Part 1 Optimising ewe lamb joining outcomes

Sally Martin, SheepMetriX, outlined the progress to date of this current PDS project and discussed the decision making process and earnings to date to achieve successful ewe lamb joining outcomes.

Part 2 Preg scanning in extensive sheep flocks

Laura Broughtonm, Productive Livestock Solutions, highlighted the benefits of pregnancy scanning in extensive sheep flocks and presented the key results from this recently completed PDS project.

The Managing triplet bearing ewes for success webinar presented the results of a national project directed at understanding how many triplet bearing ewes are in the Australian sheep flock and developing best practice management guidelines for commercial sheep producers to optimise their triplet ewe and lamb survival.

Part 1: Setting R&D priorities

Professor Andrew Thompson, Murdoch University, outlined the results of a national survey that quantified how many triplet bearing ewes are in the Australian sheep flock and various management strategies commercial sheep producers currently use to manage their triplet-bearing ewes.  

Part 2: The importance of mob size

Dr Amy Lockwood, Murdoch University, discussed the on-farm research that showed the importance of smaller mob sizes for triplet bearing ewes during lambing.

Part 3: Managing ewe condition score

John Young, Farming Systems Analysis Service, reported the results of his economic analyses that highlighted the benefits of managing triplet-bearing ewe condition score.

Part 4: On-farm best practice guidelines

Dr Jason Trompf, JT Agri-Source, rounded out the webinar with a run down of the best practice management activities for triplet bearing ewes.

The Let's talk rams webinar explored the ram side of sheep reproduction.

Part 1: Sexed semen

Professor Simon de Graaf, Sydney University, provided an overview of the research behind the development of sexed semen, the process used to separate the X- and Y-sperm sexed semen, the current status of the technology and it's use in the sheep industry.

Part 2: Prediction of ovine AI success

Eloise Spanner, an Early Career researcher from Sydney University, discussed the national project that has been investigating the effect of ram, ewe and environmental factors on the variability of successful artificial insemination programs within the Australian Merino industry.

Professor extraordinaire Schalk Cloete from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa presents on the long-term selection for reproductive performance in the Elsenburg Merino resource flock. The Elsenburg Merino flock has been selected for divergent reproductive performance since 1986.

A recent review of the major risk factors for neonatal lamb mortality found that melatonin can improve outcomes in high risk sheep pregnancies through increasing uterine blood flow and neonatal neuroprotection. Dr Will van Wettere from the University of Adelaide discusses the impact of supplementing Merino ewes with melatonin following pregnancy scanning to improve the survival of twin born lambs.

Part 1: Unlocking the keys to ewe survival

Reducing ewe mortality during lambing is a high priority for the sheep industry. In part 1 of this webinar, Mary McQuillan from Livestock Logic discusses unlocking the key to ewe survival during lambing and presents the major risk factors affecting ewe mortality.

Part 2: Fit to join

Part 2 of this webinar, presented by Andrew Whale from Livestock Logic, highlights the key fitness indicators to look for when deciding if ewes are fit to join.

Pregnancy scanning is a key technology that enables sheep producers to make informed decisions regarding managing their breeding ewes and lambing. This webinar will highlight the role of pregnancy on farm profitability and discuss the key actions producers can take to set their scanner up for success.

Part 1: Can you afford not to scan?

John Young, Farming Systems Analysis Service, discusses the results of an economic analysis of the profitability of pregnancy scanning.

Part 2: Set your scanning up for success

Josh Cousins, Cousins Merino Services, provides a pregnancy scanners perspective on best practice preparation  for scanning to set your scanner up to ensure high accuracy.