Thursday, 20 October 2016 10:55

Reducing ewe deaths could save $28m annually

Written by  Pam Tipa
Reducing ewe mortality rates on farm by 2% could result in at least $28 million a year savings to the industry. Reducing ewe mortality rates on farm by 2% could result in at least $28 million a year savings to the industry.

Reducing ewe mortality rates on farm by 2% could result in at least $28 million a year savings to the industry, says Kate Griffiths, at the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University.

An ongoing study is more accurately establishling mortality rates and the reasons for them.

One way to reduce culling rates may be to better identify udder traits that farmers can use to correctly identify which ewes to cull, she says.

A study is underway to look at a possible standardised scoring method on udder traits that farmers can use. Little scientific investigation has been done in this area for 40 years, Griffiths says in a paper to the NZ Veterinary Association conference.

Griffiths says there are about 20 million breeding ewes in New Zealand (Beef + Lamb NZ, 2015).

“If we assume an annual average onfarm mortality rate of 8% (1.6 million ewe deaths/year) and aim to reduce onfarm mortality to 6% (1.2m deaths/year), this will result in 400,000 fewer ewe deaths annually.

“Assuming ewes are conservatively valued at $70/ewe (Baker Associates, 2016) this equates to an extra $28m per year, and has not accounted for both feed savings and increased revenue from increased lamb sales.”

Griffiths says there is generally a lack of research and data related to longevity and wastage rates in NZ sheep flocks.

Ewe wastage results from onfarm mortality and premature culling -- the latter meaning a ewe is culled likely before the end of her productive lifespan, and is sent to slaughter via direct sale or via slaughter onfarm.

It is believed that onfarm ewe mortality lies in the range 5-12%, but this is not accurately known. This has a direct cost, in that the cull value of the ewe is not obtained and the potential for lambs is lost.

A main reason for premature culling of ewes from commercial flocks is their failure to rear lambs, having previously been identified as pregnant (wet-dry ewes). Poor or reduced milk production and impaired lactation performance may be contributing to these ewes being identified as wet-dry, but this is not accurately known.

Recent survey results indicate at least 75% of farmers were examining ewes’ udders looking for poor udder conformation or appearance, then culling them based on that assessment. However, there is no standardised scoring method NZ farmers can use that relates udder examination findings to a prognosis (i.e. likely ability to raise a lamb).

In fact, little scientific investigation of this has been done in the last 40 years. Therefore, ewes may be culled unnecessarily or, conversely, ewes unsuitable for breeding may be retained in the flock.

“We also do not know if udder characteristics change over the course of a production cycle (one year), and therefore do not currently know the best time to examine ewes’ udders. Udder examination is currently done at weaning, mainly for convenience.

“This study aims to identify udder traits related to the ability of a ewe to successfully rear a lamb and to identify udder traits that farmers can use to correctly identify which ewes to cull. This will enable more targeted ewe culling and a reduction of unnecessary lamb wastage.”

Referring to the overall study of mortality rates and reasons (now underway), Griffiths says 12,324 ewe hoggets are enrolled, all identified using electronic identification (EID) tags. Enrolled hoggets were 2010- and 2011-born (Farm A) and 2011-born (Farm B).

Farm A is in Waikato and runs a composite breed of Coopworth and East Friesian genetics; Farm B is located in Wairarapa and has Romney genetics.

About 85% of the enrolled hoggets were presented for breeding at 6-8 months of age, while the remainder were not bred until they were two-tooths.

More like this

Managing triplet-bearing ewes

The targeted management of triplet-bearing ewes in the four to six weeks before lambing can significantly increase the kilograms of lamb weaned and therefore dollars produced per ewe.

Study identifies ewe wastage

Preliminary results on a ewe wastage study has found that, on average, 30 out of every 100 ewes left their flocks between mating and post-weaning.

Maximising triplet survival

High quality feed, reduced stocking rates and shelter will all help enhance triplet lamb survival and ultimately benefit the bottom line.

Future-proofing NZ's sheep

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics' Low Input Sheep Progeny Trial is identifying the genetics that will future-proof this country's sheep industry.

Featured

Expo set to deliver in spades

The countdown is on to be one of the most anticipated events in the sheep and beef industry, the East Coast Farming Expo.

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom at the end of September.

FE survey underway

Beef + Lamb NZ wants farmers to complete a survey that will shed light on the financial toll of facial eczema (FE) at the farm level.

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)

National

Good season for apples

Brydon Nisbet, the president of Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers Federation, says the mood of growers in Hawke's Bay is quite…

Good times return

Following several years of pain, farmers and growers are facing a decent upswing in commodity prices, say economists.

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter