Tough Systems
| Project start date: | 06 March 2020 |
| Project end date: | 30 March 2023 |
| Project status: | In progress |
| Livestock species: | Sheep, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | Western Australia |
| Site location: | Great southern WA: Wagin, Wickepin & Yealering |
Summary
Demonstrate how the Tough Systems for Tough Seasons Package can increase system resilience, increase productivity and profitability (measured by ewe condition score, lambing percentage, feed on offer and weaner weights) and address varying climate and feed gap issues.
Objectives
By 2023, have completed the following in the South of WA:
1. Demonstrate and assess the Tough Systems package’s ability to increase the following, through “paired paddock” treatments at seven sites per year:
a) Resilience - Expected 25% more FOO and 10% increase in stocking capacity. Measured by assessing & comparing pasture quality and quantity in deferred, seeded, lambing paddocks to those that have been grazed since break of season (traditional system).
b) Lamb & ewe survival - Modelled (and actual lambing % where possible) based on increased feed availability and condition scores.
c) Ewe condition post lambing- Measured in condition score of ewes, expected 0.5 CS increase.
2. Complete a cost benefit analysis to demonstrate the economic performance of the system, compared to traditional, standard grazing and management system.
3. Implement extension activities to increase the knowledge and skills of the 20 core producers, 300 observer producers and wider industry through:
• 3 field days
• 3 workshops
• 3 host case studies
• 1 guideline manual
4. Lead to an estimated 70% of core producers and 40% of observer producers making practice changes, while 60% of core producers and 40% of observers will increase knowledge and skills.
Progress
The Tough Systems for Tough Seasons project ran from 2020 to 2022 in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt and Great Southern region. The main target audience are producers that are most at risk of increasingly variable seasons, and are increasingly turning away from sheep to cropping, due to its high risk and management required in tough seasons. This project aimed to demonstrate a ‘tough systems package’, showcasing proven management techniques to deal with varying climate and feed gap issues, in order to increase system resilience, increase productivity and profitability. This was done by sowing cereals into pastures, and deferring grazing.
Using paired-paddock methodology, the performance of ewes that were confinement fed and lambed into deferred pastures sown with cereals was compared to ewes that were run traditionally. The project found the value of the tough seasons package greatly varies based on yearly climatic conditions, but overall, its value is driven by the additional feed produced. Additional Feed On Offer (FOO) from deferment gave an average of $36.30/ha benefit over 3 relatively average years, with deferred pastures having 170% higher FOO than the control pastures. Ewe and lamb survival increased by 1% (modelled 2%), and ewe condition score post lambing increased by 0.2CS. Supplementary feed costs were on average $0.29/h/day. In addition, the project led to significant increases in producer knowledge, skills and confidence, with high adoption rates of condition scoring, confinement feeding, deferred grazing, and sowing cereals into pastures.
Project is complete - Final report will be published in the near future
