Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 1

winter 2014

New pastures are critical for increasing farm productivity Not only can they support higher stocking rates (and

kilograms of product per hectare) but they provide insurance when times get tough through improved persistence and dry matter production compared with older pasture varieties

However to get the best from any new pastures appropriate species and cultivar selection are critical

To select the best pasture (plant) for your location and enterprise consider the placebull soil conditions (soil type pH fertility salt levels)bull water availability (seasonal rainfall irrigation)bull annual or perennial species

and purposebull stock type (sheep cattle or other)bull short or long-term pasturebull fattening stock or winter productionbull management rotational grazing set stocking

Be preparedPlanning is the key to the success of any new pasture Before choosing your species and cultivar get to know your paddock

this issue

Selecting profitable pasture species

Carry out regular soil tests to ensure you understand the fertility status and soil conditions across your paddocks Different pasture species and cultivars thrive under different soil environments (see Table 1 bottom of page 2)

The key to profitable pastures is the right plant in the right place for the right purpose under the right management

The more you know about your soils the better placed you are to make informed decisions about species and management

Knowing the purpose of the pasture will help ensure you choose a pasture type that is likely to help you achieve your goals For example do you want a short-term option for fattening stock a permanent pasture for year-round maintenance or a fodder hay or silage crop

These decisions will help you decide between an annual (survives for one year) biennial or short-term (survives for 2ndash3 years) or perennial (permanent) species

If you are operating a mixed farming enterprise a short-term legume species such as red clover could be better suited to high-intensity cropping rotations

Legumes are beneficial for grazing stock but also provide valuable nitrogen to the soil which in turn provides better growth of your grasses or cereal crops

Be mindful of your grazing system or animals some cultivars are better suited to cattle vs sheep and persistence can vary greatly between species under set stocking vs rotational grazing Also consider if you are likely to use the pasture for hay or silage production

Further informationHerbage Development Program Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture E TIAHDPutaseduau

Photo Catriona Nicholls

Safe and effective vaccination 2Work smarter not harder with smartphone apps 4Savvy investments yield significant returns 6Useful links 8Stay focussed 8

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business2

winter 2014

Ovine Johnersquos disease (OJD) can result in significant production and trading losses and vaccination is an

important management tool used to help control the disease and maximise production potential

However safe and effective vaccination technique is the key to achieving the best protection for stock and minimising negative impacts Poor vaccination technique can cause losses due to trimming and carcase downgrading and in stock retained on farm can result in lameness reduced neck mobility and paralysis

Following are some tips to ensure your vaccination program is not only safe and effective but that it minimises potential economic and animal health impacts that result from poor vaccination technique

Injection-site lesionsVaccination against OJD can result in injection-site reactions even when administered subcutaneously (under the skin) A firm swelling usually develops at the site of injection followed by a nodule 7ndash15 days later In a small proportion of animals the lump may be more than 5cm in diameter or develop into an abscess and burst which may be at risk of flystrike

By two months after vaccination most swellings decrease and continue to decrease over time In about 25 of cases lumps can still be present up to 30 months after vaccination

Injection-site reactions have the potential for significant economic impacts Reductions in carcase weight due to trimming can occur and in more severe cases carcases can be downgraded

Economic lossesA recent case saw a large line of lambs sent for slaughter that were vaccinated in the back leg (into the muscle) causing economic losses in the vicinity of $50000 due to the whole leg having to be trimmed

A similar case (and economic loss) occurred where lambs vaccinated under the skin in the armpit (axilla under the front leg) while in the marking cradle resulted in heavy trimming at slaughter

To minimise this risk follow the manufacturerrsquos directions to administer the vaccine under the skin behind the ear

Safe and effective vaccination maximises production potential

Best practice Safe one-handed vaccination techniquePhoto David Rendell

Minimum rainfall 250mmyr 400mm 700mm+

Speciesattribute Coc

ksfo

ot

(sum

mer

dor

man

t e

g U

plan

dsA)

Cau

casi

an c

love

r (e

g K

urat

asA)

Hyb

rid lu

cern

e

(eg

KI C

reep

aA)

Luce

rne

Phal

aris

Tall

fesc

ue

(win

ter a

ctiv

esu

mm

er d

orm

ant)

Coc

ksfo

ot

(sum

mer

act

ive

e

g M

egat

asA)

Tall

fesc

ue

(win

ter d

orm

ant

sum

mer

act

ive)

