Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

Value Of Gain In The Lamb Feeding Industry, Jay Parsons

Cornhusker Economics

Value of gain (VOG) is a term in the livestock feeding industry that refers to the average value of a pound of gain. It is the most appropriate revenue value to use in comparison to the cost of gain to determine profit margin.

Sheep Updates 2006 - Part 2, Darryl Smith, Kathryn Kemper, David Rutley, R. R. Woolaston, D. J. Brown, K. D. Atkins, A. E. Casey, A. J. Ball, David Hopkins, David Stanley, Leonie Martin, Arthur Gilmour, Remy Van De Ven, Geoff Duddy, Steve Semple, David Kessell, Andrew Thompson

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

GENETICS

1. Novel selection traits - what are the possible side effects?, Darryl Smith, Kathryn Kemper, South Australian Research and Development Institute, David Rutley, University of Adelaide.

2. Genetic Changes in the Australian Merino since 1900, Sheep Genetics Australia Technical Committee, R.R. Woolaston Pullenvale, Queensland, D.J. Brown, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit*, University of New England, K.D. Atkins, A.E. Casey, NSW Department of Primary Industries, A.J. Ball, Meat and Livestock Australia, University of New England

3. Influence of Sire Growth Estimated Breeding Value (EBV0 on Progeny Growth, David Hopkins, David Stanley, Leonie …

Shearing Lambs Improves Growth Performance During Periods With Elevated Thermal Load, Jake J. Herrig, Simone M. Holt, J.A. Daniel

South Dakota Sheep Research Reports, 2006-07

The purpose of this study was to determine if average daily gain (ADG) is improved in shorn lambs versus non-shorn lambs in the summer months in the upper Midwestern United States. Forty-nine purebred Hampshire and Columbia ram (n = 10 Hampshire and 4 Columbia) and ewe (n = 22 Hampshire and 13 Columbia) lambs were grouped by breed, sex, age (104 ± 1.7 days of age), and initial weight (109 ± 3.5 lbs) into shorn (n=26) and non-shorn (n=23) groups. After shearing (3 June 2004), shorn sheep had approximately 0.1 inches of wool-cover. Lambs were weighed 1, 29, and 57 …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 4, Lucy Anderton, John Young, Rob Davidson, Keith Croker, Ken Hart, Tim Wiese, B. M. Thomson, I Williams, J. R. Briegel, J. C. Greeff, N. R. Adams, E. N. Bermingham, Sue Hatcher, Gordon Refshauge, Emma Kopke, Ross Kingwell, K. E. Kemper, M. L. Hebart, F. D. Brien, K. S. Jaensch, R. J. Grimson, D. H. Smith, Melanie Dowling, A. (Tony) Schlink, John Karlsson

Sheep Updates

This session covers twelve papers from different authors: REPRODUCTION 1. Is it worth increasing investment to increase lambing percentages? Lucy Anderton Department of Agriculture Western Australia. 2. What value is a lamb? John Young, Farming Systems Analysis Service, Kojonup, WA 3. Providing twin-bearing ewes with extra energy at lambing produces heavier lambs at marking. Rob Davidson WAMMCO International,, formerly University of Western Australia; Keith Croker, Ken Hart, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Tim Wiese, "Chuckem", Highbury, Western Australia. GENETICS 4. Underlying biological cause of trade-off between meat and wool. Part 1. Wool and muscle glycogen, BM Thomson, I Williams, University …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 5, Geoff Duddy, Brent Mcloud, John Sullivan, T. J. Mahar, A. Balasingam, J. H. Stanton, K. M. S. Curtis, P. R. Lamb, Eliza Dowling, Ned Crossley, Surrender Mann, Lucy Anderton, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Swan, Ian Mcfarland, Di Evans, K. Bell, D. Sackett, Robin Jacob

Sheep Updates

This session covers eleven papers from different authors; MARKET INFORMATION 1. Crystal Spring - Crystal clear and consistant, Geoff Duddy, Livestock Officer (Sheep & Wool) Yanco, NSW, Brent McLoud, (Product Development Officer) Cowra, NSW, John Sullivan, J.J Dresser and Co (Agent), Woodstock, NSW 2. An overview of Recent Developments in Dark and Medullated Fibre Testing, T.J. Mahar, A. Balasingam, AWTA Ltd 3. Opportunities and Implications for Wool Producers of the TEAM3 Prediction Equations, J.H. Stanton12 K.M.S. Curtis1 , 1Department of Agriculture Western Australia, 2 Curtin University, WA 4. Premiums and Discounts for Fibre Properties in Superfine Wool, Now and in …

