The Showcase, held in association with the Great Southern Merino Breeders’ Association, on Thursday 17 August will start at the Katanning Leisure Centre with research presentations before lunch and a station tour via bus in the afternoon.
The day will give visitors an insight into what happens at the station and industry focused research onsite.
The morning program includes an update on the Genetic Resource Flock and the Genetic Resource Sustainability project, which are working towards helping producers breed more productive sheep that emit less greenhouse emissions.
Showcase visitors will be able to view the Sheep Feed Efficiency Facility on the tour, which includes a demonstration of the portable accumulation chambers to accurately measure emissions from individual sheep.
Butcher Raf Rameriz and consultant Dr David Pethick will join DPIRD researchers for a demonstration of carcase quality measurement technologies.
The team will then discuss how improved carcase feedback can help producers optmise production.
The latest results from the FEED365 project with Meat and Livestock Australia examining year round grazing options will be discussed, while the tour will inspect the trial site of 48 plots of grasses, legumes, grazing crops and shrubs.
The ‘Putting carbon into context’ talk will highlight the station’s 2030 Carbon Neutral plan and examine options DPIRD will use to reduce its onsite emissions and research to verify carbon accounting methods.
The program also features a discussion on opportunities to sequester carbon and DPIRD’s multifaceted approach to land rehabilitation at the station, as well as methodologies and techniques to support on-farm carbon accounting.
The afternoon tour will include stopping at a site on the station’s Saltland Rehabilitation work to discuss revegetation using local native plant species and trial earthworks.
The day will conclude at 4pm back at the Katanning Leisure Centre with a sundowner.
DPIRD development officer Bree Beattie urged livestock producers, broadacre farmers and agribusinesses to come along and see for themselves how the research can benefit their businesses.
“The Katanning Research Station Showcase is an opportunity for people to see the latest research and learn more about the tools and resources to optimise livestock production and sustainable land management,” she said.
“Visitors will be able to talk to our research teams and see the work underway to help improve business productivity and profitability.
For more information and to register to attend the Katanning Research Station Showcase visit https://bit.ly/KRSshowcase-register.
Picture caption: The Katanning Research Station Showcase on 17 August will feature the latest livestock, carbon, emissions and land management R&D to boost rural businesses.
