Participation in Lifetime Ewe Management results in changes in stocking rate, ewe management and reproductive performance on commercial farms

Self Cite

Abstract. Experiments conducted by Lifetimewool at plot-scale have shown that differences in the maternal liveweight during pregnancy and lactation (liveweight profiles) of individual Merino ewes influences their wool production and reproductive rate as well as the birthweight, survival, weaning weight and lifetime wool production of their lambs in a predictable manner. This study determined whether these impacts of nutrition of the ewe on ewe and progeny performance are measurable on commercial properties across southern Australia at a paddock-scale where ewes were aggregated into flocks with a greater spread of the date of conception and where the liveweight profile of the flocks were managed based on random samples of 100 ewes and liveweight was uncorrected for fleece weight or conceptus. Eighteen paddock-scale experiments at 15 sites were conducted in cooperation with wool producers across Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. Each co-operator joined up to 1000 mixed aged adult Merino ewes. The flock was scanned using ultrasound at Day 50 from the start of joining to identify those ewes that conceived during the first 21 days of joining. These ewes were then split at random into two treatments and fed to achieve a target difference in liveweight of 10 kg or~1 condition score/fat score at lambing. The production of ewes during their year of pregnancy and following their next joining was measured as was the performance of their progeny up to their third shearing. Only the 13 paddock-scale experiments that achieved a difference in liveweight profile at lambing of at least 4 kg were included in the final analysis. In these 13 experiments, increasing the nutrition of Merino ewes during pregnancy clearly increased the clean fleece weight and fibre diameter in ewes and the survival and lifetime wool production of their lambs. In most cases the size of the effect was not significantly different to that predicted by the relationship derived using individual liveweight profiles in the plot-scale experiments. This confirms that managing average ewe liveweight or condition score/fat score profile through better nutrition will lead to predictable increases in the performance of ewes and their progeny performance under commercial conditions and validates the use of the plot-scale relationships in economic analyses.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

On-farm paddock-scale comparisons across southern Australia confirm that increasing the nutrition of Merino ewes improves their production and the lifetime performance of their progeny

Behrendt¹,

Burgel²,

Bailey³

et al. 2011

Self Cite

“…The levels of awareness and usage of tools was high given that many of the products had been distributed for less than 12 months and some tools had not been distributed in some regions before the survey. Hence, we expect that usage will increase as the tools continue to be promoted in extension programs such as that reported by Trompf et al (2011).…”

Section: Producersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The group visited each property on five occasions and conducted assessments on pasture, condition score of ewes and feed budgeting. This model of engagement evolved into the short course training program reported by Trompf et al (2011). * Western Australia: six producers monitored pastures and the condition score of their ewe flock and met at a 'focus farm' to discuss the implications for their flock.…”

Section: The Process For Developing Messages and Adoption Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The condition score profile, distributed as a magnetic 'fridge chart' encouraged producers to compare the condition score of their ewe flock throughout the year to the optimum profile, and to relate this to the production achieved. The condition score profile was used as the basis for flock management in the Lifetime Ewe Management course (Trompf et al 2011), was provided in the ewe management handbook and downloadable from the website. We also believe that providing specific targets, such as 'condition score 3 by lambing' and/or '1500 kg DM/ha by lambing', aided the adoption of practice of condition scoring and pasture assessment as it simplified the process of determining the critical steps to action.…”

Section: Condition Score Profilementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Successful adoption of new guidelines for the nutritional management of ewes is dependent on the development of appropriate tools and information

Curnow¹,

Oldham²,

Behrendt³

et al. 2011

Self Cite

Abstract. Low rates of adoption of innovations in sheep management have been blamed on the poor targeting of messages, low relative advantage of the innovation, a focus on awareness-raising activities rather than adoption activities, poor 'packaging' of information and few effective tools to aid decision making. Lifetimewool, a national project that developed management guidelines for Merino ewes specific to regions and different times of lambing, used a 'review and improve' process to identify areas of interest, level of knowledge and the skills required by different sectors of the audience to adopt the new recommendations for ewe management. To match these needs and to effectively communicate information from Lifetimewool, a combination of simple and complex tools were produced which were practical, effective, regionally specific and credible. All of the products were designed as a 'family' in terms of design and content, allowing a recognition by the producer that they complemented each other and led producers through logical steps for making decisions on managing and feeding ewes. The average awareness of all tools by consultants and extensionists was almost 90% and average usage rates were above 50%. However, the usage rates varied dramatically between tools and users, for example, 46% of consultants used the feed budget tables compared with 76% of extensionists for a similar awareness. Of 1353 producers surveyed more than 55% were aware of the Lifetimewool tools and average usage within this group was 19% and related to the length of time the tool had been available. An estimated 14 000 producers were aware of tools produced by Lifetimewool. The uptake and use of these tools by the target audiences support our hypothesis that tools of differing complexities are required to cater for individual needs.

“…This validates the strategy to use consultants and extension practitioners as a conduit for practice change in producers. If consultants and extension practitioners continue to promote Lifetimewool as best practice and education programs such as RIST (Trompf et al 2011) and the Sheep CRC (Curnow and Thompson 2008), it seems reasonable to assume that further adoption will compound in to the future.…”

Section: Using Consultants and Extension Practitioners As 'Next Users'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the impact of Lifetimewool on sheep producers

Jones¹,

Burgel²,

Behrendt³

et al. 2011

Self Cite

Abstract. Lifetimewool was a national project that began in 2001 to develop profitable ewe feeding and management guidelines for wool producers across southern Australia. By 2005, the project included communication and adoption activities. Rigorous communication, adoption and evaluation plans were used to maintain focus on its objectives and to measure impacts. Evaluation was an integral part of the project's development and allowed the project to gain a clear idea of its impact. The project aimed to influence at least 3000 producers nationally to change the management of their ewe flock by the adoption (or part thereof) of Lifetimewool messages and guidelines. More specifically, the project aimed to 'cross the chasm' and target producers that were deemed to be in the 'early adopter' and the 'early majority' segments. The project surveyed sheep producers, sheep industry consultants and sheep industry extension practitioners at the beginning and end of the project to gauge the change in knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspirations of wool producers over the life of the project. Results from the survey of sheep producers in 2008 indicate that the project achieved its aim. About 12% (~3000) of sheep producers nationally have changed practice due to information received from Lifetimewool since 2005. Many other producers have been affected through their increase in knowledge, belief and skills, and market segmentation of the audience shows that the project was successful in 'crossing the chasm'. The strategies employed by the project to initiate change (i.e. using private consultants and extension professionals as a pathway to adoption, and involving producers, consultants and extension professionals in the development of the Lifetimewool key messages and tools) were validated. The survey results and analysis provided baseline data for future livestock management projects to build on producers' progress towards practice change. The present paper looks at how the Lifetimewool's evaluation plan provided a focus for and demonstrated meeting its objectives. In doing so, this paper also seeks to better understand the adoption process.