SheepLinks FEED365 all year livestock forage systems

Summary

Grazing systems in southern Western Australia are challenged by climate change with increasingly hotter, drier and more variable seasons.

In this context the Integrated R&D PDS - FEED365 project will engage sheep producers and allied industries to re-design livestock forage systems for grazing all-year-round in Mediterranean environments. The goal is to create resilient sheep production systems, allowing farmers to increase livestock returns by grazing quality (green) forage all year round with minimal supplementary feeding.

Initially bio-economic modelling will be conducted,  driven by the particular demands of the livestock production system to assess the value proposition of new and modified feedbase strategies. Modelling outcomes will then be validated and demonstrated through a series of field experiments at the Katanning Research Facility (KRF)

Six satellite demonstration sites will follow a participatory research process utilising a subset of forage options appropriate for the region and production system.  

Objectives

By the 30th June 2025 the participant will have:  

1. Modelled, evaluated and demonstrated increased edible forage biomass at critical feed periods, sheep grazing days/sheep daily liveweight gains for each candidate forage option in future hotter drier climates .  

2. Reported on the performance of each forage individually and as part of a multispecies forage production system that could improve seasonal forage availability and feed quality   

3. Ranked each forage species on their ability to compete with established trees and identify promising combinations of trees and forages for livestock production.  

4. Provided principles and bio-economic modelling which can be used to develop and support adoption of the new seasonally sequenced forage combinations within a whole-farm production system. 

5. Established a minimum of six satellite demonstration sites, which will follow a participatory research process utilising a subset of forage options appropriate for the region and production system. 

6. Conducted a site establishment field day and minimum of three additional field days (one per annum) at the Katanning Research Facility and a minimum of one per satellite demonstration site. So that demonstrate change in producer knowledge, attitudes and skills can be measured, with at least 120 farm businesses.    

7. Presented findings at a minimum of three industry events, to be agreed in advance with MLA.  

8. Completed a minimum of three industry or research community facing publications such as DPIRD technical bulletins or scientific research papers.  

9. Submitted a PowerPoint presentation on project outcomes and completed a project webinar for relevant MLA Managers. 

10. Publish decision support materials to match new forage combinations to agro-climatic zones and soil types to assist producers in choosing the best forage for their farm.  

Progress

Feed365 is part of the broader SheepLinks collaboration with the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The aim of the project is to trial various pasture species and varieties to assess the ability to re-design livestock forage systems for grazing all-year-round in Mediterranean environments. The goal is to create resilient sheep production systems, allowing farmers to increase livestock returns by grazing quality (green) forage all year round with minimal supplementary feeding.   

The Feed365 project is ongoing with plant and animal production measurements taken throughout the 2023 growing season, and into the current 2023/24 summer. This continues to contribute to a dataset that identifies pasture species and combinations that show potential to address traditional feedgaps within mediterranean environments. Six Grower groups are demonstrating various pasture species and mixes across the WA wheatbelt.