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Using pastures for managing twin bearing ewes

Using pastures for managing twin bearing ewes. Chris Oldham Pasture Updates Kojonup 12 th August 2014. Topics to be covered. Why should we worry about identifying and managing twins differently to the rest of the flock?

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Using pastures for managing twin bearing ewes

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  1. Using pastures for managing twin bearing ewes Chris Oldham Pasture Updates Kojonup 12th August 2014

  2. Topics to be covered • Why should we worry about identifying and managing twins differently to the rest of the flock? • If we do decide to manage twins, where do pastures fit into the mix of options?

  3. The most comprehensive ‘farmer-friendly’ argument for increasing the reproductive rate of your ewe flocks is a paper ‘Survive and Thrive’ by Jason Trompf at the recent ‘Lambex 2014’ held in Adelaide • The full paper can be found at www.gtp.com.au/lambex/inewsfiles/lambex2014-proceedings.pdf or by googling ‘Lambex 2014’ and following the link ‘Lambex-Australian Lamb Expo 2014’ • Interestingly the very next paper ‘Becoming masters of pasture’ was given by our very own Brad Wooldridge from Arthur River

  4. Jason argues very strongly that; • Extra twins, so long as more survive, is the key along with extra ewes per winter grazed ha to extra $$ from the sheep enterprise • The top 25% on sheep gross margin of 80 farm businesses analysed by Ashley Herbert and Andrew Ritchie (Icon Ag, Darkan WA; 2008 - 2012)weaned 8% more lambs from 7% more ewes per ha than the average • Hence, they produced 15% more lambs per ha and this added to a 10% higher price for sale sheep netted them an increase in gross margin per DSE of 31%and per ha of 40% • Interesting their wool $$$ were not different

  5. Jason also argues very strongly that ‘measuring to manage’ is the key to increasing the profit from ewes and the key tools for managing are; • scanning for twins • condition scoring to match nutrition to the ewes needs • BUT there is no point in ‘measuring’ if you don’t then use the information to ‘manage’ a better outcome e.g. increased survival of twins!!

  6. So how do we manage twin bearing ewes and their lambs to turn-off more young sheep? • The key sources of information here are; • www.lifetimewool.com.au for the tools (condition scoring, key condition score targets for your region and time of lambing and a gallery of FOO photos to help you feed budget) • www.rist.com.au/lifetime-ewe-management.phpto sourcea proven training course to help you put it all together in your farm business

  7. The key driver of increased survival of twins is to increase their birth weight from the average 3.5 kg where approximately 40% die within 48 hours of birth to around 4.5 kg where survival to weaning is increased from 60% to 80%

  8. The key driver of the birth weight of twin lambs and therefore their survival is the condition score of the mother around lambing • Economic analyses by John Young (Kojonup farmer and economist) suggest that farm profit is maximised when twin bearing ewes are lambed in an average of condition score 3.5 (i.e. a range of CS 3 to 4; good cover of fat and muscle over the ribs and backbone) and a FOO of 1500 and increasing for a winter-spring lambing

  9. Single bearing ewes are relatively bullet proof – a reasonable target for flocks at lambing is condition score 2.5 to 3 and a FOO of 1000 and at least holding for a winter-spring lambing – in fact single bearing ewes in > condition score 3.5 may be at risk from difficult births associated with lamb birth weights > 6 kg • NOTE – if you choose to lambing before or around the break of season, it pays to budget hand feeding to maintain the target condition score at lambing from the start of joining all the way to lambing as it is more expensive (takes more grain, more $$$) to gain condition than to maintain it!!

  10. What is green or dry feed worth? • DMD – dry matter digestibility (%DM) • ME – metabolisable energy (MJ/Kg DM) • CP – crude protein (%DM)

  11. Feed on offer (FOO, green) Roll of FOO photo gallery 1700 FOO - enough 1200 FOO – not enough Lambing targets

  12. Establishing Pastures • Annual pastures have 3 growth periods; • Establishment • Vegetative • Reproductive • Grazing a pasture too early affects pasture establishment due to uprooting of small seedlings & removal of leaf area • Targets: 500 FOO – minimum for commencing grazing 700 FOO – recommended deferment level 1000 FOO – recommended level going into winter • Higher FOO = Higher leaf area = Faster pasture growth

  13. Energy requirements of lambing ewes and available energy from pasture Autumn lambing – Mt Barker, stocked at 8 DSE 35 35 lactation lactation pregnancy 30 30 25 25 pregnancy 20 20 15 Energy from pasture MJ 15 10 Ewe energy req. MJ/h/d 10 5 5 0 0 Jul Apr Oct Jun Jan Jul Jan Feb Mar May Oct Dec Nov Dec Apr Jun Aug Nov Sep Mar Feb Sep Aug May 50kg single ewe Pasture available Single lamb (250g/h/d) + ewe (50kg) 50kg twin ewe DSE – dry sheep equivalent SRW – standard reference weight

  14. Deferment at the break means more green feed Winter/spring lambing – Mt Barker 35 lactation lactation 35 30 30 25 25 pregnancy 20 20 Energy from pasture ( MJ) 15 Ewe energy req. (MJ/h/d) 15 10 10 5 5 0 Jul Jul Apr Jun Oct Mar Dec Feb Nov Jan Oct Jan May Dec Apr Jun Aug Nov Sep Sep Mar Feb Aug May 50kg single ewe Pasture available Single lamb (250g/h/d) + ewe (50kg) 50kg twin ewe Profitability/ha in great Southern MIDAS suggests $171/ha for late lambing compared to $71/ha for May lambing flocks

  15. Using crops to fill the feed gap Crops have faster growth rates than most pastures and are generally more accessible at the same FOO, enabling them to out perform pastures at critical times. Daily Maintenance Requirement (Twins) Daily Maintenance Requirement (Singles)

  16. Birth site • Identified up to 4 hr before birth • The longer the ewe stays the better • Hence, anything that disturbs the ewe on the birth site is bad news • Eg. Hand feeding!

  17. Edible shelter? Lamb Mortality single twins Past 4 18 Oats 13 10 Oats • More twins alive in oats • More singles alive in pasture • Delayed maturation in oats • But no effects on yields or quality Pasture Grazed Ungrazed

  18. Feed On Offer and growth rate of Merino lambs to weaning 200 Single lambs Twin lambs 175 150 Lamb growth rate (g/day) 125 100 75 1000 1500 1800 2300 2800 Feed On Offer (kg DM/ha)

  19. Tedera – Kojonup site This 12 ha site was established in August 2013 to determine the animal production from sheep grazing using a mixture of the 7 accessions of tedera from Dandaragan & three different grazing systems; • A - Annual pasture (sub-clover and annual ryegrass) • ATS - Annual pasture + tedera with a short rotation (14 days on and 28 days off) that favours the annual pasture species • ATL - Annual pasture + tedera with a long rotation (14 days on and 70 days off) that favours the perennial pasture species (tedera)

  20. Sown with commercial air-seeder28thAugust 2013

  21. Plot 25 (ATS2) 24th July after 14 days grazing FOO = 1200 (annual pasture + tedera)

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