Visitors to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) display at Newdegate Machinery Field Days can explore research, development and biosecurity initiatives helping primary producers build productive and resilient businesses.
Visitors to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) display at Newdegate Machinery Field Days can explore research, development and biosecurity initiatives helping primary producers build productive and resilient businesses.
Livestock producers will be able to access information about confinement feeding, sheep condition scoring, along with current livestock and pasture research projects.
The department's GreenFeed machine will be on display, accompanied by researchers from the Katanning Research Station who will explain how the machine works.
DPIRD senior research scientist Umair Khan said the cutting-edge machine measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from individual cows and sheep, allowing researchers to more accurately determine emissions in the paddock.
"The machine offers researchers the opportunity to work with livestock producers to benchmark GHG emissions from WA grazing systems and to evaluate different feed types aimed at reducing methane emissions while maintaining animal and farm productivity," Mr Khan said.
Research scientist Brittany Bolt will discuss and answer questions on sheep breeding plans and genetic tools such as ASBVs and can arrange a follow-up discussion with producers keen to dig deeper into their own flock's genetics.
Research Scientist Claire Macleay will be available to discuss how Annual Ryegrass Toxicity (ARGT) could be impacting livestock and hay producers.
"We are encouraging producers at the field days to get involved with an anonymous survey to improve how DPIRD can support ARGT risk management in our evolving farming systems," Ms Macleay said. "Survey participants can receive a free ARGT test submission kit."
Visitors to DPIRD's Farming for the Future display will find practical solutions for mitigating carbon emissions and valuable information for preparing for drought and other climate impacts.
The popular Emergency Management mapping display will return, enabling landholders to check their farm on the map and ensure DPIRD has the correct contact details. Every farm checked goes into the draw to win a laminated A0 aerial map of the property.
Officers from the vertebrate pest management program can discuss how feral deer trials are helping to develop and improve deer control methods in WA. Attendees will also learn how to report sightings of deer and other vertebrate pests.
DPIRD field veterinary officer Anna Erickson will be on hand to provide biosecurity information for livestock owners, including biosecurity measures producers can take to reduce the risk of emergency animal diseases like H5 bird flu in poultry, foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease.
Sheep and goat electronic identification information will also be available for producers.
The Fisheries Community Education team can discuss and explore the latest science behind fisheries management and answer questions about the new recreational fishing rules. Visitors can also take home the latest fish ruler to measure your catch.
The Newdegate Machinery Field Days runs from 2-3 September. DPIRD's display is located in the exhibition shed at site 17, First Avenue, Newdegate Field Days site.
