• A Charles Sturt University-led research team has received a $2.2 million Climate-Smart Agriculture Program grant
• The project will develop novel strategies which sheep producers can use to increase production, profit and resilience to climate variability while protecting our natural resources
• The grant is funded by the Australian Government under the Natural Heritage Trust

A Charles Sturt University-led research team has been awarded a $2.2 million grant to enhance the production, profit and resilience of sheep-based agriculture.

Senior Research Fellow with the Charles Sturt Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment and Senior Lecturer in Ruminant Production with the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences Dr Susan Robertson is leading the new project, which will be funded over the next 3.5 years.

“This grant will allow us to develop and promote new strategies on the ground that producers can use to improve the resilience of production systems against our warming and more variable climate,” Dr Robertson said.  “This is already having an impact on the sheep industry, all while reducing methane emissions, avoiding soil erosion and degradation of pastures.”

“The project will assist in meeting goals for environmental sustainability while improving sheep production and profitability, so it will be a  win-win for the industry and the environment.”

Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust, Dr Robertson said the project would see industry and research collaborate to achieve the best outcomes.

“The Charles Sturt research team has partnered with Green Blue Health and Four Seasons Company who will provide novel feed supplements, and also JM Livestock and MerinoLink to engage sheep producers,” she said.

“This co-design will help combine the project findings and information to then assist farmers’ decisions on profitable, sustainable practices.

“This assistance will be delivered through extension events facilitated by MerinoLink across six locations through NSW and Victoria, as well as through online national events.”

Dr Robertson reiterated that climate change has a significant impact on the animals farmed and the broader agricultural network as a result.

“We will be testing some novel feed supplements that we know can assist animals to cope with heat stress, improve production and reduce methane emission intensity,” she said.

“Heat stress already reduces the number of lambs weaned per ewe and will become a larger issue as the number of hot days increase, so strategies to minimise heat stress are expected to have large benefits.”

In addition to climate impacts, the project will investigate strategies to improve performance in relation to confinement feeding.

“Confinement feeding is a key method to protect soils and pastures from over-grazing, but lambing in confinement is a practice most producers avoid,” Dr Robertson said.

“We need to work out what might work for Australian producers, because droughts are inevitable.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins MP said the government was dedicated to supporting further adaption to climate change, in a way that boosts agricultural productivity, competitiveness and sustainability.

“Our farmers are productive and agile when finding ways of producing our food and fibre that reduce the impact on the land,” Minister Collins said.

“These grants are designed to aid farmers, creating new opportunities to move from theory to adaptable practice.  

“I want to congratulate the successful applicants and I am looking forward to seeing the results of their projects.”