Red meat rebound
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
In another Beef + Lamb New Zealand funded study, single-bearing ewes were lambed either on ryegrass pastures or the herb mix.
Professor Kenyon says this has got farmers truly excited as the data gets published. The trial has shown that 40% of single lambs born on the herb mix were weaned weighing 42kg, the equivalent of a 19kg carcase.
“If they can get rid of a whole lot of single lambs at weaning – say 40% at 42kg or up to 80% if you slaughter at 36kg, which many people do – then that frees up a whole lot of land for growing other lambs such as twins and triplets. On any farm you’re going to have 15-20% single, and if you can get rid of them early while the price is high and put their mothers onto a maintenance diet, then you have less demand on your farm.”
Kenyon says again the secret is the high quality herbage pasture which quickly puts liveweight on the animal. And quickly producing a 42kg ewe lamb means that animal is already up to weight for hogget mating, another benefit.
Overall the results of the trials show immediate benefits to farmers by having faster growing lambs ready for early slaughter. The other benefit is that as a result of this the farm is better set up for the next season with less pressure on feed.
