Industry consultation: Sheep research development and innovation plan 2018-2025

Page last updated: Friday, 25 January 2019 - 11:45am

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

The Sheep research, development and innovation plan 2018-2025 will set out the investment priorities and the ways of working for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Livestock directorate. It will support DPIRD’s overall role of delivering more value to the agriculture and food sectors. 

The public can leave feedback on priorities at anytime on a dedicated feedback page

 

DPIRD's Livestock Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) and Business Development branches lead our work in:

  • commercially relevant research and development
  • driving innovation and advancing productivity and value creation throughout the value/supply chain
  • collaborating and partnering with industry, universities and across government
  • building local science capacity and networks
  • attracting RD&I investment and new technology providers to our regions
  • ensuring the rapid and effective translation of research findings to commercial outcomes and economic impact.

Our vision for a profitable sheep industry

Grazing systems Profitable production Technology Markets and industry
Productive and resilient pastures within a cropping/pasture system that supports profitable wool and lamb production. Quality wool and sheep meat produced by modern Merinos that fit our variable climate. Livestock technology and data systems providing quality accurate, safe and labour friendly systems. Support of markets and investment for value-added meat products that fit consumers’ needs.

WA sheep issues: cropping dominated, low labour availability/high cost, feed gap and low pasture growth, merino-based but prime lamb focused, variable seasons, no feedback along supply chain, variable prices and most of supply chain offshore

DPIRD’s way of working

Research

Development

Analysis

Adoption

Focus on applied research.

Build relationships with Research and Development (R&D) corps and across other partners such as universities.

Utilise Katanning Research Facility as a base for work.

Focus on building value to existing research.

Designing decision support tools for key management and marketing decisions.

Integration of new technology along the chain.

Focus on industry analysis for strategic direction and industry.

Economic/financial analysis of new products and potential business models.

Modelling of best practice on-farm and off-farm.

Provide new knowledge for adoption packages and events.

Extension is delivered by private sector unless market failure.

All R&D work to have built in adoption processes in project.

Underpinning all these is to support scholarships and internships with a research and development focus, and provide essential support to:

  • disease or pest incidents
  • animal welfare issues
  • dry seasons or extreme weather events
  • industry wide issues that impact the state.

Contact information

Mandy Curnow
+61 (0)8 9892 8422
Rebecca Butcher
+61 (0)8 9651 0540