ODay2017
Theme 4 - Profitable and Sustainable Livestock Production
Balancing higher levels of sheep production with meat eating quality
Murray Long, ClearView Consulting
The increasing use of technology across the whole sheep industry has resulted in higher potential profit margins for all sheep producers. The use of breeding values, Electronic ID, handling equipment and genomic testing have all provided producers with tools to fine tune production to suit their specific objectives but at what cost to the actual quality of the product they are producing? The Reference flock at TAIC and several others are playing an important role in ensuring the gains made in area of production are not compromised as consumers become more selective based on higher prices paid at the retail level. What can you do as producers to keep the reputation of Australian lamb as the best in the world?
Weather modelling on a 5km grid & feed estimation
Mary Goodacre & David Faulkner, Sheep CRC
Effective pasture management and assessment of its quantity and quality enables producers to make calculated livestock decisions. Pasture measurement tools have been developed to assist to more accurately assess pasture and feed availability that are vital for mixed farming operations, which will be shared in the presentation. To better equip producers, the Sheep CRC has developed an App that takes on-farm pasture measurements as well as local climate data downloaded from the Bureau of Meteorology, and predicts Feed on Offer up to 90 days. The App, called ASKBILL, assesses risks daily for pasture availability, flies & worms, extreme weather and weight/condition score. Where risks are identified, alerts are sent to the producer prompting decisions on managing risks and production opportunities.
Efficient utilisation of genetic technology in your sheep enterprise
Sally Martin, Livestock Consultant & MerinoLink CEO
Tips and tricks when utilising new technologies. What the current MerinoLink research projects and affiliated trials are telling us and how the results can be incorporated in a commercial farming business.
Paddock Demonstrations
Correctly identifying footrot & managing your biosecurity obligations
Liz Braddon, LLS
Demonstrating through the examination of the sheep’s foot how to identify various symptoms so that producers’ will be able to recognise suspected footrot lesions and seek professional advice for confirmation. This will incorporate a discussion on general farm biosecurity and the new requirements for on farm biosecurity plans recently announced by the Livestock Production Assurance Scheme. Each participant will obtain an on-farm biosecurity template that will assist them to meet their obligations under the LPA system from 1 October 2017.
Using EID in Sheep Production
Lexi Cesnik, Moses & Sons
The Auto drafter is the sheep producers’ reply to auto steer in a tractor. Whereby we take the manual handling and human error component out of handling sheep. This is true for accurately identifying body weights, weight gain, and any other number of unique traits of the animal that a producer may wish to collect. Automated drafting can be utilised in all sheep production systems from merino wool production through to prime lamb production. By understanding how to get the most out of eID tags and other electronic equipment such as Auto drafters, producers are able to make more precise management decisions surrounding their sheep flocks.