Temporary Fencing for Improved Lamb Survival
| Project start date: | 02 August 2017 |
| Project end date: | 30 August 2020 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Southern Australia |
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Summary
Improving lamb survival has been and continues to be a key priority for the Australian sheep and wool industry. Peri and postnatal lamb mortality is estimated to cost in excess of $A500 million per annum (Lane et al 2015).
This trial investigated the use of temporary fencing as a measure to reduce twin ewe mob size at lambing to reduce mismothering and improve lamb survival rates.
Results over three years demonstrated that reducing mob size at lambing improved survival rates by 4.8%, and yielded a ‘worst case’ return of $2.70 for every $1 invested in fencing materials and construction. This work demonstrates that in addition to pre-lambing ewe condition score, shelter and feed on offer, achieving smaller mob sizes at lambing improves lamb survival, alleviates welfare concerns and improves on-farm profitability.
Objectives
The objectives of this Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) was for producers from the Willaura BestWool BestLamb (BWBL) group to demonstrate:
• how temporarily reducing paddock and twin ewe mob size during lambing can increase twin lamb survival by 10% (measured by marking percentage relative to mob allocation to paddock)
• the ease at which temporary fences can be constructed and removed
• that temporary fencing is a cost effective strategy to employ rather than increasing single bearing mob size to free paddocks up for twins.
Progress
Across all farms, years and stocking rates there was a 4.8% improvement in twin lamb survival, representing a 9.8% improvement in lamb marking rate.
Over the trial period, a 301% return on investment over the trial period was demonstrated.
The total net benefit over the trial period was $2.78 per ewe, $20.73 per hectare and $15.06 per lamb.
