Leah co-manages a 320-cow dryland farm with her partner, Joel Hourigan, in partnership with Joel’s parents, who run a separate 400-cow dairy farm in nearby Milawa.
While managing the demands of dairy farming, Leah completed a Master’s degree through the University of New England.
“My project was on methods of abating greenhouse gas emissions from Australian dairy farms.”
Leah explored the potential for dairy farms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly enteric methane, which accounts for a significant share of emissions.
She highlighted some promising strategies, such as dietary adjustments to reduce methane by up to 50 per cent and methods to lower greenhouse gas emissions from fertilisers and effluent.
However, Leah emphasised the economic barriers to adoption.
“Many abatement options aren’t yet cost-effective for farmers,” she said.
“To achieve widespread implementation, we need more research investment, particularly to refine these strategies for grazing systems and ensure they’re practical and economical on the ground.”
Becoming a dairy farmer was a life-changing decision for Leah, who relocated from Darwin to Moyhu in 2020 with Joel and their two young daughters.
She brought with her a strong background in agricultural extension, which continues to influence her approach to farming.
“We aim to grow as much high-quality pasture as possible, efficiently and sustainably, while prioritising the health of our cows and family,” Leah said.
Her report was published in the CSIRO journal, Animal Production Science.
