Comparative Nutrition Commons^™

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 2, Ian Mcfarland, Catherine Stockman, Anne Barnes, David Pethick, Jenny Davis, Brett Thompson, Ron Leng, Sally Pieruzzini, Elizabeth Jackson, Mohammed Quaddus, Nazrul Islam, John Stanton, Melanie Dowling

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

FINISHING LAMB AND BEEF

1. Precision Feedlot Lamb, Ian McFarland, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Feeding sheep under high heat load did not decrease intake of feedlot rations, Catherine Stockman, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia & Murdoch University, Anne Barnes, Murdoch University David Pethick, Murdoch University

3. Taking the stress out of fifishing lambs and cattle - EasyFeed solutions, Jenny Davis, Brett Thomson, Milne AgriGroup, Welshpool WA, Ron Leng, Emeritus Professor, University of New England, Armidale, NSW

WOOL

4. DAFWA …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Pastures, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes, David Masters, David Henry, Stephen Gherardi, Graham Donald, Asoka Edirisinghe, Chris Oldham, Richard Smith, Joanne Sneddon, Mike Hyder, Andrew Thompson, Kazue Tanaka, Roy Latta, Chris Matthews, Brad Nutt, Angela Loi, Tim Wiley

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors: 1. Pastures for saline land, Ed Barrett-Lennard 1Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Hayley Norman, Robyn Dynes and David Masters CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Mediterranean Agricultural Research, Floreat Park, 2. Feeding value - the essential link between pastures and animals CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environmental and Life Sciences 3. ‘Pastures from space’ - how do we do it, how well do we do it and what do producers think about it? Stephen Gherardi Department of Agriculture Western Australia Graham Donald Asoka Edirisinghe Dave Henry CSIRO Livestock Industries Chris Oldham Department of …

Lot Feeding Sheep In Sheds, H E. Fels, B. Malcolm

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

The need to gather and hold sheep for slaughter or live shipment led a West Australian company!, with the Department of Agriculture, to investigate the use of sheds for short term lot feeding of sheep. Preliminary examination suggested that feedlot sheds connected by a sheep footpath to the abattoirs, railway or saleyards could be cheaper as well as more practicable than continued use of holding paddocks.

The first week or two are commonly the most difficult in lot feeding sheep or cattle. Long-term indoor lot-feeding is a normal practice in some overseas countries but we did not know whether untrained …

Tender Wool Can Be Avoided, I G. Ralph

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

THE production of tender wool which will not stand the tension and friction of the combing process can be reduced by an alteration in sheep management practices.

This is the finding of research carried out by the Sheep and Wool Branch of the Department of Agriculture over an eight-year period.

High Pre-Mating Liveweights Improve The Lambing Performance Of Merino Ewes, R J. Suiter

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

Analysis of lambing trials with Merino ewes has shown a highly significant association between pre-mating liveweight and lambing performance.

With May-June lambing ewes there was a 2.9 per cent, lambing increase for every extra 10 lb. liveweight; for July-August- September lambing ewes there was a 6.9 per cent, increase for every 10 lb. liveweight increase.

With the May-June lambing there was a critical weight below which twinning was negligible.

Urea Or Grain Supplements For Stubble?, H E. Fels

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

Three methods of supplementing sheep grazing stubble were compared at Merredin Research Station in 1970. The stubble used in the experiment was left after harvesting a nine-bushel crop of Gamenya wheat which was a weed-free second crop on new land. The land had never been sown to legumes.

Sheep : Experimental Basis For Urea Feeding Recommendations, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Recent scientific reviews have concluded that in spite of the great number of experimental observations recorded throughout the world there is no evidence yet to prove that urea can be used profitably for sheep on low quality roughages in genuine grazing conditions.

An experiment is in progress at Merredin Research Station this season, especially designed to demonstrate a response to urea by sheep grazing wheat stubbles, if such a response is possible.

Surplus Cereal Crops For Sheep Feed, H E. Fels

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

SINCE the introduction of wheat quotas many farmers have considered feeding unsaleable grain to sheep.

The three alternative methods of feeding this grain to sheep are

• as standing crops

• as grain supplements, fed in the paddock

• as grain plus hay, in a feedlot.

Crop Rationing : A Useful Drought Feeding Technique, H E. Fels

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

A TRIAL carried out during the 1969 drought demonstrated that rationing standing crop is a practical method of feeding it to sheep when feed is scarce.

Rationing will be mainly a drought feeding technique for that part of the crop which will definitely be used as sheep feed. Crop that may or may not be needed for sheep would normally be harvested and the grain kept as a contingency allowance.

