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Seminar Series 2008
EverGraze - More livestock from perennials
| Time: Date: Venue: Presenters: |
3.30pm - 4.15pm Thursday, 28 February 2008 Conference Rm, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute Michael Friend, Susan Robertson, John Broster, Iain Hume |
EverGraze is a national project developing farming systems using perennial plants that will improve the production and profit of meat and wool enterprises whilst reducing environmental impacts. The Wagga component is comprised of four separate trials: using summer-active perennials to increase ovulation rate in ewes; using phalaris hedgerows or shrub belts to improve lamb survival; comparing four farming systems based on perennials that more efficiently use the feed base to create profit; and using shrub belts to intercept down-slope movement of water. Results from the first two years show spiking of nutrition increased ovulation rate by up to 22%. Lamb survival has not been increased due to immaturity of the shrubs. The production and gross margins of different farming systems has been markedly influenced by drought conditions, with the traditional self-replacing merino system returning the highest gross margin in 2006. However, in average seasons later lambing systems are expected to return 40% higher gross margins.
For further information, please contact:
- Michael Friend, tel 02 6933 2285, mfriend@csu.edu.au