Dual-purpose cropping: the opportunity for a step change in production in the temperate region of Australia.

Feed supply and livestock production The 4-year experiment at Canberra demonstrated the opportunities and challenges of incorporating dual-purpose crops into the production system. Since that time research into dual-purpose cropping has continued with focus including management of crops to maximise grain yield (e.g. [13]; [32]; [34]; [3]), livestock production outputs from component studies (e.g. [9]; [33]) and improving understanding of dual-purpose cropping in the larger farming system (e.g. [1]; [7]; [2]; [35]). Wool production was also demonstrated to be increased when dual-purpose crops were part of the production system, driven by higher fleece weights and increased stock numbers ([22]). Mixed farming businesses, where cropping and livestock enterprises are managed through the integration of the resources and requirements for each, are the predominant farming system of southern Australia. [Extracted from the article]