Stra

wbe

rry

clov

er

Red

clo

ver

(Sto

loni

fero

us

eg

Rub

itasA

)

Col

oure

d br

ome

(e

g E

xcel

tasA

)

Ann

ual r

yegr

ass

Pere

nnia

l ry

egra

ss

Red

clo

ver

(sho

rt liv

ed)

Whi

te c

love

r

Ease of establishment

Tolerance to highly acidic soils (ltpH5)

Tolerance to sandy soils

Water logging tolerance

Irrigation suitability

Drought tolerance

Key Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent

Rainfall is only an approximate guide and is the minimum of a rainfall tolerance rangePBRA All varieties mentioned within this document are protected by Plant Breeder Rights

Table 1 Perennial pasture and legume species attribute comparison tableContinuation of article from page 1

winter 2014

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 3

bull Change needles regularly (sharp needles are easier to inject cause less carcase damage and reduce contamination and infection)

bull Have the MSDS for the vaccine on hand in the event of a needle stick injury

bull Ensure all operators are clear on the actions required in the event of a needle stick injury

The best approachVaccination is proving to be an important management tool in the control of OJD however it is important to remember that it is not 100 effective in preventing disease

Vaccination of lambs can reduce deaths by up to 90 and decrease the amount of OJD bacteria shed in faeces by up to 90 reducing pasture contamination and the potential for disease transmission

Ideally vaccination should be combined with grazing management strategies to reduce exposure of susceptible sheep to infected pastures

OJD is now considered endemic in Tasmania and is common in most sheep-producing areas across the State

It is important to maintain vaccination for OJD even after the number of adult sheep deaths reduce Recent reports suggest some producers have discontinued vaccinating as they think the disease has disappeared

Further informationFor more information about OJD and safe and effective vaccination go to the Sheep Connect Tasmania website at httpsheepconnecttascomauresourcesovine-johnes-disease or the OJD website at wwwojdcomau

Figure 1 OJD map Prevalence of OJD in Tasmania in 2009 and 2013

Ovine Johnersquos disease (OJD) is a serious wasting disease of sheep caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium

paratuberculosis) that live mainly in the intestines but can also survive in favourable (wet cool) environments for more than 12 months

OJD disease affects sheep by causing a thickening of the intestinal wall which blocks the normal absorption of food The animal is hungry and eats but cannot absorb any nutrients This results in wasting and finally death

Disease spread control and on-farm biosecurityTransmission and infection is mostly through grazing pastures soiled by infected animal faeces

Infection can occur at any age through contaminated udders pasture feed or water Young sheep are most susceptible

Bacteria moves primarily through stock movement such as strays purchased stock and agistment although property to property transmission is common in infected areas

While vaccination and grazing management are the primary control tools effective on-farm biosecurity can assist with preventing the introduction of OJD Checking a Sheep Health Statement before buying sheep will provide OJD vaccination history

OJD mdash a snapshot

Hard to digest OJD causes thickening of the intestinal wall blocking nutrient absorption (normal intestine at far left affected intestines in middle and affected lymph node at far right)

Photo Catriona Nicholls

OJD-affected intestine note the prominent ridges and thickened intestinal wall

Healthy intestine

OJD affected lymph node enlarged lymph node showing internal discolouration

BASS STRAIT

SOUTHERN OCEAN TASMAN SEA

KING ISLAND FLINDERS ISLAND

CAPE BARREN ISLAND

Waratah

RoseberyZeehan

Strahan

Maydena

StanleySmithton Sisters Beach

Wynyard

RailtonSheffield

BridportGeorge Town

AvocaBicheno

Coles BaySwansea

Cranbrook

Orford

Dover

FingalSt Marys

Scamander

Ringarooma

OatlandsBothwell

Bagdad

Brighton

KingstonMargate

MiddletonWoodbridge Nubeena

Eaglehawk NeckDunalley

Beaconsfield

LeganaExeter

Penguin

Mole CreekEvandale

CressyBracknell

Westbury

Devonport

Launceston

Somerset

Triabunna

New NorfolkHOBART

Geeveston

Queenstown

St Helens

20132009

Additional tipsFollowing are some useful guidelines for safe and effective vaccination

bull Ensure all vaccination gear is working calibrated and well maintained

bull Sterilise equipment as per the manufacturerrsquos recommendationbull Ensure all operators are trained in safe vaccination proceduresbull Employ a one-handed vaccination technique where possible

