As more exclusion fencing goes up across the state and producers enjoy a turnaround in seasonal conditions, attention has turned to harnessing the huge potential of the Queensland sheep industry.
A Lifetime Ewe Management course has recently started in south west Queensland involving a group of seven producers from Westmar to Toobeah and Bollon.
But it won't stop there. Consultant Geoff Duddy, Sheep Solutions, believes there is capacity for at least eight to 10 producer groups, stretching from Longreach to the southern border.
"I've been looking to establish several Queensland groups since moving from southern NSW to Queensland a few years ago and with most of the state having finally got a break from the drought, now is a prime time to do so," Mr Duddy said.
"With exclusion fencing and interest in the sheep industry booming, it is an opportune time for producers to fine-tune their management through programs such as Lifetime Ewe."
Each LTEM group brings together five to seven producers to learn how to get the basics right and incorporate best management practices to maximise production and economic outcomes.
This includes monitoring pastures and ewes on each property with a focus on early weaning strategies, maximising weaner survival, preparing ewes for next year's season, pregnancy management across the seasons, supplementary feeding and fodder options, and setting up pastures and fodder crops for the break.
Much of the program is geared towards breeding up the Merino ewe base, and Mr Duddy believes Queensland has "a huge potential, particularly now".
"Over time there has been a swing away from sheep in Queensland due initially to the drop in wool prices after the axing of the reserve price scheme, then poor seasonal conditions, drought and wild dogs," he said.
"The latest estimates are that we have less breeding ewes than Tasmania so there's a huge potential to increase our numbers. With improved seasonal and pasture conditions, greater area now within exclusion fences and strong sheep enterprise returns, interest is at an all-time high."
While incorporating many Lifetime Ewe Management principles and Queensland's unrealised potential are something Geoff Duddy has been talking about for the past 10 years, he believes producers are now more likely to do so.
"Take for example strategic supplementation of ewes and grain-finishing stock," he said.
"Most producers I've come across in Queensland, first and foremost in a drought would drop back on their numbers and/or destock. Very few have actually fed.
"Many however, now see the benefit-cost of feeding to help maintain their core breeding ewe base, improve reproduction rates, lamb survival and ewe and lamb productivity and have invested in on-farm storage and machinery to help them do so."
The LTEM course is jointly owned by Rural Industries Skill Training and Australian Wool Innovation.
AWI offers a subsidy for eligible producers to undertake the course, and to date, almost 4000 producers across Australia have taken part.
For more information or if interested in being part of the Lifetime Ewe Management program, producers can contact Geoff Duddy at geoff@sheepsolutions.com.au or on 0427 007 490, or LTEM program manager Bec Malseed at bmlaseed@rist.edu.au or 0407 730 943.
