Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 2. Wool quality and lamb growth
Susan M. Robertson A B C and Michael A. Friend A B C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), Albert Pugsley Place, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B Cooperative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga,NSW 2678, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: mfriend@csu.edu.au
Animal Production Science 60(3) 406-413 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18556
Submitted: 4 September 2018 Accepted: 6 May 2019 Published: 31 December 2019
Abstract
This study evaluated wool quality and lamb production from four management systems with Merino ewes grazing a perennial pasture between 2006 and 2010, using different combinations of lambing time, ram breed and percentage of summer-active pasture species. All systems were stocked at a similar midwinter rate (dry-sheep equivalents per hectare of 8, 10.2, 13, 11.2 and 11.2 in the successive seasons 2006–2010). Liveweight, condition score, C fat and eye muscle depth at weaning of both Merino and crossbred lambs were always higher (P < 0.05) for lambs born in July than those born in September. Similarly, the sale weight of lambs born in July was always higher (P < 0.05) than of lambs born in September, partly because these lambs were usually retained for longer before sale. When lambs were born in September, sheep systems that carried higher numbers of ewes per hectare at the same midwinter stocking rate produced sale weights of lambs similar to those with fewer ewes, except where systems with fewer lambs per hectare enabled lambs to be retained for longer in favourable seasons. A higher percentage of lucerne (Medicago sativa, 40% cf. 20%) increased lamb sale weights only in favourable seasons. Clean fleece weights per ewe and staple strength were similar among systems in most years (2008–2010), although mean fibre diameter was lower (P < 0.05) in both late lambing systems (with 40% and 20% lucerne). The results indicate that choice of lambing time, ram breed and the flexibility to alter lamb sale date with seasonal conditions will have a larger impact on the performance of individuals than number of ewes per hectare where systems are grazed at the same midwinter stocking rate.
Additional keywords: agricultural systems, alfalfa, animal production, grazing management, nutrition, reproduction.
References
Anon. (1997) Producing & marketing lambs to specifications in NSW. AGDEX 431/12. NSW Agriculture, Orange, NSW.Byrne F, Robertson MJ, Bathgate A, Hoque Z (2010) Factors influencing potential scale of adoption of a perennial pasture in a mixed crop-livestock farming system. Agricultural Systems 103, 453–462.
| Factors influencing potential scale of adoption of a perennial pasture in a mixed crop-livestock farming system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Campbell AJD, Broekhuizen A, Curtis K, Croker KP, Behrendt R, Thompson AN (2014) A survey of post-weaning mortality of sheep in Australia and its association with farm and management factors. Animal Production Science 54, 783–790.
| A survey of post-weaning mortality of sheep in Australia and its association with farm and management factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coop IE (1962) Liveweight-productivity relationships in sheep I. Liveweight and reproduction. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 5, 249–264.
Edey TN (1968) Bodyweight and ovulation rate in sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 7, 188–191.
Ferguson MB, Thompson AN, Gordon DJ, Hyder MW, Kearney GA, Oldham CM, Paganoni BL (2011) The wool production and reproduction of Merino ewes can be predicted from changes in liveweight during pregnancy and lactation. Animal Production Science 51, 763–775.
| The wool production and reproduction of Merino ewes can be predicted from changes in liveweight during pregnancy and lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fitzgerald R (1976) Effect of stocking rate, lambing time and pasture management on wool and lamb production on annual subterranean clover pasture. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 27, 261–275.
| Effect of stocking rate, lambing time and pasture management on wool and lamb production on annual subterranean clover pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fogarty NM, Hopkins DL, Van de Ven R (2000a) Lamb production from diverse genotypes 1. Lamb growth and survival and ewe performance. Animal Science 70, 135–145.
Fogarty NM, Hopkins DL, Van de Ven R (2000b) Lamb production from diverse genotypes 1. Carcass characteristics. Animal Science 70, 147–156.
Foot JZ, Vizard AL (1993) The determinants of wool quality: current sheep management, South Australia and Victoria. In ‘Management for wool quality in Mediterranean environments’. (Eds PT Doyle, KA Fortune, NR Adams) (Department of Agriculture Western Australia: Perth)
Gibb MJ, Treacher TT (1980) The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture. The Journal of Agricultural Science 95, 631–640.
| The effect of ewe body condition at lambing on the performance of ewes and their lambs at pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hall D, Wolfe E, Cullis B (1985) Performance of breeding ewes on lucerne–subterranean clover pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 25, 758–765.
| Performance of breeding ewes on lucerne–subterranean clover pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hatcher S, Eppleston J, Graham RP, McDonald J, Schlunke S, Watt B, Thornberry KJ (2008) Higher weaning weight improves postweaning growth and survival in young Merino sheep. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 7, 966–973.
