Maximising productivity of extreme ewes

An Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (Sheep CRC) project is exploring how farmers can optimise the productivity of their breeding ewes to better target both wool and meat markets.

High performance Merino ewes from the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Trangie QPLU$ flock are helping scientists come up with the answers.

NSW DPI researcher, Sue Hatcher, and Sheep CRC post-graduate scholar, Gordon Refshauge,   said clean fleece weight is the key to managing the productivity of these extreme ewes which have been selected for a variety of key production traits including high and low body weights.

“Studies in Western Australia have shown that higher clean fleece weight has a negative impact on body fatness and we’re taking that finding into the field to see what it means for producers in terms of lambing percentages, growth of progeny and meat quality,” Mr Refshauge said.

“We know that as fat score increases, fertility increases and we’re looking at the additional impact of clean fleece weight on fat score for the various extreme sheep types at the NSW DPI’s Cowra research station,” he said.

“The management of the ewes is particularly important during lean times such as drought and we aim to identify what feed requirements highly productive ewes need to optimise their production.

“We want each breeding ewe to be able to conceive, lamb and wean as many lambs as is possible in her lifetime.  

“Clearly other factors impact on productivity and farmers can ultrasound sheep to match nutrition to suit the number of lambs the ewe is carrying.  Her body weight class may also help in making management decisions.”                        

With farmers under increasing pressure to manage flocks for both meat and wool markets, the ultimate aim according to Dr Hatcher, is to develop flexible new tools to maintain production.

“Managing sheep as a group of 1000 has its downside and with this project along with other Sheep CRC projects we’re looking at grouping sheep with like characteristics and managing them to suit their particular requirements,” Dr Hatcher said.

“If producers can divide their flocks into mobs with particular feed requirements they can better meet the needs of individual sheep.  And if 40 or 50 per cent of your flock has a high fleece weight they may be the ones you need to target to maintain productivity.

“We know that managing sheep to achieve high fat score can help optimise productivity and now we aim to help farmers fine tune their management to optimise their business.”

For more information on the project which is due for completion in 2007 contact Dr Sue Hatcher (02) 6391 3861 or Gordon Refshauge (02) 6349 9715. 

Media contact: Bernadette York, Orange (02) 6391 3800

Electronic images available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au