Sheep Electronic Identification Nathan Scott Mike Stephens & Associates
Livestock Production Genetics Animal Management Pasture Quality Soil Fertility
Livestock Production Genetics Animal Management Animal Performance Pasture Quality Soil Fertility
What isn t Electronic ID? It s not a silver bullet It s not auto-drafters It s not all about equipment It doesn t have to cost the earth
What is Electronic ID? Af fantastic ti tool Part of a complete management system The most exciting development in the sheep industry?
Individual id lanimal lmanagement Consider the following. Poor Performers Average Performers Superior Performers
Traditional Mob Based Selection One Year Old Ewes Two Year Old Ewes Three Year Old Ewes Four Year Old Ewes Five Year Old Ewes Poor Performers Average Performers Superior Performers Six Year Old Ewes CULLED
Individual Animal Selection One Year Old Ewes Two Year Old Ewes One Year Old Ewes CULLED Three Year Old Ewes Four Year Old Ewes Poor Performers Average Performers Performers Superior Five Year Old Ewes Six Year Old Ewes Six Year Old Ewes CULLED Seven Year Old Ewes CULLED
Traditional Mob Based Selection One Year Old Ewes Individual Animal Selection One Year Old Ewes Two Year Old Ewes Two Year Old Ewes One Year Old Ewes CULLED Poor perform mers retained throughout t Three Year Old Ewes Four Year Old Ewes Five Year Old Ewes Three Year Old Ewes Four Year Old Ewes Five Year Old Ewes Poor performers culled as early as possible Six Year Old Ewes CULLED Six Year Old Ewes Seven Year Old Ewes CULLED Six Year Old Ewes CULLED Superior performers retained longer
Poor Performers Average Performers Superior Performers
Trait Wool Traits: Table 1.1: Spread of Variability within a Merino Flock Production level of flock: Top 25% Average Bottom 25% Clean Fleece Weight (kg) 5.3 4.6 3.9 Fibre Diameter (µm) 18.9 20.4 21.9 35 Staple Strength th (N/ktex) 42 35 28 Meat Traits: Growth rate (g/day) 357 284 200 Fat depth (mm) 8.9 10.6 12.5 Reproduction: Lambs weaned per ewe joined 1.43 0.86 0.28 Profitability traits: Fleece value per ewe ($) 82 54 37 Carcase value per ewe ($) 56 33 12 Source: Atkins, Richards and Semple 2006
There is a large variation in the characteristics of individual id sheep within a flock 24 23 22 $33 Micron 21 20 19 18 17 16 $84 55 5.5 65 6.5 75 7.5 85 8.5 95 9.5 10.5 11.5 GFW
Trait Wool Traits: Table 1.1: Spread of Variability within a Merino Flock Production level of flock: Top 25% Average Bottom 25% Clean Fleece Weight (kg) 5.3 4.6 3.9 Fibre Diameter (µm) 18.9 20.4 21.9 35 Staple Strength th (N/ktex) 42 35 28 Meat Traits: Growth rate (g/day) 357 284 200 Fat depth (mm) 8.9 10.6 12.5 Reproduction: Lambs weaned per ewe joined 1.43 0.86 0.28 Profitability traits: Fleece value per ewe ($) 82 54 37 Carcase value per ewe ($) 56 33 12 Source: Atkins, Richards and Semple 2006
Table 1.2: Cost benefit of using eid rather than visual tags in the collection of sheep body weights at two different operations Centre Plus Merino Stud Collecting Weights only CT Sire Evaluation Collecting weights and data cleaning Visual Tags RFID Visual Tags RFID No of sheep 700 700 600 600 No of labour units 3 2 3 2 No of man hours 11.67 4.67 13.5 3 Total cost $466.80 $186.80 $540 $120 Cost/weight recorded $0.67 $0.27 $0.90 $0.20 Estimated error rate 5% 0.05% No of corrections 30 0.3 Time/error 01 0.1.1 Hourly rate for data $80 $80 management Cost of time for tag $240 $2.40 correction Cost/unit correct data $1.30 $0.20
Why use eid? More Accurate Easier Faster More likely to happen!
Tags Shearwell Tag Allflex Tag Leader Tags
Tag Readers Stick & Panel Readers Which reader to use? How do they work? What s New???
<Shearwell Reader in action> New Products
Tag Readers Stick & Panel Readers Which reader to use? How do they work? FOR OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE DO NOT MOUNT ON STEEL
Indicators Used to record weights and collect data Horses for courses Know your needs Know your options PLEASE read the manual.
Computers & Tablets
Bar Code Printers & Scanners
Weigh Crates & Autodrafters Used to record weights Auto drafting Labour Savings Cost Regularity of use Power/Air Supply Maneuverability
New Products
Sheep Handlers Designed to combine multiple tasks Autodrafting Can be loud Maneuverability
Compatibility Common language g between autodrafters Ultrasound equipment
Data Collection Data collection costs money! No point collecting data unless you use it Anything measured objectively or subjectively can be recorded against an individual animal The more data you collect the more difficult it is to manage Only collect data that will add value to your enterprise.