Holmes PH (1993) Interactions between parasites and animal nutrition: the veterinary consequences. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 52, 113–120.
| Interactions between parasites and animal nutrition: the veterinary consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 8493256PubMed |
Hopkins D, Pirlot K, Roberts A, Beattie A (1993) Changes in fat depths and muscle dimensions in growing lambs as measured by real-time ultrasound. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, 707–712.
| Changes in fat depths and muscle dimensions in growing lambs as measured by real-time ultrasound.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IWTO (2015) ‘IWTO red book specifications.’ (International Wool Textile Organisation: Brussels)
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kenyon PR, Hickson RE, Hutton PG, Morris ST, Stafford KJ, West DM (2012) Effect of twin-bearing ewe body condition score and late pregnancy nutrition on lamb performance. Animal Production Science 52, 483–490.
| Effect of twin-bearing ewe body condition score and late pregnancy nutrition on lamb performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Langlands J, Donald G, Paull D (1984) Effects of different stocking intensities in early life on the productivity of Merino ewes grazed as adults at two stocking rates. 1. Wool production and quality, lamb growth rate, and size and liveweight of ewes. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 24, 34–46.
| Effects of different stocking intensities in early life on the productivity of Merino ewes grazed as adults at two stocking rates. 1. Wool production and quality, lamb growth rate, and size and liveweight of ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lloyd Davies H, Southey IN (2001) Effects of grazing management and stocking rate on pasture production, ewe liveweight, ewe fertility and lamb growth on subterranean clover-based pasture in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 161–168.
| Effects of grazing management and stocking rate on pasture production, ewe liveweight, ewe fertility and lamb growth on subterranean clover-based pasture in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Masters D, Edwards N, Sillence M, Avery A, Revell D, Friend MA, Sanford P, Saul G, Beverley C, Young J (2006) The role of livestock in the management of dryland salinity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 733–741.
Masters DG, Peterson AD, Mata G, Liu SM (1998) Influence of liveweight, liveweight change, and diet on wool growth, staple strength, and fibre diameter in young sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 269–278.
| Influence of liveweight, liveweight change, and diet on wool growth, staple strength, and fibre diameter in young sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore AD, Bell LW, Revell DK (2009) Feed gaps in mixed-farming systems: insights from the Grain & Graze program. Animal Production Science 49, 736–748.
| Feed gaps in mixed-farming systems: insights from the Grain & Graze program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Obst JM (1987) Grazing management and pasture utilization by sheep, goats or cattle. In ‘Temperate pastures: their production, use and management’. (Eds JL Wheeler, CJ Pearson, GE Robards) pp. 477–485. (Australian Wool Corporation/CSIRO: Melbourne)
Reed K, Snaydon R, Axelsen A (1972) The performance of young sheep grazing pastures sown to combinations of lucerne or subterranean clover with ryegrass or phalaris. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 12, 240–246.
| The performance of young sheep grazing pastures sown to combinations of lucerne or subterranean clover with ryegrass or phalaris.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reeve J, Sharkey M (1980) Effect of stocking rate, time of lambing and inclusion of lucerne on prime lamb production in north-east Victoria. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 20, 637–653.
| Effect of stocking rate, time of lambing and inclusion of lucerne on prime lamb production in north-east Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson SM, Friend MA (2019) Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 3. Fertility, fecundity and lamb survival. Animal Production Science
| Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 3. Fertility, fecundity and lamb survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson SM, Southwell AF, Friend MA (2014) Modelling the risk of different joining times and lamb sale policies. Animal Production Science 54, 1694–1698.
| Modelling the risk of different joining times and lamb sale policies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson SM, Broster JC, Friend MA (2019) Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 1. Pasture persistence and enterprise productivity. Animal Production Science.
| Performance of sheep systems grazing perennial pastures. 1. Pasture persistence and enterprise productivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson AN, Ferguson MB, Gordon DJ, Kearney GA, Oldham CM, Paganoni BL (2011) Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime and these effects can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile. Animal Production Science 51, 794–804.
| Improving the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy increases the fleece weight and reduces the fibre diameter of their progeny’s wool during their lifetime and these effects can be predicted from the ewe’s liveweight profile.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Trapnell LN, Ridley AM, Christy BP, White RE (2006) Sustainable grazing systems: economic and financial implications of adopting different grazing systems in north-eastern Victoria. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46, 981–992.
Warn L, Webb Ware J, Salmon L, Donnelly J, Alcock D (2006) Analysis of the profitability of sheep wool and meat enterprises in southern Australia. Final Report for Project 1.2.6. Sheep Cooperative Research Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW.
White D, McConchie B (1976) Effect of stocking rate on fleece measurements and their relationships in merino sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 27, 163–174.
| Effect of stocking rate on fleece measurements and their relationships in merino sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
