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Merino ewe mortality – prevalence, causes and mitigation strategies
The four-year project has commenced, and we want to hear from Australia’s Merino producers!
Reducing ewe mortality during lambing requires understanding why ewes die and how management practices influence this.
Lifting ewe survival will positively impact lamb survival, helping improve animal welfare and productivity outcomes, which are priorities for the sheep industry.
This four-year project aims to understand the prevalence and causes of Merino ewe mortality and demonstrate intervention strategies to determine the most practical and cost-effective management practices for Merino producers.
An experienced sheep research team is wanting to partner with passionate Merino producers to find answers to improving Merino ewe survival.
Industry surveyDuring December 2023 and March 2024, the project team is undertaking an online industry survey to better understand current management practices and the extent of on-farm losses amongst Australian Merino ewes. The survey results will be used to describe Merino ewe mortality on an industry-wide basis. Findings will inform on-farm trials investigating the incidence and causes of Merino ewe mortality around the period of lambing. The survey:
Results of the four-year project will be rolled out to industry via MLA and AWI reports and resources as well as extension activities and scientific papers. Access the survey via this link https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6hy3okonmXeJ1xY or scan the QR code. |
The survey:Participation in the on-farm part of the project
Are you:
- a passionate Merino producer in NSW, VIC, southeast SA or the northern or central wheatbelt of WA?
- interested in improving the survival of ewes during lambing on your farm?
- Joining more than 1,000 commercial Merino ewes per year?
- Interested in contributing to industry research?
Then we’d like to talk to you about participating in the project!
Then we’d like to talk to you about participating in the project!Participating producers will gain insight into the ewe mortality rates and causes in their business and have a head start to improving survival of the Merino ewes on their property/s. Host producers will receive access to vets to conduct ewe postmortems during the project and learn to take eye fluid samples that contribute to determining the cause of death.
Producers can participate in the project for one or two years, with two ways of contributing data and gaining insight. All participating producers will be part of a local producer group led by a project vet.
The project team requires producers to keep accurate records of ewe deaths and their management practices in the lead up to, and during, lambing in 2024. Producers can stay involved and implement strategies to reduce mortality with support from a vet during lambing 2025.
