PDS: Standing fodder crops for finishing lambs
| Project start date: | 15 December 2025 |
| Project end date: | 11 November 2029 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia, Western Australia |
| Site location: | Western Australia: Great Southern & Midwest/Midlands |
Summary
Western Australian sheep producers are under growing pressure to finish lambs efficiently on‑farm, particularly through the late spring/summer feed gap when pasture quality drops away and cereal stubbles can fall short without extra supplementation. With tighter seasons, reduced pasture availability in mixed farming systems and changing market dynamics, many producers are looking for reliable, cost‑effective options to maintain weaner growth rates, improve livestock flow and hit target turn‑off windows.
The PDS project aims to demonstrate that lambs grazing standing fodder crops can achieve up to 200g/day liveweight gain – around double traditional systems – and be approximately 4.2kg heavier after six weeks, supporting faster turn‑off and reduced reliance on supplementary feeding. Learnings will be shared through producer‑led workshops, field walks and communications, giving producers the confidence to choose suitable crop options, integrate them into rotations and adopt strategies that improve productivity, profitability and resilience.
Objectives
By December 2028, over four sites involving 22 core and 140 observer producers in the medium to high rainfall zone of Western Australia:
1. Demonstrate to producers the potential of grazing lambs on variations of different standing fodder crops to support weight gain, decision making and management of livestock: Increase live weight gains from 100g/day to 200g/day when grazing standing fodder crops
a) After 6 weeks, lambs grazing standing fodder will be 4.2kg heavier compared to traditional flock
b) Variations in quality and quantity of different standing fodder crops vs traditional pastures (FOO)
c) Increase in stocking rate and carrying capacity on standing fodder vs traditional (DSE/ha)
2. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to identify the economic performance of grazing standing fodder crops on weight gain in lambs compared to traditional management strategies
3. Implement extension activities to increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of 80% of core producers and 60% of observer producers in implementing standing fodder crops to increase liveweight gain and faster lamb turn off, improve early weaning outcomes, increase resilience during late season feed gaps, whilst supporting whole farm productivity and profitability
4. Practice changes in 80% of core/observer producers adopting a standing fodder into their mixed farming system, and 60% observer producers.
