UWA Farm Ridgefield Trial Delivers Powerful Insights On Methane Reduction

17-month study delivers critical data to shape future low-emission grazing systems.

The Methane Emission Reduction in Livestock Stage 3 Part 1 trial has concluded at UWA Farm Ridgefield, marking an important step forward in developing practical methane mitigation strategies for grazing sheep.

Over the 17-month project, the research team generated a substantial dataset that will inform future approaches to reducing livestock emissions while maintaining productivity. Regular liveweights, body condition scores, rumen fluid samples, blood samples, wool samples and methane emission measurements were collected to build a comprehensive understanding of animal performance and environmental impact.

The scale of the trial was significant. More than 600 lambs were born throughout the project, with each lamb individually caught, weighed and tagged shortly after birth. This level of detailed monitoring provides valuable insight into how methane reduction strategies interact with growth, reproduction and overall animal health, a crucial consideration for industry adoption.

The trial was led by post-doctoral researchers Dr Stephanie Payne and Dr Suyog Subedi, supported by a committed team including Angad Singh, Sam Lloyd, Jamie King, Hatem Al-Khazraji, and current Agricultural Science students Janet Kok and Emma Pretorius. The contribution of casual research and technical assistants was essential to managing the intensive on-farm workload.

The project also fostered strong international collaboration. Visiting students Halak Chauhan from University of North Carolina Wilmington, Afsaneh Rialy from University of Kurdistan, Daria Lotito from University of Naples Federico II and Clement Chatard from VetAgro Sup provided invaluable support while gaining hands-on experience in Australian on-farm research.

Together, the team has laid important groundwork for future methane mitigation strategies that balance productivity with climate responsibility.