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 aims to demonstrate best-practice management of maiden ewes to improve their reproductive performance and narrow the gap between the reproductive performance of maiden and older ewes. The project includes six demonstration sites across southern Australia where producers are comparing the reproductive performance of maiden ewes managed based on current best-practice versus traditional management for the farm. Preliminary data analysis found that reproductive rate increased by an average of 2.2% for every 1kg increase in weight at joining and by an average of 7.3% for every 100g/day increase in weight gain during joining. Economic analysis demonstrated that improvements in joining weight could be profitable when feed supply was less than $0.03/ME. Hence, producers should look to increase ewe weight at joining when feed is cheap to maximise the reproductive benefit. Producers should also aim to increase weight gain during joining to increase reproductive rates. Scanning results collected from ewes joined for a second time at 2.5 years of age found that, in most cases, there was a small carry-over benefit of improved nutrition of maiden ewes on their scanning results at their second joining. The Magnificent Maidens space on The Hub has grown to 1073 members. Here producers and industry members can share thoughts or ask questions and access project updates, blogs and case study videos.