What Data? Individual body weights Fleece weights Fleece testing Fat & eye muscle scanning Visual sheep classing & assessment Pregnancy scanning Animal health records WEC Treatments Stock auditing Pedigree MatchMaker
What is Pedigree MatchMaker? Uses eid tags in ewes & lambs Sequence of tags used to predict pedigree Estimates associations between ewe and their lambs Low cost, low labour method of recording maternal pedigree Source: Sheep CRC
Equipment Setup Setup does not need to be elaborate Note the panel panel mounted on timber
How much variation is there really? HM Prison Langi Kal Kal Beaufort Composite ewes Twin Bearing Mob Very good ewe condition & pasture quality
Litter Weight Weaned Pedigree MatchMaker + Individual weaning weight (100 days) = Litter Weight Weaned Fertility Number of lambs born Lamb survival Lactation Lamb Growth Effective composite trait selection G. D. Snowder A and N. M. Fogarty B,C
Ewe Efficiency Ewe EID Ewe Weight Kg/Lamb/ Weaned @ day of weighing 940 110000469297 73 121.5 166% 940 110000466143 92 139.5 152% 940 110000469881 82 115.5 141% 940 110000444045 97 122 126% 940 110000469887 85 90.5 106% 940 110000466017 88 92 105% 940 110000468977 88 90 102% 940 110000466092 92.5 89.5 97% 940 110000461733 90 85.5 95% 940 110000469426 88.5 84 95% 940 110000466618 99.5 93 93% 940 110000465500 87 45 52% 940 110000464163 83.5 42 50% 940 110000466769 93.5 45.5 49% 940 110000466420 87 42 48% 940 110000468571 101 46.5 46% 940 110000464476 95 43.5 46% 940 110000461169 103.5 47 45% Total 2346 1947 83%
Ewe Efficiency Ewe EID Ewe Weight Kg/Lamb/ Weaned @ day of weighing 940 110000469297 73 121.5 166% 940 110000466143 92 139.5 152% 940 110000469881 82 115.5 141% 940 110000444045 97 122 126% 940 110000469887 85 90.5 106% 940 110000466017 88 92 105% 940 110000468977 88 90 102% 940 110000466092 92.5 89.5 97% 940 110000461733 90 85.5 95% 940 110000469426 88.5 84 95% 940 110000466618 99.5 93 93% 940 110000465500 87 45 52% 940 110000464163 83.5 42 50% 940 110000466769 93.5 45.5 49% 940 110000466420 87 42 48% 940 110000468571 101 46.5 46% 940 110000464476 95 43.5 46% 940 110000461169 103.5 47 45% Total 2346 1947 83%
The Top 3 Ewe EID Ewe Weight Kg/Lamb/ Weaned Ewe Efficiency @ day of weighing 940 110000469297 73 121.5 166% 940 110000466143 92 139.5 152% 940 110000469881 82 115.5 141% Now that is efficient!
The Worst Scanned with Multiples. At day 113 Condition i score 4.5 121kg Liveweight Zero Lambs.
Litter Weight Weaned Fertility Number of lambs born Lamb survival Lactation Lamb Growth
Onalargerscale 520 Ewes with 780 Lambs at foot At day 85 Range in kilograms of lamb weaned per ewe of 24.1 115.7 Growth rates can be estimated. Highest were in the range 540-560g/day. Achieved by a single, twin, and a triplet. Comparison of sires possible
Walk Over Weighing Remote weighing system Sheep weigh themselves Requires data analysis Requires animal training
Data Management The most important part of your EID system Without effective data management, data collected is of little use. Dedicated software designed to help you get the best out of your EID system You don t have to manage data yourself.
The collection of data is a complete waste of time and money. unless you use it!
Contractor Services Do you need to buy your own equipment? How often will you use it? Do you want to manage your own data? Is there a contractor in your area? Start with the basics! Sheep Pro - Mark Jenkinson - 0428 386 924
Get the most out of the technology 2 Full Day Sessions Content Summary Breeding objective Data to collect Equipment required How RFID works Data management Actually using data
eid Supply Chain Peter Walsh 48
Tracking Systems + + 49
The Big Question???? What role can EID play within your business?
Pedigree MatchMaker Conclusions Simple Equipment Training & preparation is crucial All about sheep flow Not just for studs Questions? The equipment and set up is simple, it is just all about sheep flow!
MS&A Trial - 2010 Accuracy of Results Reliability one 95.5% of paddock matching Reliability two 95.1% of paddock matching Reliability three 86.8% of paddock matching
MS&A Trial - 2010 Accuracy of Results Reliability one 95.5% of paddock matching Reliability two 95.1% of paddock matching Reliability three 86.8% of paddock matching Vic DPI DNA comparison - 2010