L.PDS.2107 - PDS - Increasing numbers of lambs weaned / ewe unit
Did you know? Improving ewe condition and using targeted feeding can increase lamb survival after scanning by an average of 9%, with lambs marked per ewe joined rising by 9% to 30% in WA Merino enterprises.
| Project start date: | 12 February 2021 |
| Project end date: | 07 December 2025 |
| Publication date: | 12 January 2026 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Sheep |
| Relevant regions: | Western Australia |
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Summary
This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project was undertaken to address high lamb losses in Western Australian (WA) Merino enterprises, as a recent study in WA discovered that maiden Merino ewes experienced an average lamb loss of 29% between scanning and marking, with losses ranging from 20% to 53% across different flocks (Jacobson & Clune, 2021). These results were supported by an earlier study by Curnow & Roberts (2018) who stated up to 28% of lambs are lost between scanning and marking. The aim of this PDS was to demonstrate whether improved ewe nutrition in late pregnancy could increase lamb survival and productivity, particularly in the challenging conditions of WA’s Midwest region.
Four demonstration sites were established across the region. Over three years, participating producers implemented key practices including pregnancy scanning for litter size and foetal age, monitoring ewe body condition scores (BCS), and using feed testing to develop tailored feeding strategies. Electronic identification (eID) was used to track performance data such as lamb marking rates, fleece weights, and feed inputs.
The results showed that three of the four sites increased lamb survival after scanning by an average of 9%, with lambs marked per ewe joined increasing by 9% to 30%. These improvements were linked to better ewe condition and targeted feeding. Sites using more intensive management saw the highest gains in profitability.
This project demonstrated that focusing on a small set of practical, easy-to-adopt management practices can lead to measurable improvements in lamb survival, ewe productivity, and farm profitability, benefiting producers across WA’s sheep industry.
Objectives
This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project was undertaken to address high lamb losses in Western Australian (WA) Merino enterprises, as a recent study in WA discovered that maiden Merino ewes experienced an average lamb loss of 29% between scanning and marking, with losses ranging from 20% to 53% across different flocks (Jacobson & Clune, 2021). These results were supported by an earlier study by Curnow & Roberts (2018) who stated up to 28% of lambs are lost between scanning and marking. The aim of this PDS was to demonstrate whether improved ewe nutrition in late pregnancy could increase lamb survival and productivity, particularly in the challenging conditions of WA’s Midwest region.
Four demonstration sites were established across the region. Over three years, participating producers implemented key practices including pregnancy scanning for litter size and foetal age, monitoring ewe body condition scores (BCS), and using feed testing to develop tailored feeding strategies. Electronic identification (eID) was used to track performance data such as lamb marking rates, fleece weights, and feed inputs.
The results showed that three of the four sites increased lamb survival after scanning by an average of 9%, with lambs marked per ewe joined increasing by 9% to 30%. These improvements were linked to better ewe condition and targeted feeding. Sites using more intensive management saw the highest gains in profitability.
This project demonstrated that focusing on a small set of practical, easy-to-adopt management practices can lead to measurable improvements in lamb survival, ewe productivity, and farm profitability, benefiting producers across WA’s sheep industry.
Key findings
• Pregnancy scanning was adopted across all four PDS sites, with early/late and litter size data used to manage feeding and paddock allocations.
• EID was used by all four sites to track reproductive performance and inform culling, with 100% of observers intending to implement in 2025 and beyond, with two core producers adopting eID due to the project and investing in data capture equipment.
• Lamb marking rates at PDS sites exceeded the 92% average with only one outlier due to climatic pressures, and supplementary feed availability, but average across all sites was 107%, ranging from 85 % to 127%.
• Wool cut per head improved modestly; tensile strength was not measured.
• Workshops covered key technical topics (e.g., ration formulation, ewe & ram prep, lambing management, weaner management), boosted skills and confidence, however 50% of observer producers still lack confidence in ration formulation.
• Grower videos, fact sheets, case studies and field days helped disseminate findings.
• Over the three-year project an improvement in lamb survival through targeted post-scanning nutrition, was observed with three of four sites averaging a 9% increase, while site three b due to feed limitations, and a shorter period in the project showed a decrease in lamb survival. Site two had the highest scanning to marking percentage of over 127% and it also had the highest percentage of single ewes and ewe input costs.
• Lambs marked per ewe joined over the three years also increased across the three sites, ranging from 9% to 30%, with some reaching up to 113%.
• Over three years, average gross margins improved with better ewe management. Those sites that invested in nutrition and animal health treatments, had higher lamb survival, but variable gross margins, depending on livestock prices.
Benefits to industry
This project reinforced the link between precise ewe nutrition, data-informed decision-making and lamb survival. Key benefits included:
• Improved ewe and lamb performance through targeted feeding
• Greater resilience to climate and market pressures
• Increased profitability per DSE
• Enhanced animal welfare and sustainability
By adopting these strategies, WA sheep producers can position themselves for long-term success in a changing industry landscape.
MLA action
MLA continues to deliver the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program, supporting livestock producers working in peer-to-peer groups to pursue new skills, knowledge and management practices applicable to their own commercial livestock production systems.
Future research
Continuing to focus on adoption is this space is a key recommendation.
More information
| Project manager: | Alana McEwan |
| Contact email: | Reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Nutrien Ag Solutions |
