L.PDS.1803 - EPDS: Increasing lamb survival

Summary

Twin lamb survival continues to be a major challenge for the Australian sheep industry. In 2016 the Western Plains Best Wool/Best Lamb (BWBL) group experienced a challenging lambing year mainly due to weather resulting in significant lamb losses across ten farms. The group identified several management strategies to investigate with the aim of improving lamb survival in twin bearing ewes.

This project has demonstrated that significant improvements can be made to the survival of lambs born to twin bearing ewes through better management of ewe condition, provision of shelter at lambing and reducing the size of the lambing mob.

Objectives

The aim of the project was to demonstrate and measure increased lamb survival with the Western Plains BWBL group members by 5%-7% through improved management of mob size, ewe condition, Feed On Offer, shelter and disturbance at lambing.
The objectives were to:
1. To demonstrate the impact on lamb survival by applying best practice (Lifting Lamb Survival Paddock Planning and National Lambing Density Protocols) i.e. optimal stocking rate, mob size, ewe condition, feed on offer, shelter and paddock size.
2. To increase the knowledge and skills of producers to fine tune their lamb production systems and further lift their lamb survival.
3. To achieve attitude and behavioral change among non-adopting producers through extension of project outcomes.
The objectives for mob size, ewe condition and shelter were met. The objectives relating to the impact of FOO and disturbance were not demonstrated as the group were unable to provide a host producer for these trials.

Key findings

Results from the demonstration align with lamb survival research and show ewes lambing in smaller mobs have higher survival rates compared with ewes lambing in larger mobs. Shelter also had an influence and ewes lambing in more sheltered paddocks had higher lamb survival rates compared to those with less shelter. The ewe condition trial conducted in the first two years found that condition had an impact on lamb survival in twin bearing ewes. The demonstration has shown there are welfare and economic gains to be made by influencing shelter, mob size and condition score of twin–bearing ewes.

Over the course of the demonstration, three training sessions were held including a lamb autopsy workshop, fencing subdivision session and a FOO and ewe condition scoring session. An annual results presentation/ discussion was conducted with the group and an annual Newsflash article shared through the BWBL and SALRC networks. The demonstration results were also shared on Agriculture Victoria social media and webpage. The three years of the demonstration included two years of significant limitations to group meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions. Data collection was undertaken by producers with reduced assistance from the project coordinators and meetings were held opportunistically when restrictions eased.

All producers involved in the demonstration indicated they would or had already adopted demonstrated practices, particularly smaller mob sizes and managing FOO to maximise lamb survival. Increases in producer knowledge and skills were also measured.

Benefits to industry

Producers supported through the demonstration of management practices proven to increase on-farm productivity are much more likely to adopt the research outcomes and implement on farm change.
The key benefit to industry is the increased adoption of practices proven to increase productivity and profitability. All producers engaged in the project indicated they have or intend to adopt management practices demonstrated, which will lead to increased twin lamb survival. Results of the project were disseminated to the wider industry increasing knowledge and awareness, with limited ability to measure the broader impact.

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

Lamb survival is a high priority for the Australian sheep industry. It is important from many perspectives including animal welfare, productivity, and profitability. The Australian sheep industry is increasingly scrutinised by the wider community, and it is important to continue to address factors that challenges the social licence of sheep production systems.

There are clear benefits to the sheep industry if commercial farms adopt best practice, developed through extensive industry research and delivered through courses such as LifeTime Ewe Management, Lambs Alive and Bred Well Fed Well.