Best practive management to increase the profitability of Merino sheep meat production

Summary

The aim of this demonstration was to apply the key production drivers of intensive rotational grazing and feed budgeting, prepartum protein supplementation and managing to achieve fat score targets to Merino reproductive enterprises. The purpose of these approaches was to optimise productivity and profitability per hectare while achieving animal targets and to enhance sustainability indicators such as ground cover, perenniality and water infiltration through macropores. Feed budgeting and planning led to higher stocking rates regardless of grazing management but when associated with continuous grazing produced a system which was fragile to climatic influence and associated with inflated year to year variability.
In contrast, intensive rotational grazing was a more reliable and predictable management type allowing higher stocking rates while minimising risk exposure, climatic fragility and improving the state of natural resources. Mean gross margins were increased by $123/ha by the use of feed budgeting to increase stocking rate. Adoption of intensive rotational grazing increased gross margins a further $103/ha.