Central West/Lachlan Region, NSW

Project contact: Dr David Michalk, phone (02) 6391 3830, email david.michalk@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Pasture and animal management systems in the region must not only address seasonal feed gaps, but also the stability of the plane of nutrition from year to year as rainfall declines and variability increases along the east-west gradient.

This project will identify innovative mixed farming systems that can efficiently utilise the range of available forage within the high, medium and low rainfall zones.

A modelling approach combined with practical scenario assessment through local focus groups will be used to identify livestock and forage production and management systems with high potential. The project will identify potential profitable combinations of livestock and forage resources for each of the major climatic sub-regions within the project area.

These initial results will be discussed with producers and advisers to test the practicality of the options identified, and results will be made available across the region.