The Climate Smart Pilots project, led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), aimed to assist livestock producers during droughts. They tested technologies for water resource management and monitoring. Key outcomes included:
Water Monitoring:
- An open sensor network tracked water levels and temperature.
- Alerts were set up for low tank and trough levels.
- Livestock welfare improved due to real-time data.
Weather Insights:
- An automatic weather station (AWS) helped manage cold stress in livestock
- Soil moisture data informed pasture prediction models
Impact:
- Producers continued using sensors for decision-making.
- One participant invested over $40k to expand the trial network.
Overall, local data and technology play a crucial role in sustainable livestock management.
For more information check out the full article here: Climate Smart Livestock
Acknowledgements
- This work has been funded by the NSW Primary Industries Climate Change Research Strategy.
- This article was reviewed by Tom Flanagan and Darren Price.
- Main image – Trough water level sensor supplied by NSW DPIRD.
