Hamilton at forefront of lamb research

Monday, 1 August 2011

The Victorian Government has today announced a $2.3 million investment to put south west Victoria at the cutting edge of Australian lamb research.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh announced the funds during a visit to Sheepvention at Hamilton today.

Mr Walsh said the investment would see new lamb researchers recruited and state-of-the-art research and animal handling facilities built at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in Hamilton.

The Government will spend $1.3 million to build a new multi-purpose animal housing, handling and feeding research facility at Hamilton DPI. This will include new covered sheep yards and handling facilities that conform to the highest animal welfare and occupational health and safety requirements.

DPI are also actively recruiting new staff, having allocated $1 million to employ new lamb researchers, most of whom will be based at Hamilton.

This investment will see Hamilton become to the sheep meat industry what DPI's Ellinbank centre is to the dairy industry.

Victoria is Australia's largest lamb producer and the second largest producer of mutton. When measured by gross annual production, the sheep meat industry is the state's third largest agricultural industry with an annual gross value of about $900 million.

"Our vision for the south west will ensure Victoria's sheep meat producers are able to capitalise on increasing global demand," Mr Walsh said.

Research being carried out at Hamilton will provide new genetic and nutritional technologies and on-farm practices to increase lamb production and productivity in Victoria. The work will tackle the immediate challenge of meeting market demand for prime lambs and will help lamb producers maintain and increase profit.

The investment will also provide opportunities to collaborate with other research organisations and education providers such as Rural Industries Skill Training.