Enrich Phase 3 Demonstrating resilient, healthy and profitable livestock systems with multi purpose shrubs (P1 DP03)

Summary

The Enrich project aimed to provide knowledge and development into sustainable grazing systems, with multiple benefits, for farmers in low-medium rainfall areas through the incorporation of Australian perennial shrubs. Previous project work has identified several shrub species with desirable productivity, nutritive value or bioactive properties. However, the effect of grazing these species together on livestock production had not been tested. Testing at two sites found that sheep could gain weight grazing shrub-based systems without supplementary feeding during autumn, a time typically associated with a feed shortage. Shrub-based systems, when used in conjunction with companion pasture, have the potential to increase livestock productivity and improve feedbase stability, as well as delivering environmental benefits. Work towards developing a variety of old man saltbush with higher digestibility and palatability to sheep reached the final stages of commercialisation with a pre-commercial ‘research release’. Substantial amounts of awareness-raising activities were conducted including field days and various media to facilitate adoption. A booklet was also developed to aid landholders to apply shrub-based systems on farm. Practice change due to Enrich research was assessed to have occurred on more than 500 farms.