Corner Eleventh Street & Koorlong Avenue

IRYMPLE VIC 3500

Phone: 03 5051 4377
Fax: 03 5051 4379

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: 22 August 2014

Manangatang to host field day this Thursday

LOCAL farmers can access expert advice on alternative feed sources, pasture management and livestock
production at a field day to be held in Manangatang on Thursday, August 27.

To be hosted at J ohn Arentzs property, the field day is being organised by the Mallee Catchment
Management Authority, in partnership with Mallee Sustainable Farming, and will give farmers the chance to
have a close look at a demonstration site developed through the ENRICH Perennial Forage Shrub system
that aims to improve feed on offer to livestock by using perennial shrub plantations.

Michael Moodie from Mallee Sustainable Farming said many farmers throughout the Mallee are using Old
Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) to fill feed gaps and improve production from constrained soils, but he
says saltbush on its own is not a silver bullet feed source for livestock.

Saltbush as a single feed source is low in energy and farmers who have grazed saltbush plantations have
found that they need to supplementary feed with a high energy feed source such as hay or grain, this
becomes extra cost and is a barrier to the use by some farmers, Michael said.

ENRICH has identified a number of suitable shrubs to complement Old Man Saltbush which have improved
feed quality or can provide other animal productivity or health benefits through altering rumen fermentation to
lower methane production, improve the efficiency of nitrogen use, or reduce intestinal parasites.

Therefore, when sown in a mixed plantation with Oldman Saltbush, these shrubs have the potential to
improve the productivity of the grazing livestock.

The field day will start at 12.30pm and will include presentations from SARDIs Dr J ason Emms who will be
discussing the available native forage shrub varieties and the results of trials from around Australia, and Tim
Prance of Tim Prance Rural Consulting who will talk more generally about pasture management and
livestock production.

To confirm your attendance at the field day, please contact Leighton Pearce on 0427 688 028 or email
leighton.pearce@gmail.com

Ends

ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES
Lauren Murphy
Ph: 03 5051 4331
M: 0427 501 513
E: Lauren.murphy@depi.vic.gov.au
_____________________________________________________________________

Background information:
The Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is a statutory authority established to ensure that natural resources in the
region are managed in an integrated and ecologically sustainable way. Its work is based on science and delivered through
meaningful partnerships with local organisations such as Landcare, community groups, and government agencies in the Victorian
Mallee.

For more information visit www.malleecma.vic.gov.au