Research emerging from Victoria has shown that legume-based pasture systems can help graziers produce more lamb with a smaller carbon footprint, while maintaining productivity and profitability.
Funded by charity organisation Nuffield Australia, which provides scholarships to farmers to develop agriculture techniques, and increase practical farming knowledge and management skills, scholar Johnny Gardner has released a report on adapting production systems to a low carbon economy.
A fourth-generation farmer from Cavendish, Victoria, Gardner travelled to eight countries to investigate how the industry could address the challenges and opportunities facing the sector as it adapts to global climate change mitigation efforts.
Building a Balanced Australian Lamb Industry highlights how Australian production systems must align with international market expectations to preserve the nation's position as a leading lamb exporter.
Out of the 100 largest entities committed to reducing emissions, 69 are companies and 31 are countries, indicative of an industry-driven global transition. This is exemplified by major meat processors like Tyson Foods and JBS setting ambitious carbon neutrality targets influencing the entire supply chain.
“Our industry must embrace change and adopt well-planned strategies to reduce emissions while maintaining our competitive edge,” said Gardner.
“The global regulatory environment is evolving rapidly, and we need to stay ahead of the curve.”
Findings and recommendations
Over his travels, Gardner saw the potential for legume-based farming systems to significantly improve productivity and emissions reduction.
At Bog Roy Station in New Zealand, Professor Derrick Moot from Lincoln University helped transform the farming system to include 14 per cent of grazing land planted with lucerne to finish lambs. This allowed them to produce more from the same amount of land, and bring forward the weaning age by 19 days.
“My research shows that incorporating legumes like clover and lucerne into pastures can lead to substantial improvements in lamb growth rates and weaning times,” said Gardner.
“This approach offers a triple win: social, environmental, and financial benefits.”
Comprehensive data capture and benchmarking to understand and improve farm emissions is also a critical step for innovation and adaptation, with Gardner calling for increased support from both industry and government. He saw this being done well in the US, where the farms he visited were supported to embrace innovation.
“We need to foster an environment that encourages the development and adoption of new technologies and practices,” said Gardner.
Other highlighted avenues for emissions reduction included feed additives and vaccinations to inhibit methane output, which has been a frequent topic in the beef industry – the use of Asparagopsis, or red seaweed, which has a naturally occuring anti-methanogenic compound.
The report also discussed the potential for precision livestock farming technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of lamb production.
