Drought and climate resilient sheep farms and landscapes tailor-made for low rainfall farming regions

The profitability of sheep farming is declining due to the impacts of drought and extreme heat on pasture growth, soil stability and sheep performance.

This project will enhance resilience of sheep production systems by combining climate resilient sheep with novel, drought tolerant pastures, shrubs and trees which enhance consistency of feed supply, stabilise and improve landscape health, and create microclimates that increase sheep welfare and productivity.

Farmer led, long term trials in WA, SA, Vic and NSW will provide the data driven outcomes required to maximise adoption of these drought, climate resilient, and economically robust farming systems, thus strengthening rural communities.

Key objectives

Work with producers and producer groups to design region-specific feed base systems which:

1. Enhance consistency of feed supply,

2. Fit within or alongside cropping and pastures systems,

3. Create microclimates which improve sheep welfare and productivity,

4. Quantifiably improve landscape stability and ecosystem services.

The project will trial and demonstrate how selecting sheep with greater feed efficiency, energy reserves and heat tolerance improves enterprise resilience.

Validate the benefits of integrating climate adapted sheep with multi-purpose plantings to achieve comprehensive system and landscape resilience.

This page was last updated on 11 May 2026.