Dr Kim Bunter

Qualifications

2002 Doctor of Philosophy, University of New England, Australia.
Thesis: The genetic analysis of reproduction and production traits recorded for farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus).

1996 Master of Rural Science, University of New England, Australia.
Masters Thesis: Mate selection for joint control of response and inbreeding in closed pig breeding herds.

1988 Bachelor of Rural Science (Hons.II), University of New England, Australia.
Honours Thesis: Phenotypic and genetic parameters relating to scrotal circumference and serving capacity in beef bulls.

Research Interests

Pigs, sheep, and beef; developing breeding programs for ostriches and Sydney rock oysters.

Other interests include:

• Factors affecting  mortality in piglets, lambs and calves and opportunities for genetic evaluation to improve survival
• Reproduction and maternal performance attributes of sows, ewes and beef cattle
• Development and body composition of gilts
• Feed efficiency and feed intake
• Developing selection  criteria for behavioural attributes which could improve both welfare and  performance (sows)
• Immune competence  and stress effects on performance
• Use of novel  physiological traits in breeding programs, eg juvenile IGF-I in pig breeding  and progesterone for yearling lambing outcomes (ewes)
• Breeding program  design and operational issues affecting practical implementation
• Meat quality comparisons
• Parameter estimation and genetic evaluation systems
• Inbreeding and mate selection
• Industry consultancy

Research Achievements

• Industry validation of current and new traits for BREEDPLAN
• Advanced mixed model procedures for the Australian Pig Industry and evaluation of genetic components of sow lifetime reproductive efficiency
• Genetic evaluation for Australian ostriches
• Quantifying meat and eating quality differences between major Australian pig genotypes
• Improving behaviour, welfare and commercial performance of group housed sows through appropriate selection
• Physical and nutritional interventions to reduce sow lameness.
• Genetic associations between voluntary feed intake of females, finisher performance and sow longevity
• Direct Molecular Markers for Pig Improvement
• Industry management and commercialisation plan for the Sydney rock oyster breeding program

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Bunter, K L; Lewis, C R G and  Newman, S (2015).  “Social genetic  effects influence reproductive performance of group-housed sows.”  Journal  of Animal Science 93(8):3783-3793  doi: 10.2527/jas2015-9111.

Bunter, K L; Swan, A A;  Purvis, I and Brown, D J (2015).  “Pregnancy scanning  can be used as a source of data for genetic evaluation of reproductive traits  of ewes.”  Animal Production Science doi: org/10.1071/AN14630.

Bunter, K L;  Johnston, D J; Wolcott, M L and Fordyce, G (2014).   “Factors associated with calf mortality in tropically adapted beef  breeds managed in extensive Australian production systems.”  Animal Production Science 54 (1) 25-36  doi: org/10.1071/AN12421.

Bunter, K L and Johnston, D J (2014). “Genetic parameters for calf  mortality and correlated cow and calf traits in tropically adapted beef breeds  managed in extensive Australian production systems.”  Animal  Production Science 54 (1) 50-59  doi: org/10.1071/AN12422.

Lewis, C R G and Bunter, K L (2013).  “A  longitudinal study of weight and fatness in sows from selection to parity five  using random regression.”  Journal  of Animal Science 91 (10):4598-4610  doi: 10.2527/jas.2012-6016.

Lewis, C R G and Bunter, K L (2011).  “Effects of seasonality and ambient  temperature on genetic parameters for production and reproduction traits in  pigs.”  Animal Production Science 51 (7):615-626.

Lewis, C R G and Bunter, K L (2011).  “Body development in sows, feed intake and  maternal capacity. Part 1: Performance pre-breeding and lactation feed intake  traits of primiparous sows.”  Animal 5 (12):1843-1854 doi:  10.1017/S1751731111001121.

Lewis, C R G and Bunter, K L (2011).  “Body development in sows, feed intake and  maternal capacity. Part 2: Gilt body condition before and after lactation,  reproductive performance and correlations with lactation feed intake.”  Animal 5 (12):1855-1867 doi: 10.1017/S1751731111001133.

Bunter, K L;  Cai, W; Johnston, D J and Dekker, J  C M (2010).  “Selection to lower residual  feed intake in pigs produces a correlated response in juvenile insulin-like  growth factor-I (IGF-1) concentration.”  Journal of Animal Science 88  (6):1973-1981.

Rauw, W M ; Hermesch, S; Bunter,  K L and Gomez-Raya,  L (2009).  “The relationship of food intake during growth and food  intake at maturity with lactation food intake in a mouse model.”  Livestock Science 123:249-254.

Bunter, K L; Bennet, C; Luxford, B G and Graser, H-U (2008).  “Sire  breed comparisons for meat and eating quality traits in Australian pig  populations”.  Animal 2 (8):1168-1177.

Cloete, S W P; Brand, Z; Bunter, K L and  Malecki, I A (2008).  “Direct responses in  breeding values to selection of ostriches for Liveweight and reproduction.”   Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48:1314-1319.

Cloete, S W P; Engelbrecht, A; Olivier, J J and Bunter,  K L (2008).  “Deriving a preliminary  breeding objective for commercial ostriches: an overview.”  Australian Journal of  Experimental Agriculture 48:1247-1256.

Cloete, S W P; Bunter, K L; Lambrechts, H; Brand, Z; Swart, D and Greyling, J P C (2006). "Variance components for live weight, body measurements and reproductive traits of pair-mated ostrich females." British Poultry Science 47(2): 147-158.

