Reducing sheep methane emissions through improved forage quality on mixed farms

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Brian Dozma (SARDI)
Gonzalo Mata (SARDI)
Andrew Toovey (SARDI)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
Trial location(s) Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA
Reducing sheep methane emissions through improved forage quality on mixed farms locations
Aims

Sheep are an integral part of low-medium rainfall mixed farming systems across southern Australia and they account for 23% of Australia’s total livestock emissions. Apart from the contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the energy lost as methane represents a significant inefficiency in sheep production systems. Therefore, maintaining or improving the balance between forage and animal productivity, and methane emissions is likely to be a challenge under a warmer and drier climate. The aim of this trial is to evaluate pasture/forage options to fill in the late-spring, autumn and early winter feed gaps; and to measure comparative animal production, feed quality and methane emissions in response to current and improved sheep feeding strategies.

Key messages
  • For the 3 phases of methane measurement reported, methane emission intensity (L CH4/hr/100g ADWG) was significantly lower for lambs on a better quality forage with high metabolisable energy, digestibility and crude protein.
  • Feedlotting is an option that gives producers the flexibility to finish lambs when pasture availability is limited or light soils are at risk of erosion.
  • Spray-topping cereal crops is a good management strategy for weed control and feed management for livestock, however, livestock productivity gains can be compromised when spray-topped cereals are grazed without offering lambs better quality fodder supplements.
Lead research organisation Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source AGAC AOTGR2-0039
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thanks to Mark Klante, Brett McEvoy and John Kelsh for managing the livestock and setting up trial infrastructure; Jessica Crettenden for livestock handling and sheep data management, and Roy Latta for his technical expertise. This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture – Action on the Ground program (Project Code: AOTGR2-0039 Reducing sheep methane emissions through improved forage quality on mixed farms).


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Forage: Oats Pasture: Medic Other crop: Grasses Grain Legume: Lupins Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Grazing: Application Method
  • Grazing: Rate
  • Grazing: Timing
Trial type
Trial design

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015 Oats

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015 Medic

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015 Grasses

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015 Lupins

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Minnipa Agricultural Centre 2015 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Minnipa Agricultural Centre, SA Calcarosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA
2015 415.5mm
2014 453.9mm
2013 396.0mm
2012 450.9mm
2011 480.7mm
2010 470.2mm
2009 468.7mm
2008 379.3mm
2007 367.3mm
2006 402.0mm
2005 385.9mm
2004 384.9mm
2003 396.9mm
2002 397.0mm
2001 455.2mm
2000 452.8mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 325mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 241mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 333mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 258mm

Derived climate information

Minnipa Agricultural Centre SA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.



Trial last modified: 06-08-2019 07:54am AEST