(shrouded needles minimise operator risk)bull Read the vaccine label and be clear as to whether the

vaccine should be administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle)

bull An 18 gauge needle is appropriate in most casesbull For Gudair use a 6mm (14-inch) or 12mm needle

(shrouded needles may need to be 12mm to deliver the vaccine subcutaneously)

winter 2014

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 3

bull Change needles regularly (sharp needles are easier to inject cause less carcase damage and reduce contamination and infection)

bull Have the MSDS for the vaccine on hand in the event of a needle stick injury

bull Ensure all operators are clear on the actions required in the event of a needle stick injury

The best approachVaccination is proving to be an important management tool in the control of OJD however it is important to remember that it is not 100 effective in preventing disease

Vaccination of lambs can reduce deaths by up to 90 and decrease the amount of OJD bacteria shed in faeces by up to 90 reducing pasture contamination and the potential for disease transmission

Ideally vaccination should be combined with grazing management strategies to reduce exposure of susceptible sheep to infected pastures

OJD is now considered endemic in Tasmania and is common in most sheep-producing areas across the State

It is important to maintain vaccination for OJD even after the number of adult sheep deaths reduce Recent reports suggest some producers have discontinued vaccinating as they think the disease has disappeared

Further informationFor more information about OJD and safe and effective vaccination go to the Sheep Connect Tasmania website at httpsheepconnecttascomauresourcesovine-johnes-disease or the OJD website at wwwojdcomau

Figure 1 OJD map Prevalence of OJD in Tasmania in 2009 and 2013

Ovine Johnersquos disease (OJD) is a serious wasting disease of sheep caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium

paratuberculosis) that live mainly in the intestines but can also survive in favourable (wet cool) environments for more than 12 months

OJD disease affects sheep by causing a thickening of the intestinal wall which blocks the normal absorption of food The animal is hungry and eats but cannot absorb any nutrients This results in wasting and finally death

Disease spread control and on-farm biosecurityTransmission and infection is mostly through grazing pastures soiled by infected animal faeces

Infection can occur at any age through contaminated udders pasture feed or water Young sheep are most susceptible

Bacteria moves primarily through stock movement such as strays purchased stock and agistment although property to property transmission is common in infected areas

While vaccination and grazing management are the primary control tools effective on-farm biosecurity can assist with preventing the introduction of OJD Checking a Sheep Health Statement before buying sheep will provide OJD vaccination history

OJD mdash a snapshot

Hard to digest OJD causes thickening of the intestinal wall blocking nutrient absorption (normal intestine at far left affected intestines in middle and affected lymph node at far right)

Photo Catriona Nicholls

OJD-affected intestine note the prominent ridges and thickened intestinal wall

Healthy intestine

OJD affected lymph node enlarged lymph node showing internal discolouration

BASS STRAIT

SOUTHERN OCEAN TASMAN SEA

KING ISLAND FLINDERS ISLAND

CAPE BARREN ISLAND

Waratah

RoseberyZeehan

Strahan

Maydena

StanleySmithton Sisters Beach

Wynyard

RailtonSheffield

BridportGeorge Town

AvocaBicheno

Coles BaySwansea

Cranbrook

Orford

Dover

FingalSt Marys

Scamander

Ringarooma

OatlandsBothwell

Bagdad

Brighton

KingstonMargate

MiddletonWoodbridge Nubeena

Eaglehawk NeckDunalley

Beaconsfield

LeganaExeter

Penguin

Mole CreekEvandale

CressyBracknell

Westbury

Devonport

Launceston

Somerset

Triabunna

New NorfolkHOBART

Geeveston

Queenstown

St Helens

20132009

Additional tipsFollowing are some useful guidelines for safe and effective vaccination

bull Ensure all vaccination gear is working calibrated and well maintained

bull Sterilise equipment as per the manufacturerrsquos recommendationbull Ensure all operators are trained in safe vaccination proceduresbull Employ a one-handed vaccination technique where possible

(shrouded needles minimise operator risk)bull Read the vaccine label and be clear as to whether the

vaccine should be administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle)

bull An 18 gauge needle is appropriate in most casesbull For Gudair use a 6mm (14-inch) or 12mm needle

(shrouded needles may need to be 12mm to deliver the vaccine subcutaneously)

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business4

winter 2014

Following the fantastic feedback we received from sheep producers across the State in our app survey we thought it

timely to highlight some of the useful sheep and wool related smartphone apps available