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 Part 2, Anyou Liu, Clinton Revell, Phil Nichols, Brad Nutt, Darryl Clements, Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi, Chris Oldham, Paul Sanford, John Gladman, G. E. Donald, A. Edirisinghe, D. A. Henry, S. P. Gittins, R. C. G. Smith, Roy Butler, Kelly Pearce, David Masters, David Pethick, Andrew Thompson, Ken Hart, Johan Greeff, Beth Paganoni, Rachel Kirby, Matt Ryan, Kira Butler, Roger Heggarty, David Hopkins, Samantha Giles, Tom Plaisted, Mark Ferguson, Darren Gordon, John Young, Sandra Brown, Ian Mcfarland, John Archer, John Milton, Rob Davidson, Graeme Martin, David Lindsay, Johnathan England, Mandy Curnow, Karina P. Wood, Ashley K. White, B. Lloyd Davies, Paul M. Carberry, Mark Hyder, Mike Freer, Andrew Van Burgel, Kazue Tanaka, Andrew Peterson, Roger Wiese, Gonzalo Mata, Evan Burt, Amanda Miller, Anne Bennett, Felicity Flugge, Amir Abadi, Perry Dolling, Dean Thomas, Mike Ewing, David Lindsay, Emma Kopke, E. A. Dowling, E. K. Crossley, Brien (Ben) E. Norton, John Karlsson, Geoff Pollott, Diana Fedorenko, Darryl Clements, Robert Beard, Brown Besier, Una Ryan, Caroline Bath

Sheep Updates

Precision Pastures

Using Species Diversity to Improve Pasture Performance Anyou Liu and Clinton Revell, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

New Annual Pasture Legumes for Sheep Graziers Phil Nichols, Angelo Loi, Brad Nutt and Darryl McClements Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Pastures from Space – Can Satellite Estimates of Pasture Growth Rate be used to Increase Farm Profit? Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi and Chris Oldham Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Summer-active Perennial Grasses for Profitable Sheep Production Paul Sanford and John Gladman, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Pastures From Space – Validation Of Predictions Of Pasture Growth Rates DONALD, G.E^{.A …}

Sheep Updates 2003 - Meat, Lucy Anderton, Rob Davidson, Keith Croker, Robin Jacob, Rachel Kirby, Steve Meerwald, John Milton, David Pethick

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Economic analysis of using terminal sires in a self replacing Merino flock Lucy Anderton, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Katanning 2. Is the mating of ewe weaners an option for increasing the numbers of lambs in WA? Rob Davidson University of WA, Crawley and Keith Croker Department of Agriculture Western Australia, South Perth 3.Dehydration of lambs at the time of slaughter Robin Jacob, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University 4.Feeding prime lambs for slaughter Rachel Kirby, Outback Solutions 5. Live sheep export R&D Steve Meerwald, Wellard Rural Exports 6. …

Are Foxes Serious Predators Of Stock?, Peter Mawson, John Long

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

Commercial farming of goats for mohair, cashmere and meat production is a rapidly developing industry in the south-west of Western Australia.

In this article, the authors discuss the results of two studies conducted by the Agriculture Protection Board in which the levels of predation of kids and lambs by foxes in commercial goat flocks, and an experimental multiple-birth genotype sheep flock in the southwest of Western Australia, were measured.

Survival Of Lambs, R W. Kelly, David Lindsay

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

Between one in every five or six lambs that are born each year in Western Australia die at or about the time of birth. This represents a loss approaching two million lambs and is arguably out single greatest wastage in sheep production. The deaths have an immediate impact on lambing performance and therefore lamb sales, and ultimately effects on such areas as selection of breeding replacement stock, the proportion of ewes and weathers that can be run in a self-replacing flock and the amount of wool produced and its uality.

This article summarises information on what influences lamb survival, and …

Carrying Prime Lambs Through Summer, R J. Suiter

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

The annual lamb glut in September- October has caused many farmers to show interest in feed lotting and other methods of carrying over prime lambs for a higher priced market.

Unfortunately however, little information has been available on the necessary techniques under Western Australian conditions.

This report presents the results of the first year of a trial being conducted at Chapman Research Station to examine some of the problems associated with carrying lambs through the summer for later marketing.

Coccidiosis In Lambs On The South Coast, A J. Hadlow

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

Outbreaks of coccidiosis among autumn-born lambs on the south coast have approached epidemic proportions this year.

Similar outbreaks are likely among late winter-spring born lambs. This article describes the disease and suggests measures for prevention and treatment.

Lamb Mortality On Agricultural Research Stations, K P. Croker

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

Progress report of a study of lamb losses in experimental flocks on Department of Agriculture research stations in the agricultural areas.

THE major barrier to increased production by the West Australian sheep and wool industry is the shortage of sheep in the agricultural areas of the State, and much research has been directed towards overcoming this shortage.

A Guide To Good Lamb Marking, H E. Fels

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

LAMB marking is the most severe of the various ordeals that sheep are called upon to endure.

It is a series of surgical operations, each involving a risk of infection, and some involving risks of severe haemorrhage.

Growth rate is reduced to the same extent by rubber rings as by the knife.

Reproductive Wastage And The Sheep Shortage In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WESTERN AUSTRALIA has an acute shortage of sheep.

