PDS: Ewe Lamb Joining Made Easy

Summary

‘Ewe lamb joining made easy’ is a Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project designed to showcase the practical and financial benefits of best-practice ewe lamb joining techniques. Despite the potential for improved productivity and profitability, adoption of ewe lamb joining remains low, particularly among Merino producers, due to inconsistent results and a lack of accessible, farmer-friendly guidance. This project addresses that gap by combining MLA’s Ewe lamb decision support tool with a simplified, step-by-step guide, aiming to build producer confidence and increase uptake of the practice.

Delivered across five demonstration sites within a 500km radius of Albany, WA, including Boyup Brook, Broomehill, Ongerup, Palmdale, and Munglinup, the project will engage ten core producers and at least 150 observers. Through field days, webinars, case studies, and hands-on training, producers will learn to implement best-practice management for ewe lamb joining, with targets of ≥80% conception and ≥50% weaning rates. The project will also demonstrate the use of eID technology and conduct cost-benefit analyses to highlight economic viability. Ultimately, the initiative aims to improve enterprise profitability, accelerate genetic gains, and support broader industry adoption.

Objectives

By April 2029, engaging 10 core producers, at least 50 regular observer producers, and no less than 150 producers total, the project will have established five demonstration sites within a 500km radius of Albany to: 

1. Support the host producers to implement best-practice ewe lamb joining and management practices aimed at: 
   • Achieving conception rates of up to 98% (target ≥80%) and weaning rates of up to 77% (target ≥50%); 
   • Delivering measurable improvements per site and averaged across all sites in lamb sales ($/ha and $/business), replacement ewe numbers, red meat and wool yield (kg/ha), gross margins ($/ha), and overall business profitability ($/business); and 
   • Showcasing the benefits and ease-of-use of eID technology for capturing and analysing liveweight, condition scores, pregnancy status, and wet/dry results at weaning. 
2. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate the economic viability of ewe lamb joining at each demonstration site, and to compare financial outcomes between sites. 
3. Implement a series of communication, training tools and extension activities for delivery throughout the whole producer group network and beyond, including two annual field days engaging a minimum of 150 producers annually, to: 

• • Increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of ≥80% of core producers and at least 50% of observer producers in best-practice management of joining ewe lambs; 
  • Upskill 100% of core producers and ≥50% of observer producers in using MLA’s Ewe Lamb Decision Support tool to assess the suitability of joining ewe lambs in their business; 
  • Of those producers for whom the tool indicates a positive outcome, at least 80% of core producers and 50% of observer producers will adopt ewe lamb joining; and  
  • >30% of field day attendees will indicate an intent to adopt ewe lamb joining.