Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station
Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station is located on 305 hectares of red-brown earth in the central western slopes of NSW. The site has recently been recognised as the Centre for Sheep Meat Development. It has a long and impressive research record in the improvement of the Australian sheep meat industry. Recent activities have focussed on developing improvements in genetics, meat quality, nutrition, reproduction, lamb survival and market development.
Plant Breeders throughout Australia have used this reliable rainfall site for over 100 years to undertake the detailed assessment of new selections and ultimately their inclusion in on-site national variety trials. Large scale crop and pasture management demonstrations are undertaken to extend the latest technology to the local farming community.
The Station has a District Agronomist, Livestock Officer (Sheep/Wool), Livestock Officer (Pigs) and a Product Development Officer (Lamb) located on-site. A specialist Extension Agronomist (Biosolids) also promotes the beneficial use of biosolid treated waste products in agriculture through the Sydney Water Biosoil Program.
![Alpacas stare over the fence at sheep on Cowra ARAS](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090116221653im_/http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0009/145548/cowra-alpaccas-resized.jpg)
Facts and figures 2006/07
Staff
Total staff: 19
Professional Staff
Management: 1
Research: 6
Extension: 5
Outputs
Workshops/Field Days: 56
Journal Publications: 17
Other statistics
Land Area: 305ha + 70ha leased
New Alliances: 1
Postgraduate students: 3
Labs with NATA or ISO certification: 1
Cowra Meat Science Laboratory