Bourke farmer, Tegan Roberts has been granted funding for her initiative to start an embryo transfer and genetic banking facility for livestock to drought proof local farms. 

Ms Roberts is one of seven women to receive the inaugural AgriFutures Rural Women's Acceleration Grant, a learning and development grant of up to $7000 to bring her vision to life. 

The genetic banking facility will provide farmers somewhere to store the genetics of their stock, so they can be self-reliant and increase their productivity, profitability, and sustainability after drought. 

2022 looks like being a watershed year for Ms Roberts. 

The busy mum of two who, with her husband, runs a diesel mechanic business alongside a cattle and goat breeding farm, was also selected for the Drought Resilience Leaders mentoring program back in January this year. 

Ms Roberts has experience in the embryo transfer process with her parents running a stud dairy property working with genetics and “trying to better the breed” of cattle. 

The idea stemmed from hearing stories from local graziers struggling to hold onto their stock, predominantly sheep, and livestock genetics during the drought period. 

“As we’ve got a bit more serious into the goat breeding side of things, they’re going to be doing more embryo transfer with it. So, I figured it could help within the community if you could actually offer something," Ms Roberts said. 

“Looking more so at sheep, there is a lot of graziers around trying to hold on to their genetics, and we know the next drought, it’s probably not too far away, it’s always in the back of our mind out here.". 

Currently, the closest genetic banking facility to Bourke is in Dubbo, almost 400 kilometres away and another on the Victorian border.  

Ms Roberts' idea would save her community the cost of transporting and holding stock, by providing a closer facility. 

"If we could organise with several different farmers and say the specialist will be coming this week, and then the facility here that we set up will be able to hold stock as well, so farmers would only have to travel to our property to get the stock,” she said. 

The Roberts’ family understand the hardship and impact that drought has on farmers. During the previous drought period, they had to sell all their cows. 

To buy back stock it becomes expensive quickly, especially at auctions were the buyer pays for the transport. 

“We’ve experienced having to pay for our own freight during the whole drought period, and the price does get up there,” Ms Roberts said. 

Ms Roberts hopes her embryo transfer and genetic facility initiative for Bourke will help farmers hold onto their livestock genetics during droughts. 

“It’s just being able for them (farmers) to hold on to their genetics. Some farmers might be a bit more well off and afford their grain storage and stuff and be able to do it. 

“But for those that don’t have that, and they do need to sell off their stock, then it’s something that we are able to provide for them to have a facility to be able to get their sheep and goats,” said Ms Roberts. 

Looking ahead Ms Roberts plans to travel to current facilities who offer the embryo transfer and banking services for learning purposes. She also said that it’s about finding the right expert “that is able to travel to Bourke and perform this.”   

“If were to do this, it’s a way that we can help out, and in the long run might be something more and personally, this will be a win for us as well.”