The Challenge

Maintaining ewe and lamb performance while

increasing stocking rate 50%

Past Production

• Home June 2000• 22000 dse – 470cows/

5000 ewes• Lambing June• Buying in 1st cross ewes

Need for change

• Sheep boom 01- 02• Land price dissociated from

return• Had to chase profitability to

justify land price • Depreciation on sheep trading hit

$10/ dse

Key changes -2005

• Mapped pasture curve to match feed demand to pasture supply

• Changed calving to July/August in 2005

• Maternal rams used over 1st cross ewes

• Scanned for twins

2006 - 6000 ewes, 600 cows and Lifetime Ewe (LTEM)

• Group of 5 local producers

• Condition scoring & ME budgeting

Comparing 03/04 (5000 ewes) to 2010/11 (7800 ewes)

03/04 10/11 (with 03/04 lamb price)

Income/ ha $528($81/lamb)

$710($74/lamb)

Enterprise expense/ ha $111 $182

Gross margin /ha $417 $528

What I’ve learned

• Scanning is one of the best management tools available

• Better to feed early and often – even throughout lambing

• Lamb twin bearing ewes in small mobs

• Proactive management of ewe condition is critical

Conclusion

• Significant lift in stocking rate and gross margin is possible without large per head performance penalties provided ME budgets are adhered to.

Acknowledgements

• Ian, Jan and George Harvey

• David Rendell• Darren Gordon• Jason Trompf