Ewes for the future fertility, lambs & wool

Transcription

1 Ewes for the future fertility, lambs & wool Report from trial start Jan to Jan 7 The team from the Campaspe Lamb Producers Group and sponsors after lamb marking Key cooperating sponsors Product support sponsors

2 Trial committee & contact details Ged McCormick Chairman sheep committee Max Williams EFD ewe trial committee Roger Trewick EFD ewe trial committee Athol Frederick / Candice Cordy Landmark Bendigo Kieran Ransom formerly DPI Bendigo Jim Walsh Veterinary & nutrition advisor 8 EFD () Home () Home () / Office () Home () 87 info@elmorefielddays.com.au Elmore Events Centre Rosaia Road Elmore Vic 8 67 Minto Road, Drummartin Raywood Vic 7 Pepperton Minto Road Elmore Vic 8 Landmark 8 Midland Hwy Epsom Vic 9 Neale St Bendigo Vic Coopers Animal Health peperton@bigpond.net.au athol.frederick@landmark.com.au candice.cordy@landmark.com.au kieran.ransom@bigpond.com Trial outline Six breed types of ewes are being compared for prime lamb and wool production. A total of ewe lambs from 6 breed-types, each represented by ewes are being joined to terminal sire rams. Each breed type group was randomly selected from properties, ewe lambs per property after an allowance for culling. Selection preference was true commercial flocks rather than commercial flocks attached to studs. The ewes are normally run together as one mob, except when lambing in their separate breed groups or after pregnancy scanning when dry ewes, ewes carrying singles and ewes carrying multiples are separated for differential feeding to match targets suggested in the Lifetime Ewe program. Dry ewes may be run separately until weaning to avoid overfeeding. It is planned to run the trial for at least four adult lambings; with satisfactory progress the trial could be extended. The breed-types are listed below. Breed type Bacround x Crossbred ewes x Crossbred ewes Performance Maternals () s The most common prime lamb mother in the Elmore and northern districts. The time ewes were sourced with the help of the Victorian State Committee of the Australian Association. s are a composite breed based on White Suffolk genetics. They supply rams that are DNA tested to carry copies of the Booroola fertility gene. These rams breed first cross ewes from s. The first cross lambs carry one copy of the gene. breeders claim these ewes consistently rear % more lambs than normal crossbreds. Performance Maternals () have bred sheep from the following breeds: Coopworth,, East Friesian, Finn, SAMM (South African Meat ), Texel, Poll Dorset, White Suffolk,, Corridale, NZ Romney and Perendale. They have achieved a reputation for good lambing percentages that are assisted by the hybrid vigour between the various breeds. The second most common prime lamb mother in the Elmore and northern districts. Rams are predominantly Peppin genetics but some studs contain some South Australian genetics. Ewes were sourced with the help of the Stud Breeders Association from three properties in northern Victoria that use Loddon Valley rams. is a South Australian stud that has a long history of selecting a meat type merino with low wrinkle, bare points, no need to mules but with high quality wool. The stud sells 7 rams annually and many studs and commercial flocks in Victoria are introducing genetics. is a group breeding scheme and registered stud and in Central West NSW that aims to produce dual purpose sheep. This strain has achieved a good reputation from the high dual purpose and fine wool index ASBVs on the Sheep Genetics Australia website. The Elmore Field Days sheep trials committee need to script read results before they are passed on to the media by participating groups. They are concerned that selected information may be used out of context without presenting the full situation and results. When breed groups use the results in their promotions it is expected the Elmore Field Days will be acknowledged.

3 Summary to December 6 Ewe weight Ewe weights, fleece free, from birth on farms of origin and after arrival at Elmore Ewe weight The lines indicate the average weight of each group over time. A birth weight of was assumed for all teams. The average birth date was determined after discussions with the breeder of each team. x x 9 Performance Maternals 8, 7 6 Birth weights on home farms Joining Ewes under not joined Preg. scanning Lamb weaning Joining Dry ewes removed and run separately after preg scanning and marking Lamb weaning 6 Joining Lambs marked Lambing details 6, Joining 6 Jan, Preg scan Apr, Mid lambing Jul. Percent 6% % % % 8% 6% % % % 6% x cross 8% x cross 7% %, 9% Lambs marked % Lamb weight Lamb weights, 6 drop lambs. No adjustments have been made to account for more multiple births in some breeds. Twins and triplets grow slower than singles, especially up to weaning.

