Containment Feeding as Natural Capital

Throughout 2017 -19, farmers in the Little River catchment experienced hard winters followed by high temperatures and low rainfall during summer and autumn, common characteristics of drought.

Like all droughts, the highly variable climatic conditions had negative effects on farming systems e.g. vegetation diminished, reducing feed availability for livestock and healthy soil structure essential for water retention. Farmers were tasked with balancing pasture health and animal health to sustain profitability under the extreme conditions. To enhance landscape resilience across the catchment, LR, with funding support from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Smart Farms, Small Grants), developed a project focusing on Containment Feeding (CF) as a means of Natural Capital during drought.