Association to conduct doctorate studies at the University of Melbourne under the supervision Prof. Jock Macmillan – Peri-parturient Management for Large Dairy Herds using Controlled Breeding Programmes.

On returning to New Zealand in 2001, with employment at Dexcel (formerly Dairying Research Corporation) I accepted a position in the Greenfield Project – the world’s first pasture-based Automatic Milking System research farm. I worked within the Greenfield Project for almost 4 years before accepting a position with the University of Sydney as AMS Research Leader within the FutureDairy program based at Camden, NSW, Australia.

Contributions to the Profession and the Community

I have contributed significantly to the national and international knowledge regarding application of Automatic Milking Systems with pasture-based dairying. The work conducted within both the Greenfield Project and the FutureDairy project have been instrumental in our understanding of the implications of robotic milking when cows are grazed at pasture.

A significant output of my AMS research career was the development of set of “Management Guidelines for Pasture-Based AMS farms”. The guidelines have been an extremely valuable tool for farmers adopting (and contemplating adopting) AMS across Australia and further abroad.

One of the highlights of the work conducted within FutureDairy has been the involvement with the co-development of the world’s first Robotic Rotary (Automatic Milking Rotary – DeLaval AMRTM). This internationally recognised work will increase the feasibility of robotic milking for large dairy herds that are more common within the Australian and New Zealand industries.

Selected Publications

Kerrisk, formerly Davis

Hammer J.F., Morton J.M, Kerrisk K.L. 2011. Quarter-milking-, quarter-, udder- and lactation-level risk factors and indicators for clinical mastitis during lactation in pasture-fed dairy cows managed in an automatic milking system. Australian Veterinary Journal (in print)

Jago J., Kerrisk K. (2011) Training methods for introducing cows to a pasture-based automatic milking system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 131,Pp 79-85

Donohoe R.H., Davis K.L., Garcia S.C., Dickeson D.A., Osborne T., Bennetts S. and Thomson P.C. 2010. Evaluation of two training programs aimed to improve heifer early lactation performance in a pasture-based automated milking system. Animal Production Science Vol 50 939-945

Davis, K.L., Fulkerson, W.J., Garcia, S.C., Dickeson, D. and Barchia, I.M. 2008. The importance of pre-milking teat preparation on milk harvest rates and total crate time per milking session for Australian pasture-based cows milked by an automated milking system. Journal of Dairy Science. 91: 2604-2609.

Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L., Copeman, P.J., Ohnstad, I. and Woolford, M.W. 2007. Supplementary feeding at milking and minimum milking interval effects on cow traffic and milking performance in a pasture-based automatic milking system. Journal of Dairy Research. 74:4, 492-499.

Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L. and Jenson, R. 2007. Future innovative dairy technologies to address constraints of labour, information collection and decision-making on farms. Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, Conference Proceedings; Meeting the Challenges for Pasture-Based Dairying. pp 493-507.

Lopez-Benavides, M.G., Williamson, J.H., McGowan, J.E., Lacy-Hulbert, S.J., Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L., Woolford, M.W. 2006. Mastitis in cows milked in an automated or conventional milking system in New Zealand. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 66:252-257.

Davis, K.L., Jago, J.G., MacDonald, K.A., McGowan, J.E., Woolford, M.W. 2006. Pasture utilisation in a pastoral automated milking system. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 68, 81-86.

Jago, J., Davis, K. 2006. Automatic milking on New Zealand dairy farms. Proceedings of the Society of Dairy Cattle Veterinarians of the New Zealand Veterinary Association 23:73-80.

Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L., Copeman, P.J., Woolford, M.M. 2006. The effect of pre-milking teat-brushing on milk processing time in an automated milking system. Journal of Dairy Research 73(2):187-192

Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L., Newman, M. and Woolford, M.W. 2006. An economic evaluation of automatic milking systems for New Zealand dairy farms. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 66:263-269.

Jago, J.G., Davis, K.L., Woolford, M.W. 2006. Stage of lactation affects the milking performance and behaviour of cows in a pasture-based automated milking system. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 66:258-262.

Davis, K., J. Jago, R. Wieliczko, P. Copeman, K. Bright and M. Woolford. 2005. Factors influencing milk harvesting efficiency in an automatic milking system. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 65: 271-275.

Jago, J., Bright, K. Copeman, P., Davis, K., Jackson, A., Ohnstad, I., Wieliczko, R., Woolford, M. 2004. Remote automatic selection of cows for milking in a pasture-based automatic milking system. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 64:241-245.

Jago, J. A. Jackson, K. Davis, R. Wieliczko, P. Copeman, I. Ohnstad, R. Claycomb and M. Woolford. 2004. Is automatic milking possible with a 100% pasture diet? Proceedings of an International Symposium on Automatic Milking: A Better Understanding, pp 307.

Woolford, M. R. W. Claycomb, J. Jago, K. Davis, I. Ohnstad, R. Wieliczko1, P. J. A. Copeman1 and K. Bright1. 2004. 2004. Automatic Dairy Farming in New Zealand using extensive grazing systems. Proceedings of an International Symposium on Automatic Milking: A Better Understanding, pp 280-285.

Davis, K.L., Anderson, G.A. and Macmillan, K.L. 2003. Predicting calving curves for herds using controlled breeding programs. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. 46:97-104.

Woolford M, Davis K and Jago J (2003). The Dexcel Greenfield Project: A prototype for automatic dairy farming on pasture. Proceedings of the Australian Dairy Conference.

Davis, K.L. and Macmillan, K.L. 2002. Predicting the onset of parturition during late gestation of dairy cows using udder scoring and hormonal profiling. New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 62:34-37

Davis, K.L. and Macmillan K.L. 2001. Controlled calving with induction of parturition on Day 274 of gestation in dairy cows. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 61:184-186.

McGrath, J., Penno, J., Davis, K. and Wrenn, R. 1998. Effect of date and length of closure and post-grazing residual on pasture quality for silage. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association. 60:259-264.