Abstract. Lifetimewool was a national project that began in 2001 to develop profitable ewe feeding and management guidelines for wool producers across southern Australia. By 2005, the project included communication and adoption activities. Rigorous communication, adoption and evaluation plans were used to maintain focus on its objectives and to measure impacts. Evaluation was an integral part of the project's development and allowed the project to gain a clear idea of its impact. The project aimed to influence at least 3000 producers nationally to change the management of their ewe flock by the adoption (or part thereof) of Lifetimewool messages and guidelines. More specifically, the project aimed to 'cross the chasm' and target producers that were deemed to be in the 'early adopter' and the 'early majority' segments. The project surveyed sheep producers, sheep industry consultants and sheep industry extension practitioners at the beginning and end of the project to gauge the change in knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspirations of wool producers over the life of the project. Results from the survey of sheep producers in 2008 indicate that the project achieved its aim. About 12% (~3000) of sheep producers nationally have changed practice due to information received from Lifetimewool since 2005. Many other producers have been affected through their increase in knowledge, belief and skills, and market segmentation of the audience shows that the project was successful in 'crossing the chasm'. The strategies employed by the project to initiate change (i.e. using private consultants and extension professionals as a pathway to adoption, and involving producers, consultants and extension professionals in the development of the Lifetimewool key messages and tools) were validated. The survey results and analysis provided baseline data for future livestock management projects to build on producers' progress towards practice change. The present paper looks at how the Lifetimewool's evaluation plan provided a focus for and demonstrated meeting its objectives. In doing so, this paper also seeks to better understand the adoption process.

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Angora wethers were evaluated for the control of gorse regrowth (Ulex europaeus) after burning. Unreplicated plots containing approximately 0.5 ha gorse and 0.5 ha perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) dominant pasture were stocked with A, 6 goats/ha; B, 10 goats/ha; C, 5 goats + 4 sheep (Polwarth wethers)/ha; or D, 5 sheep/ha in June 1981. After 2 years, percentage gorse control was estimated to be 82, 96, 92 and 56%, and percentage gorse ground cover was 36, 16, 13 and 47% for treatments A, B, C and D, respectively. Between spring 198 1 and spring 1982, when gorse was freely available for browsing, pasture consumption by goats averaged 15% (A) and 40% (B) of available pasture. Where goats were present, pastures contained a greater proportion of perennial ryegrass and less barley grass (Hordeurn sp.) and slender thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus) than where only sheep were grazing. Mean mohair production per goat from October 1982 to September 1983 was 3.2,2.3 and 2.4 kg for treatments A, B and C, respectively. Gross fleece values ($/ha) for the same period were $143 (A), $173 (B), $135 (C) and $92 (D).The preferential browsing of gorse and the acceptable mohair yields indicate that Angora goats could be used in a complementary grazing relationship with sheep for gorse control and product diversification in the Tasmanian Midlands.