Sheep Provide Feedback in Award-Winning Study

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Who better to decide what a sheep likes to eat than a sheep? At least, that's the thinking behind University of Western Australia's new research project to determine sustainable forage materials.

A variety of 10 species of native shrubs have been planted in the experimental paddock, and it's up to the sheep to select the tastiest. Science Network Western Australia reports that Professor Phil Vercoe has great faith in their abilities: "They are so clever at what they do in terms of balancing their diet, in terms of self-medication."

Planting shrubs increases the profitability of marginal paddocks by providing extra feed for the sheep and giving farmers the chance to rest other pastures. The shrubs of the future must be able to survive harsh conditions while creating minimal gut parasites in the sheep and reducing methane emissions.
The project won the 2013 Eureka Prize for research and innovation. BF