Kalkallo farmer Hannah Marriott has won one of Australian agriculture’s most prestigious research awards for her use of electronic identification devices (EIDs) to assess growth rates of lambs and fertility of ewes.
“As costs rise year on year, it’s important to be able to ensure we don’t use poor stock,” Ms Marriott says.
Ms Marriott (pictured) is responsible for a 1080-hectare prime lamb property, one of three farms run by her family.
She breeds from about 4500 ewes to grow lambs for domestic and export markets.
She says the main aim of using the identification devices is to ensure they add value to her farming.
“I believe EIDs could help manage seasonal risk by ensuring excess sheep are on-sold for poor breeding performance rather than age,” she said.
“They will ensure the increasing cost of inputs are used most efficiently.’’.
Ms Marriott’s research has won her a $30,000 Nuffield scholarship, which supports projects that will benefit the Victorian community.
She will travel overseas to research sheep breeding and selection programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Nuffield Australia has awarded a record 21 scholarships to Australians this year.
The recipients will undertake a 16-week travel program and complete their studies next year.