There are now well over one million smartphone apps in both the App Store (for iPhone) and Google play (for Android) and growth in this market space shows no signs of slowing

However according to data from consumer research company Nielsen typical smartphone users are only interacting with a few dozen apps per month ndash at the most ndash and that number hasnrsquot grown much during the past few years

To help you lsquosort the wheat from the chaffrsquo the following list of apps includes those wersquove come across through some careful research as well as those recommended by Sheep Connect Tasmania members in our app survey

Veterinary Handbook for Cattle Sheep amp GoatsAustralian Livestock Export Corporation Limited

iPhone + Android

A comprehensive resource including information on the causes diagnosis treatment prevention and associated syndromes of diseases and conditions in beef and dairy cattle sheep and goats

Sheep Condition ScoringWestern Australian Agriculture AuthorityiPhone

Record sheep body condition scores view the range of scores within the flock and calculate average flock condition score Ability to track scores over time

Flystrike assistWestern Australian Agriculture AuthorityiPhone

Assists with decisions on the appropriate chemical application for flystrike prevention Provides information on withholding periods and includes calendar notifications

Elders WeatherElders Rural Services AustraliaiPhone

Produces weather forecasts for Australia and the world using Bureau of Meteorology and Weatherzone information Includes 7-day forecasts past 24 hours temperature 12-month rainfall sunrise and sunset wind humidity chance of rain radar maps and more

FarmwareFarmware Applications Australia Pty Ltdvia web browser (iPhone + Android)

Record activities for livestock paddocks and storage Maintain records of mobs and numbers animal treatment records stocking rates paddock usage crop treatments and basic storage inventories

Farm ManagerStringybark Software Pty LtdiPhone

Keep track of livestock (including ear tag numbers bloodlines breed and year born) Record shearing and crutching dates drenching dipping and jetting details Record crop history chemical and fertiliser use (including type rate and date applied)

Work smarter not harder with smartphone apps

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 5

winter 2014

F-Track LiveFarm Apps Pty LtdiPhone + Android

Allows multiple users to record and access up-to-date farm information Includes livestock manager crop manager task management for planning and allocating tasks and tracking completion paddock mapping and farm fuel inventory and usage

iHerdiApps Pty LtdiPhone + Android

Simplify herd management and synchronises data between managers Keep track of stock numbers paddock details stocking rates property ID numbers stock transfers and tally counts Record animal treatments and keep an inventory of on-farm chemicals NOTE While iHerd is primarily marketed towards cattle producers the app is just as useful for sheep enterprises

Weed ID The Ute GuideGrains Research and Development CorporationiPhone + Android

Assists in identifying common weeds found in paddocks throughout Australia Where possible photos have been included for each stage of the weedrsquos lifecycle from seed and seedling through to mature and flowering plants

Insect ID The Ute GuideGrains Research and Development CorporationiPhone + Android

A comprehensive reference guide for insect pests commonly affecting broadacre crops across Australia Includes the beneficial insects that may help to control them Photos have been included for multiple lifecycle stages

Field Guide to Pest Animals of AustraliaInvasive Animals LimitediPhone

Information distribution maps photos animal calls footprints control information and resource links for 53 pest animals in Australia

MLA Market InformationMeat amp Livestock Australia LimitediPhone + Android

Access the latest market news and intelligence on the sheep beef and goat industries direct from the source including prices reporting national indicators slaughter levels forecasts and analyses for the Australian and international red meat markets

Prototype Lifetime Ewe Management app launched Australian Wool Innovation and Rural Industries Skill

Training have developed a prototype app for the popular Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) course

The course has now involved more than 2000 sheep producers managing in excess of 20 per cent of the nationrsquos ewe flock and includes activities such as condition scoring pasture assessment and feed budgeting

The aim is to best match the energy requirements of animals with pasture production and supplementary feeding in order to maximise production

The app has recently been demonstrated live at the BestwoolBestlamb conference in Bendigo Victoria as well as at LambEx in Adelaide South Australia

The app is a natural evolution of the LTEM course after years of research and extension with Australian Wool Innovation contributing about $10 million to the program and the initial research behind it

The development of this technology has involved various farm visits and trials using existing LTEM participants and the app is currently being further trialled by facilitators and participants before it is officially made available for iPhone and Android mobile devices