It is estimated that about seven million extra sheep are needed to stock existing pastures fully; meanwhile the carrying capacity of the State's pastures is increasing at the rate of three million sheep a year.

Alive-Stiff-Dead [Tetanus], F C. Wilkinson

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

Only 12 hours before this photograph was taken the lamb pictured was alive and healthy.

When examined it was very stiff and unable to stand. A few hours later it was dead.

Why Did These Lambs Die?, Stanley M. Dennis

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past two years have shown that most lamb deaths in Western Australia occur during the first three days of life, that is, in the critical neonatal period.

Most of the lambs died between 24 and 72 hours after birth.

Dead Lambs : A Dead Loss, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has continued its survey into the causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb losses.

This article records the results of this work.

LAMBS and specimens from lambs were submitted to the Animal Health Laboratory from 229 properties situated in 121 areas in this survey during 1964.

Post-mortem examination was carried out on 1,422 lambs and specimens from 61 lambs were also examined.

How To Identify Twin-Born Lambs, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

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

IN the past few years it has become widely accepted that the ability to produce twin or multiple lambs is a heritable characteristic.

This means that breeding from sheep born as twins should give more multiple births and higher lambing percentages than breeding from sheep born as single lambs.

How To Care For Orphan Lambs, Stanley M. Dennis

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

WITH the current high price and shortage of sheep in W.A., farmers might consider the bother of artificially rearing orphan lambs more worthwhile than before.

Predators : Lamb Killers Or Scavengers, Stanley M. Dennis, C. D. Gooding

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

PREDATORS, particularly foxes and crows, have long been considered by many farmers in Western Australia to be a serious cause of lamb losses during the first week of life.

Results of the post-mortem examination of 2,179 lambs carried out by the Animal Health Laboratory over the past two years, however, throws considerable doubt on this belief.

These examinations revealed that 34 per cent, of the lambs showed mutilation by predators but only about 2 per cent, actually died as a result of predator attacks.

Starvation In Newborn Lambs, Stanley M. Dennis

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

INVESTIGATIONS over the past three years have shown that most lamb deaths in Western Australia occurred within the first three days of life.

Sixty per cent, of these losses were due to starvation/mismothering.

More Light On Lamb Losses : Third And Final Report Of A Survey Of Lamb Mortalities In W.A, Stanley M. Dennis

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

DURING the past three years the Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Laboratory carried out an investigation into the causes of perinatal lamb losses.

This article records the results of this work.

Tales From Dead Lambs : Results Of A Survey Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

During the past year the Animal Health Laboratory has been conducting a preliminary survey into the infectious causes of abortion in sheep and perinatal lamb mortalities. This work was prompted by:

* The diagnosis of vibrionic abortion for the first time in Western Australia in 1961, and

* The estimate that 30 per cent, of all ewes mated in Australia each year may fail to produce a viable lamb that survives to marking time.

This enormous lamb wastage is due to a variety of causes and the role of infectious agents has yet to be evaluated.

Starvation/Mismothering : A Major Cause Of Lambing Losses, Stanley M. Dennis

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

RESULTS of the preliminary survey into the infectious causes of perinatal lamb mortalities carried out last year by the Department of Agriculture showed that starvation/ mismothering was the most important single cause of death.

Weaning Lambs Under Pastoral Conditions, H Suijdendorp, L. Parsons

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

IN the summer rainfall region of the pastoral areas lambs are too often born too late to ensure their survival.

In good seasons with a fair measure of winter rain more late lambs will survive, but losses are still serious. The only solution to this problem is to make sure lambs drop in May-June.

But the presence of late and often unmarked lambs at mating time is a disturbing influence, which makes it hard to advance the established mating pattern.

The Effect Of Mulesing And Tailstripping At Lamb Marking On Subsequent Lamb Growth And Incidence Of Fly Strike, R J. Lightfoot, W. L. Mcgarry

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

THE modified mules and tailstrip operation has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the incidence of crutch strike in sheep.

In Western Australia the operation is usually performed on ewe weaners or hoggets immediately after either crutching or shearing.

Mules And Tailstrip Lambs At Marking Time, R J. Lightfoot

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

THE mules and tailstrip operation is basic to fly strike control and should be routine practice in all flocks in the same way as other accepted management practices like marking and crutching.

A Seasonal Reminder For Flock Owners : Care Needed In Lamb Marking, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WITH winter and spring lambing becoming increasingly popular there are still plenty of lambs to be marked this year.

A word of warning now may save unnecessary mortalities due to lamb marking diseases in the next few months.

Rearing Orphan Lambs, Laurence C. Snook

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

Orphan lambs are easy to rear if a few basic principles are understood.

Lambs Need Drenching At Weaning, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

RECENT losses among young lambs due to heavy infestations of black scour worm (Trichostrongylus species) have indicated that this year the problem of worms in weaners may be more troublesome than usual.