Animal Sciences Commons^™

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 3, Andrew Ritchie, Edward Riggall, James Hall, Gus Rose, Johan Greeff, John Young, M. Alchin, M. Young, T. Johnson, John Lucy, Martin Staines, Tim Wiley, Rob Grima, Sandra Prosser, Matt Ryan, Geoff Moore, Tony Albertsen, Phil Barrett-Lennard, George Woolston, John Titerington, Sarah Knight, Brianna Peake

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:

PROFITABILITY

1. Benchmarking demonstrates both the potential and realised productivity gains in the sheep and wool industry, Andrew Ritchie, Edward Riggall and James Hall, ICON Agriculture, Darkan

2. Improving sheep genetics will increase farm profitability, Gus Rose, Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, John Young Farming Systems Analysis Service, WA

3. Meat, Merinos and making money in WA Pastoral Zone, M. Alchin, M. Young and T. Johnson, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia,

GRAZING

4. Nitrogen - farmers' friend or foe? John Lucy and Martin Staines, Department …

Lupin Stubbles : Getting The Best With Weaner Sheep, Keith Croker, Colin Mcdonald, Jeremy Allen

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Sweet lupins are now grown on about a million hectares in Western Australia each year. If half of the State's seven million weaners were grazed as recommended on half of the lupin stubbles, it could generate about $15 million from reduced supplementary feeding, greater wool production and other advantages. But correct management is important, particularly knowing when to take weaners out. Research by the Department over the last five years is now indicating how this should be done.

Erosion Risks With High Stocking Rates At Kojonup Trial, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A pasture grazing trial at Kojonup dramatically illustrated the effects of Cyclone Alby. Severe erosion was evident on the heavily stocked plots while the more lightly stocked plots showed little damage.

Super And Stocking Rates At Kojonup After 10 Years, J W. Bowden, B. Scurr, R. Glencross, K. Longbottom

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A Department of Agriculture trial on old land at Kojonup has been comparing rates of superphosphate and stocking of sheep for 10 years.

Lupinosis And Rates Of Stocking Of Lupin Stubbles, K P. Croker, J. G. Allen, C. R. Lester, R. B. Guthrie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Lupin stubbles provide valuable summer sheep feed but under some conditions the fungus Phomopsis rossiana (for which lupins are the host plant) produces a toxin that causes lupinosis. Results from research at Badaingarra Research Station over the 1973-74 and 1974- 75 summers have shown that sheep liver damage associated with lupin stubble grazing is likely to be more severe at high than low stocking rates.

Farm Grazing Levels, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Stocking rates in many dairying areas are so low that the Division has established nine grazing level demonstrations in various areas.

Their aim is to demonstrate that higher stocking rates are practical on existing farms.

More Butterfat Per Acre At Denmark Research Station, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

STOCKING rates on dairy farms are generally too low and can be substantially increased, but unfortunately there is no satisfactory measurement to indicate the potential of a particular pasture or environment.

A trial carried out on Denmark Research Station in 1966-67, to obtain information on carrying capacity of a dryland kikuyu-subterranean clover pasture.

Cattle Stocking Rates In A Higher Rainfall Area, R Sprivulis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE 1965 Pardelup cattle stocking rate trial was conducted with Hereford cross yearling steers on annual pasture of Mt. Barker sub. clover, Wirnmera ryegrass and various volunteer annual species.

This was topdressed with 186 lb. of superphosphate per acre in mid March.

Stocking Rate And Rate Of Superphosphate In A Higher Rainfall Area, P P. Mann, B. J. Gorddard, R. N. Glencross, E. N. Fitzpatrick

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In its virgin state the area carried a forest association of red-gum and jarrah, and the soils are typical of large areas in the south-west of Western Australia.

These gravelly soils have a high requirement for phosphate during their first years under pasture, and this trial was designed to investigate the relationship between rate of phosphate, stocking rate and pasture production over a number of seasons.

Agriculture In Williams-West Arthur : Report Of A Survey Of Farm Practices, A W. Hogstrom

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS article summarises the results of a survey of 81 farms in the Williams and West Arthur Shires, carried out by officers of the Department of Agriculture at the request of the Central South Zone Development Committee.

Field work for the survey started in 1961.

Stocking Rates On Cyprus Barrel Medic In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Parkin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN May 1963, some three weeks after germination, a 4th year stand of Cyprus barrel medic was stocked with Merino wethers.

These same sheep are still grazing the area after three years.

Dairy Farming In The Busselton-Margaret River District. Part 2. Stocking Rate And Production, R A. Bettenay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Survey results suggest that the production of butterfat per acre could be doubled on many farms in the Busselton-Margaret River district.—Second in a series of articles reporting a survey of farm practices on 100 farms in the district.

Stocking Rate And Pasture Management, B F. Carlin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FARMERS west of the Great Southern Railway, raising sheep and beef cattle, frequently associate soil deficiencies with difficulties in holding sub. clover in their pastures.

Field observations and some trials in those districts indicate that in many paddocks the problem arises through undergrazing rather than a deficiency in the soil.