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business6

winter 2014

Efficiency objectives Any investment in handling equipment should lead to significant increases in labour efficiency to deliver subsequent returns on investment

Photo James Tyson

Savvy investments yield significant returns

With well-considered investments in sheep handling equipment sheep enterprises can achieve significant

gains in profitability according to Holmes Sackett consultant Sandy McEachern

According to Sandy many livestock producers have an opportunity to make significant gains in labour efficiency following a path the cropping industry navigated successfully during the past few decades

ldquoCroppers have taken a lot of the labour costs out of their systems with efficient enterprises requiring only one labour unit per 1500 hectaresrdquo Sandy said

ldquoLivestock enterprises are still a few steps behindrdquo

The cost of one labour unit (including labour-related expenses such as vehicles repairs maintenance and fuel) in a typical livestock enterprise is estimated at about $115000

According to Sandy there is a significant opportunity for the sheep industry to improve efficiency and profitability through rigorous enterprise evaluation and savvy investments

Sandy shared some key investment advice with more than 80 Tasmanian sheep producers at Sheep Connect Tasmaniarsquos Investing in sheep handling equipment field day at Rob and Eliza Tolersquos property Greenvale Cressy during April

Producers gathered to investigate the labour efficiency gains offered by equipment such as auto-drafters VE machines electrodips and sheep handlers

Assess before you investSandy cautioned participants against investing before they had a solid understanding of where potential efficiency gains could be made mdash and where the saved time and resources would be reallocated within the business

According to Sandy producers looking to invest in handling equipment should expect to improve efficiency and profitability improve the work environment and aim for a 25 return on investment

Determining the cost of efficiently running an operation before investing in sheep handling equipment can help producers figure out what they can afford to spend

ldquoDo your research well and crunch the numbers in the context of your businessrdquo Sandy said

Unaccounted time as a percentage of total farm labour averages about 35 across benchmarked farm businesses This means producers cannot account for about one third of time over any given year Before investing in labour-saving technology make sure you know this time is not wasted

key pointsbull Savvy investments in labour-saving

equipment can provide sheep producers with opportunities to improve profitability in line with those achieved in cropping enterprises during the previous few decades through investments in plant and equipment

bull A well-considered investment in sheep handling equipment can deliver a return on investment in the order of 25 and up to 50 for operations such as crutching

bull It is critical to understand current enterprise efficiencies and identify key areas for improvement before investing in handling equipment

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 7

winter 2014

Table 1 Common costs handling efficiencies and return on investments offered by a range of sheep handling equipmentCrutching

(eg sheep handlers) Fly control

(eg Electrodip)Weighing and drafting

(eg Auto-drafter)

Capital cost of handling equipment ($) 500ndash25000 10000ndash16000 6000ndash12000

Rate (sheeppersonh ) 50ndash90 900+ 450ndash550

Rate of return on investment () 15ndash60 15ndash45 0ndash25

ldquoIf yoursquove already got spare time then yoursquore not really adding to the profitability of your business by going out and buying the latest bit of gearrdquo Sandy said

ldquoIt might make the job easier but yoursquore not getting a return on investment from the labour savings

ldquoIt is important any new piece of equipment improves efficiency and profitability as well as improving the work environment

ldquoMake sure you know what yoursquore doing is as efficient as possible before even considering any capital investment

ldquoIf investing in equipment means you can employ less casual labour or work one day a week off farm thatrsquos where the real benefits can be achieved

ldquoOften the best returns are found in the jobs that are too physically demanding to do yourself (ie crutching) and therefore high-value labour is employed to get these jobs done But with currently available sheep handling technology therersquos not a job thatrsquos too hard with sheep any more mdash therersquos no excuserdquo

Time is moneySandy encourages producers to gain an understanding of where large amounts of time are spent and what tasks are expensive to undertake

ldquoThis knowledge assists in making sense of the returns that can be achieved from investing in handling equipmentrdquo Sandy said

It is important to first identify the likely operations where labour savings can be achieved commonly operations such as crutching weighing and drafting and fly control

While there is variation between enterprises Table 1 provides some useful benchmarks from efficient sheep enterprises that have incorporated handling equipment to improve efficiency Producers can use these benchmarks to compare their current systems and identify the potential for improvement

