The cropping industry has long been renowned for using science and innovative to maximise production per hectare.
Bayer is leading the partnership with DSM Nutritionals and AgriWebb to develop an industry leading platform called Bayer Grow.
This is being delivered to livestock producers through a network of reseller stores.
Bayer Grow and its reseller partners are developing a network of livestock agronomists to implement tailored livestock management programs into farming operations across Australia.
This model combines on-farm data, science and industry research to develop operational plans to address key production goals throughout the year.
Pooginook Merino Stud, Jerilderie, is the first property to implement the Bayer Grow program.
The Bayer Grow technical team are working closely with Pooginook to measure and record the production benefits and return on investment of the program.
Recently, the Bayer Grow team, led by Dr. Rick White, and Elders livestock agronomist Rob Inglis, met with Pooginook manager John Sutherland and his team to discuss plans for their upcoming weaner program.
The team measured body weights of the lambs and developed production goals to ensure animals met weight targets throughout the year and the females achieve their critical joining weight.
Pooginook have strategically established an annual pasture program to ensure maximum pasture availability for weaners.
The Bayer Grow team helped develop an integrated program for appropriate pasture allocation and rotation, nutritional supplementation and animal health and welfare.
Lambs were drafted into weight ranges to ensure maximum performance and allow each animal to express their full genetic potential.
Pooginook manager John Sutherland highlighted, that “allowing weaners to express their genetic potential allows me to class on genetics instead of management”.
Mr Sutherland said, “Pooginook is very excited to join this collaborative program.
“I think we will be able to identify times of the year where we can target spend to increase production significantly, which gives us the best bang for our buck.”
Mr Sutherland said “Pooginook is very excited to join this collaborative program.
“I think we will be able to identify targeted time of year where we can spend a little bit of money to increase production significantly, giving us our best bang for buck.
“We are also excited to implement the whole farm management software and keen to see the improvement to record keeping and task allocation the Agriwebb software will bring to Pooginook” Mr Sutherland said.
Mr Sutherland was impressed by Bayer’s commitment and investment to take a key leadership role in the industry to help drive production efficiencies in livestock businesses.
“I’m most impressed by Bayer’s Grow program with its vision to fundamentally change the way animal health companies and resellers service their clients with a proactive holistic approach rather than a narrow reactive approach.
“This means offering me advice integrating management, nutrition, animal health and welfare rather than just selling me a product.
“So much of the advice provided by industry is identifying the key issues of production, however, often fails to provide solutions, hence why I am excited by the grow program” he said.