Bunter, K L, Hermesch, S, Luxford, B G, Graser, H-U and Crump, R E (2005). "Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) measured in juvenile pigs is genetically correlated with economically important performance traits." Aust J of Experimental Agriculture 45:783-792.

Kerr, C A, Bunter, K L, Seymour, R, Shen, B and Reverter A (2005). "The heritability of the expression of two stress-regulated gene fragments in pigs." Journal of Animal Science 83:1753-1765.

Bunter, K L and Cloete, S W P (2004). Genetic parameters for egg-, chick- and live-weight traits recorded in farmed ostriches (Struthio camelus). Livest Prod Sci 91(1-2):9-22.

Lahti, K, Bunter, K L, Mercer, J and Clearkin, S (2001). Genetic relationships between insulin-like growth factor-1 and performance traits in two lines of purebred swine. Journal of Animal Science 79 (Suppl. 1) p.192.

Johnston, D J and Bunter, K L (1996). Days to calving in Angus cattle: Genetic and environmental effects, and covariances with other traits. Livestock Production Science 45: 13-22.

Tholen, E, Bunter, K L, Hermesch, S and Graser, H-U (1996). The genetic foundation of reproduction traits in Australian pig populations. I. Genetic parameters for weaning to conception interval, farrowing interval, stayability and other common reproduction and production traits. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47:1261-74.

Tholen, E, Bunter, K L, Hermesch, S and Graser, H-U (1996). The genetic foundation of reproduction traits in Australian pig populations. II. Relationships between weaning to conception interval, farrowing interval and stayability. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47: 1275-90.

Conference Proceedings

2014

Bunter, K L; Lewis, C R G and Newman, S (2014).  “Social genetic effects for litter size of  sows housed in groups during gestation.”  In Proceedings  of the 10th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production,  Vancouver, Canada, 17-22 August.  Paper 380.

2013

Bunter, K L and Brown, D J (2013). “Yearling and adult expressions of  reproduction in maternal sheep breeds are genetically different traits.”  Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed. Genet. Napier, New Zealand,  July 20-23.  20:82-85.

Engelbrecht, A; Cloete, S  W P; Bunter, K L; van Wyk, J B  and Hoffman, L C (2013).  “Genetic  parameters for slaughter and meat traits in ostriches.”  Proc. Assoc. Advmt. Anim. Breed. Genet. Napier, New Zealand,  July 20-23.  20:381-384.

2012

Lewis, C R G; Bunter, K L and Hermesch,  S (2012). “Effect of within-year  variation on growth performance and subsequent reproductive performance in  gilts.”ADSA-AMPA-ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Phoenix Arizona. 15-19 July  2012.

2011

Bunter, K L and Lewis, C R G (2011).  “Genetic variation in growth patterns is  associated with sow lifetime performance.”   Proceedings of the 19th  Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics.  Perth, Western Australia. July 19 - 21. pp.95-98.

Bunter, K L and Tabuaciri, P (2011).  “Sow health influences piglet  survival.”  Proceedings of the 13th Biennial Conference of  the Australian Pig Science Association (APSA). Adelaide, SA, November 27-30.  p.99

Englebrecht, A; Cloete, S W  P; Bunter, K L and van Wyk, J B (2011).  “Genetic variation and heritability of ostrich  weight traits.”  Proceedings of the 19th Conference of the Association for the Advancement  of Animal Breeding and Genetics. Perth, Western Australia. July 19 - 21. pp.183-186.

Lewis, C R G and Bunter, K L (2011).  “Survival analysis for the productive life of  commercial sows.”  Proceedings of the 19th Conference of the  Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics. Perth, Western  Australia. July 19 - 21. pp.99-102.

Tabuaciri, P; Bunter, K L and Graser, H-U (2011). “Piglet traits at birth are  associated with their survival until weaning.”   Proceedings of the 19th  Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and  Genetics. Perth, Western Australia. July 19 - 21. pp.115-118.

Tabuaciri, P and Bunter, K L (2011).  “Piglet attributes at birth can  influence survival.”  Proceedings of the 13th Biennial Conference of  the Australian Pig Science Association (APSA). Adelaide, SA, November 27 - 30.  p.246.

2010

Bunter, K L; Lewis, C R G; Hermesch, S; Smits, R and Luxford, B G (2010).  “Maternal capacity, feed intake and body development in sows.”  Proceedings of the  9th World Congr. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod. Leipzig, Germany, 1-6 August.

Hermesch, S; Jones, R M; Bunter, K L and Gilbert, H (2010).  “Consequences of selection for lean growth  and prolificacy on sow attributes.”  Proceedings  of the 9th World Congr. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod. Leipzig, Germany, 1-6  August.

Lewis, C R  G; Hermesch, S and Bunter, K L (2010). “A random regression analysis of  sow lactation feed intake and the effect of temperature on intake.”  Proceedings of the 9th World Congr. Genet.  Appl. Livest. Prod. Leipzig, Germany, 1-6 August.

Tabuaciri,  P; Bunter, K L and Graser, H-U (2010). “Dam attributes and postnatal  piglet survival.”  Proceedings of the 9th World Congr. Genet. Appl. Livest. Prod. Leipzig, Germany, 1-6 August.

Memberships

Member - Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA)

Member - Association for the Advancement of Breeding and Genetics (AAABG)

Further Information

Other Interests

Parameter estimation, genetic evaluation systems, breeding programs, inbreeding, mate selection and reproductive traits in cattle, pigs and ostriches, new traits and disease resistance.

Novel species.