4 Wool Greasy fleece weight, Oct6 shearing 7 6. x cross.9 x cross.6 6.,.8. Clean fleece weight, Oct6 shearing.88 x cross.7. x cross.9.7.6, Fibre diameter, Oct6 shearing um 7.7 x cross.7 x cross , 7. Wool value, Oct6 shearing $/head $6 $ $ $ $ $ $ $. $.6 x cross x cross $6. Wool prices are the average of each diameter and type over the preceding year. $.8, $.7 $.9

5 Results in detail to December 6 Seasonal conditions and supplementary feeding Notes season Dry seasonal conditions were mostly experienced from March to April 6. During joining and up to a month prior to lambing in joined ewes were fed a supplement of Coprice sheep pellets (. /head/week, fed every few days) and hay. Prior to lambing the Coprice pellet ration was increased to.8 /head/week. Green pasture available improved immediately prior to lambing and during lambing the GrazFeed computer program predicted the ewes were eating about. to. green DM per day. The ration was then reduced to. /head/week of pellets plus hay. Lambing ewes were supplementary fed with Coprice sheep pellets and hay in their separate lambing groups during the lambing. The supplement was stopped several weeks after marking and commenced again just prior to weaning to train the lambs to readily take supplementary feed. There were no cases of Pregnancy Toxaemia (Twin Lamb Disease) during lambing, even though some ewes scanned with triplets or quads. Lambs were fed Coprice pellets in the few weeks between weaning in mid October and their sale as store-finisher lambs a few weeks later. Notes 6 season From early December ewes were fed Coprice pellets (. /head/week, fed twice per week) and high quality hay (. /head/day fed in big bales twice per week) at pasture. In early March 6 the ewes were confined to one paddock and fed Coprice pellets (average intake.7 /head/week, fed twice per week) and high quality hay (7.7 /head/day fed in big bales twice per week). The ewe weighing in early May indicated some breeds rapidly put on weight while the merino types maintained or slowly lost weight. It was obvious that some breeds were hogging the limited supply of pellets in the lick feeder. Ewes were then separated into condition score groups and fed according to Lifetime Ewe principles to reach target condition scores before lambing. Pasture supply increased rapidly due to the April-May rains. Supplementary feeding ceased when ewes were divided into their lambing paddocks in mid June when the average pasture feed on offer was about green DM per hectare. From lambing onwards no supplements were fed due to the adequate amounts of green feed. The June July lambing resulted in few lambs reaching heavy slaughter weights by the seasonal dry-off. The prime lambs were shorn in early December 6. They will be finished on Coprice pellets and sold in batches when they reach suitable weights in early 7. Ewe weight & condition score Ewe weights, fleece free, from birth on farms of origin and after arrival at Elmore Ewe weight The lines indicate the average weight of each group over time. A birth weight of was assumed for all teams. The average birth date was determined after discussions with the breeder of each team. x x 9 Performance Maternals 8, 7 6 Birth weights on home farms Joining Ewes under not joined Preg. scanning Lamb weaning Joining Dry ewes removed and run separately after preg scanning and marking Lamb weaning 6 Joining Ewe condition score over time Date Border Leicester x x Cashmore- Oaklea Performance Maternals, Loddon Valley 6 Feb, joining May Nov Jan 6, joining May Oct Jan

6 Lambing details Lambing details 6, Joining 6 Jan, Preg scan Apr, Mid lambing Jul. Percent 6% % % % 8% 6% % % % 6% x cross 8% x cross 7% %, 9% Lambs marked % Lambing details, Joining 6Feb, Preg scan 8 May, Mid lambing Aug. Ewes not joined (under ) are not included in these analyses. Percent % % % 8% 6% % % % 8% 6% % % % 7% 9% % x cross Ewe wt 6 Cond Scr. Age. mths % 78% % x cross Ewe wt 8 Cond Scr. Age 9.7 mths 9% % 9% Ewe wt Cond Scr.9 Age 8. mths 76% 79% 68% Ewe wt Cond Scr.7 Age. mths % 6% % Ewe wt Cond Scr.7 Age. mths Details at joining: Ewe weight - fleece free, condition score and age at joining Preg scan rate Lambs born Lambs marked 7% 69% % Ewe wt Cond Scr.8 Age 7. mths Lambing details 6, Joining 6 Jan, Preg scan Apr, Mid lambing Jul. Percent 8% 6% % % % 8% 6% % % % 8% 6% % % % 66% % 6% x cross Ewe wt 6 Cond Scr. Age yr 9. mths 68% % 8% x cross Ewe wt 6 Cond Scr. Age yr 8. mths 8% 6% 7% Ewe wt 69 Cond Scr. Age yr 7 mths % 8% % Ewe wt Cond Scr.8 Age yr 9. mths 7% % 9% Ewe wt 7 Cond Scr. Age yr 9 mths Details at joining: Ewe weight - fleece free, condition score and age at joining Preg scan rate Lambs born Lambs marked 6% % % Ewe wt 7 Cond Scr. Age yr 6. mths Comment of embryo mortality During lambing dead lambs were picked up at least daily, this was added to the number of lambs marked to calculate the number of lambs born. It is obvious there are some large differences between the pregnancy scanning rate and the number of lambs born. This suggests embryo-foetal mortality may be a factor in some breeds assuming the pregnancy scanning and estimates of lambs born were accurate. All ewes received the full Coopers Campylobacter vaccine program, a New Zealand developed vaccine to prevent abortions caused by the Campylobacter bacteria, mainly a problem in young ewes. An experienced veterinarian suggested the cause as higher embryo-foetal mortality in ewes carrying multiple births may be due to competition for a limited supply of nutrients from the placenta by multiple embryos-foetuses. 6

