Discovering Northern Australia’s low methane feedbase potential

Abstract

Extensive grazing systems constitute > 90% of ruminant livestock production in Northern Australia
but lack mitigation technologies applicable to the scale and management practices required for these
operations. Previous research has identified in vitro, plant species with the potential to reduce
methane emissions from grazing cattle and improve animal performance (Durmic et al., 2022). The
Northern Australia Low Methane Feedbase Program is a national research initiative within the Zero
Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre aiming to develop solutions to reduce enteric
methane emissions in extensive grazing livestock and to identify, develop and progress low methane
pasture systems in Northern Australia. The program involves collaboration between government
agencies, universities, and industry partners from Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern
Territory.