Forage systems for optimal weaning management and finishing

Summary

This project will demonstrate the benefits of using a forage crop pasture mix during weaning for prime lamb production or merino ewe productivity relative to current forage options within the WA Mediterranean Zone.

Objectives

By November 2021, in the central wheatbelt region of WA:

1. 8 (core) producers will demonstrate and assess at 6 sites the potential of forage crop pasture mix to increase:

   a) liveweight gains from weaning in merino lambs (g/day)

   b) liveweight gains and time to slaughter in prime lambs (g/day)

2. Conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine the relative economic performance of forage crop pasture mixes compared to existing pastures (this includes stocking rates DSE/ha, reproduction efficiency %, cost of production $/kg, Gross Margin $/ha).

3. Run a series of paddock workshop and an annual field day to showcase 5 demonstration site results to encourage adoption of forage crop pasture mixes to increase weaning weights in merino lambs and prime lambs to 50 core and observer producers.

4. By 2021, have an additional 10 members (observer producers) utilising forage crop pastures in their grazing system.

Progress

The Corrigin Farm Improvement Group in WA have run 9 producer demonstration sites since 2018 examining forage systems for optimal weaning and feeding. The results from 2019 indicate that both pasture and fodder feed regimes lead to sufficient weight gains for weaners. Whether there is greater weight gain on fodder or pasture is influenced by the type of pasture and if that pasture has been manipulated to reduce grasses and weeds to maintain high quality feed. There however are several additional benefits to implementing fodder paddocks into the feed base rotation highlighted by grower comments in the region.