Be part of the science

10 May 2023

Here's your chance to be part of a new research project led by Dr Gordon Refshauge, a research scientist with NSW DPI, Cowra. The project aims to examine how forage crops can be used for lambing paddocks and their contribution to lamb survival.

Previous research has shown that shelter can significantly improve twin lamb survival rates, but the adoption of shelter belts remains low. A solution may be to create shelter using either multispecies, dual-purpose or forage crops, which can provide high-quality nutrition while reducing wind speed.

To understand how lambing on forage crops can improve twin lamb survival, the research needs to compare the results with twin mobs in the best lambing paddocks on your farm. Even better would be sites that allow comparisons between pasture, shelter and forage crops.

The research only needs a minimum of 50 twin-bearing ewes per paddock, more if that suits you.

By participating in this study, you can play a critical role in improving lamb survival rates and contributing to the development of innovative and practical solutions to the challenges faced by sheep producers in the Central Tablelands.

Expressions of interest close on the 31 of May 2023.

Register your interest on TryBooking for the Forage crops for lambing paddocks research project.

For more information contact:

• Dr Gordon Refshauge on 0439 607 842 gordon.refshauge@dpi.nsw.gov.au
• Ms Grace Kaveney on 0487 699 940 grace.kaveney@dpi.nsw.gov.au