Summary
Methane from livestock is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Agriculture. In NSW, livestock account for 75% of the state’s Agriculture emission, of which sheep account for 25-30%
There are a range of additives being developed and tested for reducing methane emissions in sheep.
The effectiveness of these additives rely on consistent and frequent consumption by all sheep, which is challenging in extensive grazing systems.
The problem with supplements (used as carriers for these additives) is some animals eat too much, some eat the right amount and some not enough.
Integrating purpose built radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with commonly used group feeding delivery systems enables the capture of individual variability in attendance.
Our focus is on commonly used lick feeders delivering grains and pellets, and loose licks and lick blocks delivering minerals and protein supplements.
Understanding this variability and what influences this feeding behaviour informs the design of more effective delivery and management of supplements and methane reducing additives.
For more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgRNjGlX1-g
Impact on Industry
Understanding variation of supplement intake is a critical step in finding ways to improve delivery of feed additives to reduce methane emissions and supplements to enhance animal performance.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water through the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) stage 2 and stage 3.2.
It is also supported with funding from Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) as part of a National Sheep Methane Program (NSMP). The NSMP is a collaborative and coordinated effort between The University of New England (UNE), Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA), NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD), and The University of Western Australia (UWA), with support from industry partners. The NSMP aims to implement practical and safe ways for producers to reduce methane emissions in Australian sheep grazing systems via feed additives.
Current Research MERiL Stage 3.2
- Further assessment of RFID technology.
- Assessing impact of mob size on variability of attendance for grain lick feeders, loose lick feeders and lick blocks.
- Assessing the rate of intake – how much individuals eat in a certain time frame, with the potential to estimate consumption by time spent feeding.
- Assess if visitation patterns change when using some key additives.
- Assess relationship between water and supplement intake.
Project lead: Dr Jess Wallace
Project team: Dr Augusto Imaz, Dr Gordon Refshauge, Dr Ed Clayton, Dr Forough Ataollahi, Geoff Casburn, Dr Sue Street, Fumie Chiku
Project Value: $1.4mil
Past Research MERiL Stage 2
- Low Frequency (LF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID systems specifically integrated into lick and looselick feeders can capture time spent at feeders and their visitation pattern to supplements within group feeding situations.
- This technology is suited for both lower-volume supplements (eg salt) and higher-volume supplements (eg pellets, grain) that can be carriers for anti-methanogenic additives in grazing conditions.
- There is a high association between time spent at the feeder and the number of visits to the feeder, and also to water troughs.
- There was significant variability between individual animals and understanding variations in time spent and attendance in extensively managed sheep requires more comprehensive studies.
- These integrated RFID systems with commonly used feeders are an effective tool for monitoring the delivery of anti-methanogenic additives in grazing conditions and for understanding and addressing factors affecting supplement intake.
Project lead
Project timeline
Start: 2025End: 2027