As part of a partnership between research bodies, universities, and the Western Australian (WA) Government, a new study initiative aims to expand future beef production options in the State’s north.
According to the State Government, the $6 million effort aims to improve synergies between the diversified Ord River Irrigated Area and the long-running northern pastoral industry in WA.
It is the first project to be launched as part of the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration, and it is supported by a number of partners, including the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA).
“This is an exciting new project looking at ways to diversify our pastoral systems in a sustainable way and enable the pastoral sector to tap into the production potential of the Ord,” Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said.
“This project brings together a range of research agencies and universities under the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration, linking them with the CRCNA to deliver benefits that will not only be applicable for WA, but right across Northern Australia,” Minister Jarvis stated.
The Cropping Enabled Cattle project will investigate the potential for irrigated crops in the Ord, including cotton meal and seed, maize and other grass silage, to contribute to local cattle finishing systems during a three-year period.
Researchers will evaluate a number of cattle backgrounding systems in the Ord Valley, including a sterile species of the fodder tree leucaena, which has been demonstrated to minimise methane emissions from grazing cattle.
According to the State Government, the initiative has a major emphasis on developing research capacity in regional WA, with three new regional jobs created and joint PhD appointments established with Collaboration partners.
Minister Jarvis stated that the project exemplifies the Collaboration’s goal of developing long-term research capacity and competency in WA and generating relevant research outputs.
“This project aims to deliver new knowledge of feeding systems to optimise feeding and grow-out systems for cattle in the Kimberley – ultimately growing the productivity and profitability of the sector,” Minister Jarvis added.