Practical considerationsWhen choosing between the wide range of options on the market Sandy reminded producers it is critical to figure out how equipment will be used and how it will work in your system

ldquoDonrsquot buy this sort of equipment to make work for yourself and think about it in the context of your production systemrdquo Sandy said

ldquoYou really want a minimum of 10 years from any piece of equipment ndash beyond this time frame therersquos not that big an effect on return on investmentrdquo

Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

ldquoNot only do they reduce the time and effort required to complete these operations they also have the added benefit of reduced time spent musteringrdquo Sandy said

ldquoPortability may also be a consideration if significant amounts of time are spent musteringrdquo

ldquoDepending on your system it might be worth mounting sheep handling equipment on a trailer to allow it to be moved between locations around the farmrdquo

ldquoHowever due to the challenges of getting equipment set up properly to ensure sheep flow through the system itrsquos often best to set up in one place that works mdash often back at the yardsrdquo

ldquoTherersquos no use getting the equipment and then finding you canrsquot get sheep to run through itrdquo Sandy advised

ldquoThis is an important part of the investment working it out and putting it into place can add 20 to the cost of an equipment purchaserdquo

The number of sheep being processed also has a notable effect on return on investment

ldquoIf yoursquove only got a few thousand sheep running through the system each year then more expensive equipment will be hard to justifyrdquo

Further informationSandy McEachern Holmes Sackett Pty Ltd M 0427 326 367 E sandyholmessackettcomau

Multipurpose Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

Photo Catriona Nicholls

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 5

winter 2014

F-Track LiveFarm Apps Pty LtdiPhone + Android

Allows multiple users to record and access up-to-date farm information Includes livestock manager crop manager task management for planning and allocating tasks and tracking completion paddock mapping and farm fuel inventory and usage

iHerdiApps Pty LtdiPhone + Android

Simplify herd management and synchronises data between managers Keep track of stock numbers paddock details stocking rates property ID numbers stock transfers and tally counts Record animal treatments and keep an inventory of on-farm chemicals NOTE While iHerd is primarily marketed towards cattle producers the app is just as useful for sheep enterprises

Weed ID The Ute GuideGrains Research and Development CorporationiPhone + Android

Assists in identifying common weeds found in paddocks throughout Australia Where possible photos have been included for each stage of the weedrsquos lifecycle from seed and seedling through to mature and flowering plants

Insect ID The Ute GuideGrains Research and Development CorporationiPhone + Android

A comprehensive reference guide for insect pests commonly affecting broadacre crops across Australia Includes the beneficial insects that may help to control them Photos have been included for multiple lifecycle stages

Field Guide to Pest Animals of AustraliaInvasive Animals LimitediPhone

Information distribution maps photos animal calls footprints control information and resource links for 53 pest animals in Australia

MLA Market InformationMeat amp Livestock Australia LimitediPhone + Android

Access the latest market news and intelligence on the sheep beef and goat industries direct from the source including prices reporting national indicators slaughter levels forecasts and analyses for the Australian and international red meat markets

Prototype Lifetime Ewe Management app launched Australian Wool Innovation and Rural Industries Skill

Training have developed a prototype app for the popular Lifetime Ewe Management (LTEM) course

The course has now involved more than 2000 sheep producers managing in excess of 20 per cent of the nationrsquos ewe flock and includes activities such as condition scoring pasture assessment and feed budgeting

The aim is to best match the energy requirements of animals with pasture production and supplementary feeding in order to maximise production

The app has recently been demonstrated live at the BestwoolBestlamb conference in Bendigo Victoria as well as at LambEx in Adelaide South Australia

The app is a natural evolution of the LTEM course after years of research and extension with Australian Wool Innovation contributing about $10 million to the program and the initial research behind it

The development of this technology has involved various farm visits and trials using existing LTEM participants and the app is currently being further trialled by facilitators and participants before it is officially made available for iPhone and Android mobile devices

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business6

winter 2014

Efficiency objectives Any investment in handling equipment should lead to significant increases in labour efficiency to deliver subsequent returns on investment

Photo James Tyson

Savvy investments yield significant returns

With well-considered investments in sheep handling equipment sheep enterprises can achieve significant

gains in profitability according to Holmes Sackett consultant Sandy McEachern

According to Sandy many livestock producers have an opportunity to make significant gains in labour efficiency following a path the cropping industry navigated successfully during the past few decades

ldquoCroppers have taken a lot of the labour costs out of their systems with efficient enterprises requiring only one labour unit per 1500 hectaresrdquo Sandy said

ldquoLivestock enterprises are still a few steps behindrdquo

The cost of one labour unit (including labour-related expenses such as vehicles repairs maintenance and fuel) in a typical livestock enterprise is estimated at about $115000

