A new research program at Agriculture Victoria’s Hamilton SmartFarm is using next generation technology to help farmers raise healthier, more productive flocks.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said the MultiMix forage research program would determine which combinations of multispecies pasture mixes work best for sheep producers

The research will support meat sheep production while also cutting methane emissions.

The Victorian Government is investing $2.4 million in the program, with additional support from Meat & Livestock Australia and the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre, bringing the total funding to $5.5 million to deliver the three-year program.

This research will deliver important insights into the benefits of using mixed pastures as an alternative to perennial ryegrass, currently the main source of feed for Australian sheep farms.

Globally, researchers are exploring diverse pasture mixes by blending different plant species to create more resilient and productive pastures.

Most of the research to date has been conducted in higher rainfall zones, so it’s important to understand how well these pasture mixes will perform under drier Australian conditions.

These mixes can grow deeper roots, require less fertiliser, and may even help reduce enteric methane emissions from sheep and cattle.

The goal of MultiMix is to find the right combination of plant types that are both productive even in drier seasons and can reduce methane emissions from grazing livestock.

“In the face of increasingly variable climates and rising input costs, producers are actively seeking pasture systems that reduce reliance on nitrogen inputs through enhanced legume content and improved resilience,” Meat & Livestock Australia’s Sarah Strachan said.

The pasture trials started a few months ago, with 25 hectares of pasture trials already sown at the Hamilton SmartFarm as part of the first stage of the project and is ready for sheep to graze now.

For more information, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/research/research-smartfarms

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Tuesday, 6th June 2023

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