1 / 9

Enhancing Ewe and Lamb Performance for Increased Stocking Rates

Learn about the journey of maintaining ewe and lamb performance while boosting stocking rates, key changes in management strategies, the importance of scanning and proactive condition management, and the achieved lift in stocking rate and gross margin. Case study from a sheep farm comparing results from 2003/04 to 2010/11.

rivka
Télécharger la présentation

Enhancing Ewe and Lamb Performance for Increased Stocking Rates

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Challenge Maintaining ewe and lamb performance while increasing stocking rate 50%

  2. Past Production • Home June 2000 • 22000 dse – 470cows/ 5000 ewes • Lambing June • Buying in 1st cross ewes

  3. Need for change • Sheep boom 01- 02 • Land price dissociated from return • Had to chase profitability to justify land price • Depreciation on sheep trading hit $10/ dse

  4. Key changes -2005 • Mapped pasture curve to match feed demand to pasture supply • Changed calving to July/August in 2005 • Maternal rams used over 1st cross ewes • Scanned for twins

  5. 2006 - 6000 ewes, 600 cows and Lifetime Ewe (LTEM) • Group of 5 local producers • Condition scoring & ME budgeting

  6. Comparing 03/04 (5000 ewes) to 2010/11 (7800 ewes)

  7. What I’ve learned • Scanning is one of the best management tools available • Better to feed early and often – even throughout lambing • Lamb twin bearing ewes in small mobs • Proactive management of ewe condition is critical

  8. Conclusion • Significant lift in stocking rate and gross margin is possible without large per head performance penalties provided ME budgets are adhered to.

  9. Acknowledgements • Ian, Jan and George Harvey • David Rendell • Darren Gordon • Jason Trompf

More Related