Magnificent Maidens

Summary

The aim of this PDS is to demonstrate the impacts of adopting best-bet management of maiden ewes on their reproductive performance and carryover effects on subsequent performance, and to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills of ‘core’ and ‘observer’ producers within the neXtgen Agri network to enable them to more confidently improve the reproductive performance of maiden ewes.

Objectives

By the 30-June 2025 we will:

1. Demonstrate on eight host properties the impacts of adopting ‘best bet’ management of maiden ewes on their reproductive performance and carryover effects on subsequent performance. This will include ewe selection, nutritional management to joining, pregnancy scanning and differential management of singles and twins and lambing group size where appropriate.

2. Implement a series of activities to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills of ‘core’ and ‘observer’ producers to enable them to more confidently improve the reproductive performance of their maiden ewes by 10% and 5% respectively.

3. Conduct a benefit cost analysis to determine the relative economic performance of ‘best bet’ compared to ‘normal’ management of maiden ewes, and modify the ‘best-bet’ management guidelines to develop a legacy product that would be available for wider distribution across the sheep industry.

4. Extend outcomes, learnings and experiences relating to management of maiden ewes amongst core and ‘observer’ producers within the wider neXtgen Agri network using the neXtgen Agri members site, the neXtgen Agri facebook group and Zoom (Group Video conferencing) calls throughout the project resulting in:

• 100% of core producers and 50% of observer producers adopting or intending to adopt ‘best bet’ management of maiden ewes; and
• 100% of core producers and 80% of observer producers with increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to ‘best bet’ management of maiden ewes

5. Present findings at sheep industry forums and extend results through at least eight field days/field walks at host properties and via other grower group networks and consultants.

Progress

The Magnificent Maidens PDS project is being managed by neXtgen Agri International and aims to demonstrate the opportunity in managing maiden ewes through best-practice management to improve their reproductive performance and narrow the gap between the reproductive performance of maiden and older ewes. 

Each PDS involves two groups of at least 200 maiden ewes which are allocated to ‘best-bet’ management, where ewes are managed according to current best-practice, or ‘normal’ management, where ewes are managed as per traditional management for the farm. Six PDS sites have been established; one in South Australia, three in Victoria and two in Western Australia. One site in Victoria subsequently withdrew.  

The sites in Victoria and Western Australia are now complete, with reproductive data collected to pregnancy scanning of the ewes after being joined second time at 2.5 years of age. The site in South Australia has just commenced, with ewes being joined in late December.  

There are three key outcomes from the project so far: 

1) Joining weight is a more useful predictor of reproductive rate than condition score for maiden Merino hoggets;  

2) There is an average 3.2% increase in reproductive rate for every 1kg increase in weight at joining; and  

3) There is an average 9.2% increase in reproductive rate for every 100g/day increase in weight gain during joining.  

The key take-aways from these preliminary findings are:  

1. a) Weigh your maidens regularly;
2. b) Ensure that maidens are not losing weight during joining and ideally that they are growing; and 
3. c) Look to increase the weight of maidens at joining when feed is cheap to maximise the reproductive benefit. 

The Magnificent Maidens space on The Hub has grown to 764 members. Strong producer engagement across multiple states demonstrates how important and how much enthusiasm within industry there is to improve the future breeding ewes of the nation’s flock. The Hub has recently been updated with a blog and will soon feature case study videos showcasing the enterprises of our PDS hosts.  

The Magnificent Maidens space on The Hub can be accessed here: https://thehub.nextgenagri.com/c/magnificentmaidens/