Challenges sustaining record lamb markings

Consultant Jason Trompf told attendees at the recent LambEx conference, Albury, conditions that enabled the improved productivity – which had seen a 10 per cent gain in marking rates in the last 10 years – resulting in more lambs from fewer ewes, may not be favourable to production in the future.

In the last decade, national marking rates have climbed from the low 80s to 92pc, which is the highest national marking rate ever recorded in more than 40 years of records. 

Mr Trompf said the national average Merino marking is 85pc this year, while marking rates from non- Merino ewes averages 108pc.

Despite the fourth consecutive year of record lamb slaughter at 23 million head this year , Meat and Livestock Australia reported a two pc increase in the Australian breeding ewe flock to 41.7 million head.

Mr Trompf said the combination of the change in ewe flock composition, a run of better seasons and the national expansion of Lifetime Ewe Management and Bred Well Fed Well programs explained the majority of the 10pc gain in marking rates over the last decade.

NSW had the biggest impact on national marking rates, with an increase of 10pc on 15m breeding ewes, while Western Australia rose 6pc in this same 10 year period.

South Australia had the highest average marking rate of 95pc, representing a 9pc gain on 6m breeding ewes, while Victoria lifted marking rates 7pc on 8m ewes.

“About one third of the gain in reproduction nationally is explained by the doubling of non-Merino ewes in the Australian sheep flock since 2007, as well as the improved seasons experienced since 2010 compared to the previous decade” Mr Trompf said.

LTEM practices had contributed to national marking gains, with the 3000 sheep producers, representing 25pc of the national flock, graduating with a rise of 9pc in their flock’s marking rates.

“The challenge is to achieve similar gains in the next ten years, without necessarily the favourable seasons and ongoing displacement of merino ewes for non-merino ewes,” he said.  

In order to ensure consistency of lamb, mutton and wool supply, Mr Trompf said the Sheep Industry Strategic Plan (SISP) was  targeting a five pc improvement in reproduction rates by 2020.

He said on farm management practices needed to aid improvements, including adoption of improved ewe nutrition late in pregnancy, more precise preparation and allocation of ewes and improved performance of ewes on their maiden lambing.

In the last 10 years there had been a 10pc gain in yearling clean fleece weight in merinos and 3.5kg increase in yearling weight, however there had been no significant gains in number of lambs weaned, muscle or fat.

Over 80 per cent of Merinos in Merino Select were measured for fleece and growth traits, yet he said less than 15pc were measured for key traits- fleece, growth, carcass and reproduction.

“Commercial producers must ensure they’re breeding profitable sheep – which means a ewe  that is both fit for farm and fit for market,” Mr Trompf said.  

He said it was critical producers had a clear written breeding objective, review their current ram team against the Australian Sheep Breeding Values thresholds they set and then select better rams using a combination of visual and objective assessment.

“You need to build a flock full of performers, not passengers,” he said. 

“You can get on board the genetics express- by using a combination of better ram selection, improved flock management that optimise gene flow, aided by within flock selection targeting your objective.”