PDS: Demonstration of Optiweigh use in lamb finishing systems

Summary

A new Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project in Central West NSW is helping sheep producers unlock the power of real-time data to improve lamb finishing outcomes. With the region home to over 4.6 million sheep and NSW contributing 23% of Australia’s lamb slaughter, the potential impact is huge.

The project focuses on how continuous liveweight monitoring can guide smarter decisions around nutrition, parasite control, animal health, and marketing. Instead of relying on infrequent yard weigh-ins—which cost time, labour, and can stress animals—producers will use in-field weighing systems to track weight trends daily. This data-driven approach means issues like poor growth or worm burdens can be identified early, feeding strategies can be fine-tuned, and sale timing can be optimised—all based on hard evidence rather than guesswork.

Across six demonstration sites, 12 core producers and over 100 observers will learn how to interpret weight data and apply it to real-world management. By combining liveweight trends with tools like Grazfeed and feed testing, producers can make confident decisions that boost productivity and profitability while improving animal welfare.

The goal? To show that data isn’t just numbers—it’s a practical tool for better business. Results and learnings will be shared through field days, webinars, and social media, so producers everywhere can see how real-time insights translate into real gains.

Objectives

By December 2028 in the Central West of NSW, involving six demonstration sites, and by engaging 12 core producers and a minimum of 100 observer producers the project will establish:

1. Demonstrate significant (15% plus) production gains as measured by Average Daily Gain (ADG) based on improved decision making and management intervention from information gained from ‘in field weigh systems’. These decisions will centre on nutritional management, parasite  management , animal health, animal husbandry and marketing

2. 80 % of core producers will report improved decision making through infield weight systems identifying weight gain or loss and the causes and management interventions

3. 50% of core producers and 25% of observer producers with adopt or intend to adopt infield weighing systems in lamb finishing systems

4. 80% of core producers and 50% of observer producers will have improved their knowledge skillsand confidence in regardsto understanding infield weighing, data analysis and utilising Grazfeed as measured by the pre and post skill surveys

5. 80% of core and 70% of observer producers will agree their lamb finishing business can be improved through the use of EID

6. The Results of the PDS will be widely accessible and distributed locally and nationally