10129023Forage for CH4ngeClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKFarming remains the main industry in the Yorkshire Dales but ensuring the farms can adapt to agricultural reform, following the removal of the Basic Payment Scheme and the transition to the delivery of public goods, is paramount. Upland farms are known for their environmental benefits, species rich hay meadows, pastures used by breeding waders including curlew, lapwing, oystercatchers, and snipe, on the higher ground; black grouse and merlin to name but a few. These areas are also important forage grounds for sheep and managed in rotation to allow the optimal conditions for wildlife to thrive. Sheep in the uplands get bad press and farmers get accused of overgrazing. Yet, as a farmer, it is very difficult to understand how we would manage this landscape sustainably without Swaledale sheep -- a native breed that has grazed these landscapes for hundreds of years. Following conversations with farmers in Swaledale and Wensleydale it has been noted that little has been done to look at the natural diet of sheep within the upland landscape. They are thought to play an important role in grassland management, but very few studies have ever been conducted looking at quantifying whether this diet is having an impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Through this project we seek to address this. By using experts from the research, technology, and food sector we hope to engage with upland farmers, quantify an understanding of forage diet and sheep emissions, and explore routes to market. The project outputs will include: 1) Determine whether locally adapted breeds have inherently different methane emissions intensity compared to breeds developed in other environments, and to what extent this adaptation is related to forage type. 2) Identify potential mitigation strategies that could have a positive benefit on the sectors carbon footprint. 3) Identify links needed with conservation/ecological players to understand the wider benefit of upland sheep systems. 4) Farmer open day to showcase the benefits of PAC testing for sheep GHG emissions and support knowledge exchange.