Accelerated lambing an option for some

MEAT & WOOL NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA RELEASE

11 September 2007

Accelerated lambing an option for some

Having five offspring in three years is a big ask for a mother, but Meat & Wool New Zealand research shows high fertility sheep in a special accelerated lambing system can successfully do just that.

Run by Massey University on its Manawatu farmlet, the three-year trial aimed to test if lambing more than once a year is both possible and profitable.

The results are that if oestrus and ovulation is induced artificially in high fertility ewes and the farm has a good pasture growth all year round, it is possible.

“Feed demand is only slightly higher each year – it is just spread more evenly,” says Steve Morris, Massey University Professor and project leader.

Lambing the traditional way means rams go out once a year and farmers get one crop of lambs, usually in spring. Under the trial system, a flock of ewes was divided into three mobs and put on a rotation of lambing. Every 73 days a group was put to the ram and, as the cycle continued, lambs were born every 73 days and then weaned 73 days later when the ewe was again put back to the ram.

Professor Morris believes the research is important because it has shown a new way to increase production.

“Being able to produce lambs all year round also paves the way for special supply and branding arrangements with processors.”

“Lambing more often might be better than having a high scanning percentage once a year but suffering high lamb losses.”

In the trial, almost 70% of the 133 high-fertility ewes in the accelerated system got pregnant at each mating. While this doesn’t match the almost 100% in-lamb rate from the ‘once-a-year’ ewes, it can be more profitable.

Ewes that lambed in the accelerated system produced 26% more lamb weight during the three years of the trial.

Lambs grew just as fast, only weaning seven kilograms lighter because they were weaned 27 days earlier than in the conventional system. Ewes were still in good nick, Professor Morris said.

“Whether it will turn a profit depends largely on whether the out-of-season lambs can attract premiums. “

Professor Morris estimates lambs cost an extra $0.50/kg lamb weaned to raise. This is because of extra labour, treatment costs to get the ewe to ovulate out of season and extra feed costs.

“But the extra lamb weight produced bought in another $234/hectare in our trial.”

Andy Bray, of Meat & Wool New Zealand says that the research results clearly identify the pros and cons of lambing more than once a year and what size premiums are needed for out-of-season supply of young lambs. Farmers can find out more about the trial in the recently released Meat & Wool New Zealand R&D Brief 129. Phone 0800 696 328 or visit www.meatandwoolnz.com

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