Improving Profitability from Irrigated Pasture

Summary

Lambs have traditionally been left on ewes until 16 weeks of age and suckers sold directly to a sale yard. The premise of this project was that lambs left on their dams for longer than 8-10 weeks causes an overburden of sheep on the available pasture and excessive irrigiation costs. This project proposed to wean lambs at 10 weeks, place their dams on dry country (not irrigated) and retain irrigated pasture for the lambs only, measuring the anticipated increase in profitability of this approach.