EPDS: Weaning Strategies for Improved Productivity

Summary

Eight sheep and beef industry on-farm demonstrations were conducted over a period of three years, targeting MLA and Agriculture Victoria priorities and addressing innovative practices associated with grazing management, annual fodder varieties, pasture cropping, gibberellic acid for winter feed production and pasture regeneration, weaning strategies to improve cattle temperament, managing ewes according to pregnancy scanning status, and the provision of shelter and autumn saving of pastures for lambing ewes.

Impacts of the demonstrations were evaluated at the enterprise level as well as the Victorian industry level. Wider extension and industry development has been conducted for completed demonstrations.

The program directly engaged 276 enterprises, 9 service providers and 11 producer groups in the demonstration sites. Broader extension activities engaged more than 1,271 producers and 110 service providers, with 41% of these from outside of Agriculture Victoria's sheep and beef networks.

Significant gains were achieved in self-assessed producer scores pertaining to their knowledge (+29% to +32%), skill (+22% to +38%) and adoption (+6% to +41%) over the duration of the project. Little change was achieved in attitudes or aspirations, but these were scored quite highly from the outset. The ADOPT model was used to predict a likely adoption profile for each of the innovations demonstrated.