P.PSH.1415 - Pasture mixes to finish lambs in East Gippsland
Productive pastures and systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production (emissions intensity)
| Project start date: | 15 September 2022 |
| Project end date: | 30 October 2024 |
| Publication date: | 14 June 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Victoria |
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Summary
This project compared single and multi-species pastures in lamb finishing systems in East Gippsland to determine lamb growth rates and greenhouse gas emissions.
Objectives
The objectives of the project were to investigate the production and greenhouse gas emissions in two lamb finishing trials (one in winter and one in summer), simulate impacts of pasture on soil carbon and engage producers and service providers in workshops and other events to discuss these topics.
Key findings
In the winter trial, lamb growth rates on the multi-species pasture were higher than the single species pasture (0.33 and 0.26 kg liveweight/day respectively) but the differences between the multi-species and singles species pasture in the summer trial were less pronounced (0.29 and 0.24 kg liveweight/day respectively). In both trials, total greenhouse gas emissions from the lambs grazing the two pasture types were similar, but emissions intensity was slightly lower for the multi-species pasture because of the larger amount of weight gain achieved.
Benefits to industry
The results support the notion that productive pastures and systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production (emissions intensity) which is an important message for livestock producers.
MLA action
MLA will disseminate the findings of this project to industry to demonstrate the value of pasture mixes on farm emissions profiles.
More information
| Project manager: | Daniel Forwood |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | The University Of Melbourne |