7 Pregnancy scanning April6 Team Border Leicester x x Cashmore- Oaklea, Loddon Valley Ewe age at mid joining, for 6 joining. Age in months Average ewe weight at joining, on 8Jan6 includes weeks wool, Ewes scanned as dry % % % % % % Ewes scanned as carrying singles % % 8% 8% 66% 9% Ewes scanned as carrying twins 6% % 69% 8% 7% % Ewes scanned as carrying triplets % % % % % Ewes scanned as carrying quads % Pregnancy scanning. Number of foetus per ewe 66% 68% 8% % 7% 6% Preg scanning results 6 by team and breed Breed Team Ewe Wt 8Jan6, Fleece free Ewe Condition Score 8Jan6 Pregnancy scanning. Number of foetus per ewe Apr6 BorderLeicester x cross Breed average x cross Breed average Performance Maternals Breed average LoddonValley Breed average Breed average.9..6 CentrePlus Breed average.7.. 7

8 Lamb weight Lamb weights, fleece free, from birth to sale, 6 drop Note: All lambs were by White Suffolk rams. Lambs were not weighed at birth, the assumed birth weight was. There will be differences between the breeds and birth type (singles, twins or triplets). For example; it was obvious that the x cross ewes reared at least several sets of triplets that were lighter at birth, Lamb weight 6 Birth Marking Weaning Pasture drying off Lambs shorn Sale first draft x x, Lamb weights, 6 drop lambs. No adjustments have been made to account for more multiple births in some breeds. Twins and triplets grow slower than singles, especially up to weaning. Lamb weight, fleece free Border Leicester x x Cashmore- Oaklea, Loddon Valley Birth weight assumed July6, Markingweight Aug6, Weaningweight 7Oct6, Post weaning 6Nov Pre sale st draft Wool Greasy fleece weight, Oct6 shearing 7 6. x cross.9 x cross.6 6.,.8. 8

9 Clean fleece weight, Oct6 shearing.88 x cross.7. x cross.9.7.6, Fibre diameter, Oct6 shearing um 7.7 x cross.7 x cross , 7. Wool value, Oct6 shearing $/head $6 $ $ $ $ $ $ $. $.6 x cross x cross $6. Wool prices are the average of each diameter and type over the preceding year. $.8, $.7 $.9 Calculating wool value Wool returns were calculated each year using average wool prices for each diameter and type over the previous months. Discounts or premiums have been applied after bale core measurements of strength or length were available (listed below, full core tests are listed later in this report). Breed Border Leicester x cross x cross Cashmore -Oaklea Loddon Valley Strength n/kt Length mm

10 Clean fleece weight, Oct6 shearing Individual team Breed average Fibre diameter, Oct6 shearing micron Individual team Breed average

11 Greasy fleece weight x cross.9.9 x cross , Oct shearing, 9 months wool Oct 6 shearing Clean fleece weight x cross.77.7 x cross...6.9, Oct shearing, 9 months wool Oct 6 shearing Fibre diameter um Border Leicester x.8.7 x cross.. Cashmore -Oaklea Loddon Valley Oct shearing, 9 months wool Oct 6 shearing

12 Shearers score of wool combing and occupational health and safety Each sheep was scored by its shearer for wool combing and occupational health and safety (OHS). (i) Wool combing; each ewe was scored using the system:. Good commercial combing, should be most of sheep. Some fault, light dermo, colour, cotted, sticky on points, but still reasonable combing.. Very hard to shear, heavy dermo, colour, fleece rot, cotted, flyblown etc, should be very few. The scoring was converted to a scale with % being the best. (ii) OHS (Occupation health and safety). They ere given a score of either Y Weight OK or N Excessive weight. The scoring was converted to a scale with % being the best. Results are shown below Breed Shearers wool combing score, 6 shearing Shearers OHS score, 6 shearing BorderLeicester x cross 9% 97% x cross 9% 98% Performance 9% 7% Maternals LoddonValley 9% % 89% % CentrePlus 9% % 6 Bale core test results Breed Border Leicester x Cashmore Loddon x cross cross -Oaklea Valley Bale brand AAAFX AAAFX AAACX AAAM AAAM AAAM Fibre diameter Micron um CV % Std Dev FD Comfort factor (% fibre under um) Curvature Yield VM % Sch dry yield % Staple Length mm CV% 6 Strength n/kt Hauteur mm Position of break Tip % Mid % Base % AWEX ID XFE XFE XFE MFE MFE MFE