Urea Block Supplements For Stubble, H E. Fels, R. J. Parkin

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

THERE was a great deal of controversy throughout the summer of Western Australia's 1969-70 drought over the feeding of supplements other than grain to grazing sheep.

This report summarises some of the experiments carried out by this Department to investigate various artificial means of supplementing sheep grazing stubbles and dry summer pastures.

Further details of the experiments can be obtained by contacting the authors.

The results failed to demonstrate economic responses to urea supplements for grazing sheep.

Urea Mixture Formulations, H E. Fels

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

This experiment was done once the experiment above (Urea or Grain Supplements for Stubble) had shown definite but uneconomic responses to a particular mixture of urea, molasses and minerals. The aim was to find whether the response depended on the content of various portions of the mixture, and whether the response to the "shotgun" lick could be explained by the presence of salt, sulphate or cobalt.

Experiments With Urea On Private Farms, R J. Parkin, G. Palmer, A. Haagensen, L. D. White, R. J. Suiter, H. E. Fels

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

Many District Advisers have carried out trials on private farms to test the response to a variety of types of supplementary feeds. This report gives brief details of five such experiments carried out with urea supplements over the last five years. Table 1 summarises the details and results of these trials.

Look After The Tail Enders, B R. Beetson

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

IN Department of Agriculture drought feeding trials last summer, shy feeders lost weight and died while the bigger sheep grew fat. When drafted off and fed separately the shy feeders ate their share and survived the summer.

Sheep Management During Drought, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Experiencing a drought can be likened to fighting a war.

This article looks at alternatives and costs of maintaining the flock during the drought.

More Sheep Per Acre, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

In the late 1950's agricultural scientists in Western Australia became convinced that much of the improved pasture in the agricultural areas of the State was going to waste.

The results of the early trials resulted in many farm demonstrations of higher carrying capacities on improved pastures in southern agricultural areas.

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.

Heavy Rate Set Stocking : Esperance Downs Research Station, R J. Doyle

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

THIS article describes a stocking rate demonstration in one paddock at Esperance Downs Research Station, using Merino wethers.

Since December 1961, the area has supported 530 to 540 Merino wethers under continuous grazing.

Stocking Rates On Light Land : Wongan Hills Research Station, R J. Lightfoot, W. L. Mcgarry

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

THE two most important things that determine the rate of return on invested capital in Merino sheep breeding and grazing are the stocking rate and lambing percentage.

Rate Of Stocking, Rate Of Fertiliser In The Chapman Valley, R J. Parkin

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

THE Chapman Valley embraces a relatively small area of country, following generally the course of the Chapman River.

The Chapman Valley proper extends from just north-east of Geraldton to Nanson, Nabawa and Naraling and includes on its fringes, areas of Narra Tarra, Moonyoonooka and areas west of Nabawa towards Northampton.

Continuous Grazing On Rose Clover At Northampton, R J. Parkin

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

BECAUSE of its upright growth habit, it is often thought that rose clover may require some form of specialised grazing management.

It has also been said that the sheep find the plant and in particular the seed head, undesirable in the dry stages.

However, more recent observations refute this (Bailey 1966). The present commonly-grown strains of rose clover are later flowering generally than the medics or Geraldton subterranean clover and stay green later in the season.

The Avondale Stocking Rate Experiment, L D. White, R. J. Lightfoot, R. N. Glencross

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

THERE is now ample evidence that stocking rates well above the usual district levels can be carried in the Avon Valley.

However, many aspects of increasing stocking rates still require investigation, particularly with lambing ewes and young sheep.

Urea For Sheep And Cattle On Dry Feed, Laurence C. Snook

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

Urea can be a valuable supplement for ruminants which have to depend on dry feed low in protein.

It is not a substitute for good quality conserved fodder.

Urea is extremely poisonous if eaten in excess and great care must be taken when feeding it to stock.

There are a variety of ways in which urea can be fed and these are outlined in this article.

The Department of Agriculture's Animal Nutrition Laboratory is now carrying out trials to determine the most convenient and safest method.

Urea is most effective as a fertiliser; when used in this way it results …

Weaner Feeding Practices Need Review, W L. Mcgarry, R. J. Lightfoot

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

Many fanners feed large amounts of grain to their weaners over summer and autumn, in the belief that this is necessary for high lifetime production.

The economics of this are open to doubt; in fact, the results of a recent experiment at Wongan Hills Research Station suggested that weaner feeding practices need review.

Autumn Lambing Means Autumn Feeding, C J. Spencer

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

MANY Merino flocks in the agricultural areas Iamb down in the autumn months.

This means that the lambs are being developed and reared when paddock feed is at its worst, and this in turn means that a well-planned supplementary feeding programme is essential.