According to Sandy there is a significant opportunity for the sheep industry to improve efficiency and profitability through rigorous enterprise evaluation and savvy investments

Sandy shared some key investment advice with more than 80 Tasmanian sheep producers at Sheep Connect Tasmaniarsquos Investing in sheep handling equipment field day at Rob and Eliza Tolersquos property Greenvale Cressy during April

Producers gathered to investigate the labour efficiency gains offered by equipment such as auto-drafters VE machines electrodips and sheep handlers

Assess before you investSandy cautioned participants against investing before they had a solid understanding of where potential efficiency gains could be made mdash and where the saved time and resources would be reallocated within the business

According to Sandy producers looking to invest in handling equipment should expect to improve efficiency and profitability improve the work environment and aim for a 25 return on investment

Determining the cost of efficiently running an operation before investing in sheep handling equipment can help producers figure out what they can afford to spend

ldquoDo your research well and crunch the numbers in the context of your businessrdquo Sandy said

Unaccounted time as a percentage of total farm labour averages about 35 across benchmarked farm businesses This means producers cannot account for about one third of time over any given year Before investing in labour-saving technology make sure you know this time is not wasted

key pointsbull Savvy investments in labour-saving

equipment can provide sheep producers with opportunities to improve profitability in line with those achieved in cropping enterprises during the previous few decades through investments in plant and equipment

bull A well-considered investment in sheep handling equipment can deliver a return on investment in the order of 25 and up to 50 for operations such as crutching

bull It is critical to understand current enterprise efficiencies and identify key areas for improvement before investing in handling equipment

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 7

winter 2014

Table 1 Common costs handling efficiencies and return on investments offered by a range of sheep handling equipmentCrutching

(eg sheep handlers) Fly control

(eg Electrodip)Weighing and drafting

(eg Auto-drafter)

Capital cost of handling equipment ($) 500ndash25000 10000ndash16000 6000ndash12000

Rate (sheeppersonh ) 50ndash90 900+ 450ndash550

Rate of return on investment () 15ndash60 15ndash45 0ndash25

ldquoIf yoursquove already got spare time then yoursquore not really adding to the profitability of your business by going out and buying the latest bit of gearrdquo Sandy said

ldquoIt might make the job easier but yoursquore not getting a return on investment from the labour savings

ldquoIt is important any new piece of equipment improves efficiency and profitability as well as improving the work environment

ldquoMake sure you know what yoursquore doing is as efficient as possible before even considering any capital investment

ldquoIf investing in equipment means you can employ less casual labour or work one day a week off farm thatrsquos where the real benefits can be achieved

ldquoOften the best returns are found in the jobs that are too physically demanding to do yourself (ie crutching) and therefore high-value labour is employed to get these jobs done But with currently available sheep handling technology therersquos not a job thatrsquos too hard with sheep any more mdash therersquos no excuserdquo

Time is moneySandy encourages producers to gain an understanding of where large amounts of time are spent and what tasks are expensive to undertake

ldquoThis knowledge assists in making sense of the returns that can be achieved from investing in handling equipmentrdquo Sandy said

It is important to first identify the likely operations where labour savings can be achieved commonly operations such as crutching weighing and drafting and fly control

While there is variation between enterprises Table 1 provides some useful benchmarks from efficient sheep enterprises that have incorporated handling equipment to improve efficiency Producers can use these benchmarks to compare their current systems and identify the potential for improvement

Practical considerationsWhen choosing between the wide range of options on the market Sandy reminded producers it is critical to figure out how equipment will be used and how it will work in your system

ldquoDonrsquot buy this sort of equipment to make work for yourself and think about it in the context of your production systemrdquo Sandy said

ldquoYou really want a minimum of 10 years from any piece of equipment ndash beyond this time frame therersquos not that big an effect on return on investmentrdquo

Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

ldquoNot only do they reduce the time and effort required to complete these operations they also have the added benefit of reduced time spent musteringrdquo Sandy said

ldquoPortability may also be a consideration if significant amounts of time are spent musteringrdquo

ldquoDepending on your system it might be worth mounting sheep handling equipment on a trailer to allow it to be moved between locations around the farmrdquo

ldquoHowever due to the challenges of getting equipment set up properly to ensure sheep flow through the system itrsquos often best to set up in one place that works mdash often back at the yardsrdquo

ldquoTherersquos no use getting the equipment and then finding you canrsquot get sheep to run through itrdquo Sandy advised

ldquoThis is an important part of the investment working it out and putting it into place can add 20 to the cost of an equipment purchaserdquo

