Supplementary feeding at one of the project's research sites.
An AWI co-funded project is comparing the effects of using trail feeding or self-feeders during lambing on ewe behaviour and lamb survival. The project's results will be used to create supplementary feeding guidelines for sheep producers to optimise lamb marking rates.
Supplementary feeding is often required to meet the nutritional demands of ewes lambing in autumn and when feed-on-offer (FOO) is limited during winter or early spring.
However, there is no industry consensus on optimal supplementary feeding strategies for lambing ewes, a fact highlighted during consultation with sheep producers who are actively seeking advice on the matter.
"A survey of producers in southern Australia showed that 92% of them believe further research is warranted into the best supplementary feeding regimes to optimise lamb survival," said AWI Project Manager, Reproduction & Nutrition, Emmah Goldsmith.
A project jointly funded by AWI, MLA and Murdoch University with collaborators Charles Sturt University, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Dynamic Ag, is currently under way to remedy the situation.
"The overall project is evaluating strategies for supplementary feeding at lambing via trail feeding, and self-feeders, and aims to quantify the impacts on lamb survival to marking on commercial farms across southern Australia," Emmah said.
"It will also assess changes in mob behaviour associated with the feeding method using sensor technology.
"The ultimate outcome from this project is to produce guidelines for sheep producers to increase lamb marking rates."
A significant proportion of producers in southern Australia lamb ewes onto dry feed in autumn. Increasing climate variability also means that a greater number of producers may have dry or limited green feed available when lambing in winter or even early spring.
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that supplementary feeding ewes at lambing may cause them to abandon their lambs which could reduce lamb survival. However, there is conflicting opinion as to whether trail feeding or the use of self-feeders is more favourable for lamb survival.
Research sites
Dr Amy Lockwood of Murdoch University says the project's research sites are being located in both the medium to high and the low rainfall zones to capture variation in environmental and management conditions, including the size of lambing paddocks in which ewes are being supplementary fed.
"At least 24 on-farm research sites will be established across Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales during the project," she said.
