Get reliable science

Abstract

The establishment of trees on farms provides shade and shelter for grazing livestock. Many

trees and shrubs are also important feed sources, especially during periods of pasture scarcity.

In addition, agroforestry provides many environmental benefits to farm ecosystems. All these

factors suggest a vital role for trees in sustainable farming systems, especially in the context of

climate change. This research focusses on the benefits of agroforestry to goat farming in

Australia, a particularly important and growing industry given the increasing global demand for

goat meat and Australia’s lead role in world exports. There is significant potential for goats in

silvopastoral systems, given their hardiness, adaptability, and tendency to browse on plant

material that is not usually consumed by other stock. This project includes two major

experiments: one investigates the effect of shelter provision on the growth and performance of

newborn nursing kids (0-3 months old); and the second investigates the effects of shade

provision, supplementation with fodder from acacias and willows, and potential interactions

between these two factors on the productivity and performance of weaned kids (3-6 months

old). Productivity parameters, such as live weight changes, control of internal parasites, and

feed intake, will be used in the analysis. This study will lead to a better understanding of the

roles that trees and shrubs play in sustainable goat farming, and will also result in well-tested

recommendations to the goat industry, to optimally establish and design goat farms by

incorporating trees and shrubs in the landscape.