SHEEP farmers recently converged on Katanning for the FEED365 spring field day to hear about new year-round feed options that reduce reliance on costly supplementary feed.

The trials at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Katanning Research Station with Meat and Livestock Australia proved that a combination of forage crops could help sheep producers endure dry seasons, like the one that occurred last season.

Nearby, new generation saltbush trials produced enough fodder for sheep in just six months – reducing autumn feed costs by up to 30 per cent, while revitalising the landscape.

The research station is also home to the sheep feed intake facility – the biggest in Australia –where DPIRD scientists are exploring how to produce more efficient sheep that emit less greenhouse gases in line with increasing market demand.

In addition, DPIRD is evaluating different feed options to reduce methane emissions with its GreenFeed machines, which measure greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and cattle in the paddock.

The Katanning Research Station is working toward being carbon neutral and provides a demonstration site to guide producers to improve productivity and profitability and achieve carbon neutrality, to meet consumer demand.

This includes a salt land rehabilitation project to revitalise a 24ha saline site, as well as a 90ha  carbon sequestration demonstration planted with salt-tolerant perennial pastures for rotational sheep grazing.

Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the FEED365 project was a terrific initiative that was building more climate-resilient sheep businesses that were better equipped to manage dry seasons like seen in 2023-24.

“The Cook Government is backing a range of DPIRD research throughout the sheep meat supply chain that is helping our producers adapt to market demand for sustainably-produced meat.

“This work will ultimately improve flock productivity and profitability, while conserving the landscape for future generations.”

For more information on the research and development investments at the Katanning Research Station visit this website.