Kangaroo Island Oestrogenic Clover Project

Project details

Pastures on Kangaroo Island were significantly damaged by the 2019–2020 bushfires but are recovering after a good rainfall season in 2020.

High levels of oestrogenic clovers occur on some pastures on Kangaroo Island. These clovers contribute to reduced lambing percentages and high numbers of dry ewes on some properties. This has significant impacts on productivity and profitability.

This project will give producers the tools, skills, and management options to make sure ewe fertility and lamb survival are not reduced because of the possible impact of the bushfires on pasture composition.

The project has a number of areas:

• A sheep reproductive efficiency survey to develop a benchmark for sheep reproductive efficiency on KI and to identify areas for improvement.
• Workshops for producers in clover identification and pasture assessment, and to help them develop pasture management plans.
• Paddock testing for oestrogenic clovers.
• Investigation of a herbicide-tolerant non-oestrogenic sub-clover