Reproduction
Reproduction is key to a sustainable flock. There are many practical management tools and guidelines to implement best practice management and optimise reproduction rates. Effective management of joining, lambing and weaning will influence sheep wellbeing and productivity.
Resources
Ewe Nutrition
Ewe nutrition is crucial to successful lambing. Knowing what and when to feed ewes is fundamental to ewe and lamb health and survival.
Rams
Rams are high performance animals that work very hard over the joining period. They contribute half of the genetics of their progeny and are the primary drivers of genetic improvement in a flock, so need to be given every opportunity to pass on their genes.
Scanning and Lambing
AWI provides woolgrowers with new tools, information and skills to increase the number of lambs weaned across wool growing flocks.
Weaning
Weaning is a key time in the calendar for both the ewe and the lamb, and a few key steps will help your weaners thrive and ewes recover for next joining.
Making More From Sheep - Module 10: Wean More Lambs
This module provides the framework and guidelines to set in place all the important management steps to improve flock reproduction rates and lamb survival to weaning. The AWI Lifetimewool project has demonstrated extra profits can be achieved by improved management of ewes.
This 20-page booklet provides a summary of a wide range of industry tools available to woolgrowers to help achieve their breeding goals, along with the strengths of each approach and what is needed to incorporate these approaches into a commercial or ram breeding situation.
Tools
Woolgrower tools to support decision making.
Feed budgeting is an essential part of managing any sheep operation, but the requirements of weaners are different to adult stock due to their high demand for protein for growth.
Use AWI’s Feed Budget Tables for Merino Weaners to first set your Target Weaning Weight and liveweight targets, then understand your weaners’ requirements based on the quality and quantity of feed you have available.
Determining the standard reference weight (SRW) of your flock provides a useful comparison across a range of animals of varying liveweights and condition scores in order to make decisions about meeting their nutritional requirements for maintenance or growth.
AWI’s Standard Reference Weight Calculator allows you to calculate the SRW for your flock, allowing for more accurate feed budgeting and management decisions.
AWI’s Weaner Management Checklist contains a check list of the key management practices and targets for a thriving weaner mob. The checklist allows you to enter key weights and dates for your operation to customise the information for your flock.
