Sheep grazing the pasture legume Tedera. Picture – Future Farm Industries CRC.

WESTERN Australian livestock producers will get a say on sheep meat and grass-fed beef research, development and adoption priorities at a producer forum at Dandaragan on February 22.

Sheep and beef producers attending the forum can also participate in a field to hear the latest results on research into the pasture legume Tedera.

The forum will be hosted by the WA Livestock Research Council to provide producers with the latest Meat & Livestock Australia research and allow them to have direct input into helping guide future RD&A relevant to their region.

The event is one of a series of RD&A information sessions specifically for WA producers being held this year by MLA. The day will start with a field walk looking at the pasture legume, Tedera, and how it could help fill feed gaps in a herd or flock’s requirements.

WALRC co-ordinator Erin Gorter said Tedera is the focus of one of the 18 RD&A projects endorsed to receive MLA investment of producer levies for 2016/17. This followws extensive consultation with grassroots producers through MLA’s regional consultation model.

“Producers directly influenced the decision to have a RD&A project focused on Tedera through the first MLA regional consultation process held in 2015,” Ms Gorter said.

“Tedera is a drought tolerant perennial legume which originated in the Canary Islands, and has been identified as a potentially valuable source of green feed during summer and autumn, reducing the need for supplementary feeding.

“When it kicks off, the Tedera RD&A project, which is being run by WA Department of Agriculture and Food, proposes the development of an agronomy package for Tedera ahead of its commercial release through a series of on-farm trials.”

MLA said its regional consultation model gives sheep meat and grass-fed beef producers direct input into what areas of RD&A their levies should be invested in.

The February 22 event will also give producers an opportunity to find out about WALRC and the team. WALRC gathers feedback on the RD&A needs of sheep meat and grass-fed beef producers from southern WA. Its members include producers, MLA, CSIRO, universities, and NRM and agricultural consultancy groups.

The Tedera field walk starts at 7.15am at ‘Bidgerabbie’, 1263 Rowes Road, Dandaragan (Yathroo), and will include a breakfast in the paddock.

It will be followed by the R&D for Me producer forum at Dandaragan Community Centre Hall, Dandaragan Road, Dandaragan, from 9-11am, with registrations from 8.30am.

RSVP is essential by February 15 to the WALRC Secretariat on 0428 882 828 or [email protected] for catering purposes.

For further Information on the field walk and producer forum visit: www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/events-and-workshops or contact WALRC coordinator, Erin Gorter on 0429 833 752 or [email protected]

Source: MLA.