PDS: Optimising the fertility of maiden ewes

Summary

This Producer Demonstration site aims to demonstrate improvements in sheep reproductive performance and mortality rates through the adoption of selected management techniques.

The project will focus on – weight of ewe at maiden joining, joining length; ewe condition; nutrition management; feeding strategies; and the effect of early  weaning on subsequent ewe reproduction and weaner growth rates and survival.

Objectives

By October 2025, in the central-western region of Queensland, engaging 5 core producers and 15 observer producers; 

1. Demonstrate the implementation of management and husbandry practices required for maiden ewes to achieve
   scanned-in-lamb rates of up to 90%, and a 95% lambing rate from SIL maiden ewes. Core and participating producers (20) will be closely involved with 2 demonstration producers who will follow Industry Best Practice guidelines to supplement their low bodyweight joiner maiden ewes to demonstrate the management processes to hit these targets outlined. Targeting an additional two sites within 24 months of the project commencing.
2. All demonstration producers, 50% of core producers and >20% of other observer sheep producers to implement one or more of the following range of practice changes: pregnancy testing, setting bodyweight targets, utilise RFID/EID tags and bodyweight/BCS  monitoring) as a result of the project.
3. Knowledge, Skill, and Confidence objectives. 100% of core producers and >5% of observer producers will have gained an increase in knowledge, skills, and confidence in the following practices, ie scanning, assessment of udder integrity, use of BCS, basic management of EID tag data and other principals of “Fit to Join". 
4. Conduct 1 initial workshop, 3 annual field days and 6 annual Webinars (Zoom) meetings. Each year, PDS results will be presented at the  Leading Sheep’s annual forum.
5. Regularly update the Leading Sheep newsletter and Leading Sheep website with results as key milestones are passed. Summary results and individual demonstration site producer case studies will be provided at the end of the life of the project.

Progress

‘Making Maidens Weight’ aims to observe the relationship between fertility and ewe weight at joining over several years. Utilising PDS principles, this project intends to help producers identify a minimum liveweight target that suits their management, breeding and business objectives. The group involves two demonstration properties near Barcaldine and Ilfracombe, central west Queensland (CW Qld), with another forty producers observing and engaging in discussion and activities. This project was initiated by producers in CW Qld and is supported by local DAF extension staff, NSW DPI small ruminant researcher Dr Gordon Refshauge and agriculture consultancy business ConnectAg.  

The project aims to demonstrate how the implementation of management and husbandry practices can improve scanned in lamb rates and lambing rates from maiden ewes. The project will encourage producers to implement a range of practice changes (pregnancy scanning, assessment of udder integrity, body condition scoring and management of electronic tag data) to ultimately improve efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability of their business.  

Experiences 

- Recent results for Beaconsfield indicated that supplement fed out during the fortnight before and during lambing increased rearing rate. 

- Predation played an unfortunate role in lambing results at Dunblane this year so the group is looking forward to another year of reproduction data to more fully understand the implications of increasing maiden liveweight to lift fertility. 

- The group are still looking for additional properties interested in becoming demonstration sites to build a broader picture of what is contributing to reproduction results in maiden ewes in western Queensland . 

- Interest in the PDS continues to grow with the recent field day broadening the reach of the project. 

Messages 

- Consider selling twice dry ewes. 

- Use eID tags to record reproduction data and make decisions from that data analysis. 

- Wet and drying is a crucial tool for analysing rearing success. Wet and dry at lamb marking.  

- Measure liveweight of lambs at weaning and improve monitoring of weaners through to joining. 

- Measure liveweight of ewes at joining for later analysis of reproduction and fertility success. 

Project summary update via https://www.mla.com.au/extension-training-and-tools/pds-producer-demonstration-sites/producer-demonstration-news/an-update-on-the-making-maidens-weight-pds-project/