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Video transcript - Tasty native shrubs

VOICE OVER:
Tasty native shrubs, it might not be everyone’s meal choice … but for these animals it has the potential to not just feed their hunger… but also help prevent disease.

It’s the new invention every farmer craves. .  . cheap feed that can be grown easily, is drought tolerant, can stand up against grazing… and best of all it’s a natural remedy against nasty parasites.

And it’s here at Monarto where SARDI scientists are developing this new ‘superfood’ as part of national project called ‘Enrich’.

SARDI RESEARCHER, DR JASON EMMS:
The project’s part of a national effort to see whether native shrubs can be a productive and healthy feed source where livestock may cure themselves of parasites and other nutritional ailments.

VOICE OVER:
For three years now, these scientists have been putting their plant selection skills to the test, where some 15 thousand shrubs are housed.

And with the help of this ‘taste-tester’, they’re now busy identifying which of these shrubs are the tastiest and most productive.

SARDI RESEARCHER, DR JASON EMMS:
We use the animals themselves to graze the shrubs in the paddock to see which they prefer then they have to test the plants nutrition and effects on parasites in the lab. Once we identify the most promising species then we can work with animals directly for those attributes.

VOICE OVER:
Research has already identified some species which not only grow well during the dry summer … but can also knock-out parasites and reduce nasty methane gas emissions … a by product from livestock digesting food.

SARDI RESEARCHER, DR JASON EMMS:
Ultimately it will give farmers a feed option during times of shortages, which will mean less time feeding out hay and grain and hopefully get some other benefits such as parasite control.

VOICE OVER:
The multi-partner project is being led by CSIRO Livestock Industries through the Future Farming Industries Cooperative Research Centre.

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