The number of sheep being processed also has a notable effect on return on investment

ldquoIf yoursquove only got a few thousand sheep running through the system each year then more expensive equipment will be hard to justifyrdquo

Further informationSandy McEachern Holmes Sackett Pty Ltd M 0427 326 367 E sandyholmessackettcomau

Multipurpose Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

Photo Catriona Nicholls

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business6

winter 2014

Efficiency objectives Any investment in handling equipment should lead to significant increases in labour efficiency to deliver subsequent returns on investment

Photo James Tyson

Savvy investments yield significant returns

With well-considered investments in sheep handling equipment sheep enterprises can achieve significant

gains in profitability according to Holmes Sackett consultant Sandy McEachern

According to Sandy many livestock producers have an opportunity to make significant gains in labour efficiency following a path the cropping industry navigated successfully during the past few decades

ldquoCroppers have taken a lot of the labour costs out of their systems with efficient enterprises requiring only one labour unit per 1500 hectaresrdquo Sandy said

ldquoLivestock enterprises are still a few steps behindrdquo

The cost of one labour unit (including labour-related expenses such as vehicles repairs maintenance and fuel) in a typical livestock enterprise is estimated at about $115000

According to Sandy there is a significant opportunity for the sheep industry to improve efficiency and profitability through rigorous enterprise evaluation and savvy investments

Sandy shared some key investment advice with more than 80 Tasmanian sheep producers at Sheep Connect Tasmaniarsquos Investing in sheep handling equipment field day at Rob and Eliza Tolersquos property Greenvale Cressy during April

Producers gathered to investigate the labour efficiency gains offered by equipment such as auto-drafters VE machines electrodips and sheep handlers

Assess before you investSandy cautioned participants against investing before they had a solid understanding of where potential efficiency gains could be made mdash and where the saved time and resources would be reallocated within the business

According to Sandy producers looking to invest in handling equipment should expect to improve efficiency and profitability improve the work environment and aim for a 25 return on investment

Determining the cost of efficiently running an operation before investing in sheep handling equipment can help producers figure out what they can afford to spend

ldquoDo your research well and crunch the numbers in the context of your businessrdquo Sandy said

Unaccounted time as a percentage of total farm labour averages about 35 across benchmarked farm businesses This means producers cannot account for about one third of time over any given year Before investing in labour-saving technology make sure you know this time is not wasted

key pointsbull Savvy investments in labour-saving

equipment can provide sheep producers with opportunities to improve profitability in line with those achieved in cropping enterprises during the previous few decades through investments in plant and equipment

bull A well-considered investment in sheep handling equipment can deliver a return on investment in the order of 25 and up to 50 for operations such as crutching

bull It is critical to understand current enterprise efficiencies and identify key areas for improvement before investing in handling equipment

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 7

winter 2014

Table 1 Common costs handling efficiencies and return on investments offered by a range of sheep handling equipmentCrutching

(eg sheep handlers) Fly control

(eg Electrodip)Weighing and drafting

(eg Auto-drafter)

Capital cost of handling equipment ($) 500ndash25000 10000ndash16000 6000ndash12000

Rate (sheeppersonh ) 50ndash90 900+ 450ndash550

Rate of return on investment () 15ndash60 15ndash45 0ndash25

ldquoIf yoursquove already got spare time then yoursquore not really adding to the profitability of your business by going out and buying the latest bit of gearrdquo Sandy said

ldquoIt might make the job easier but yoursquore not getting a return on investment from the labour savings

ldquoIt is important any new piece of equipment improves efficiency and profitability as well as improving the work environment

ldquoMake sure you know what yoursquore doing is as efficient as possible before even considering any capital investment

ldquoIf investing in equipment means you can employ less casual labour or work one day a week off farm thatrsquos where the real benefits can be achieved

ldquoOften the best returns are found in the jobs that are too physically demanding to do yourself (ie crutching) and therefore high-value labour is employed to get these jobs done But with currently available sheep handling technology therersquos not a job thatrsquos too hard with sheep any more mdash therersquos no excuserdquo

Time is moneySandy encourages producers to gain an understanding of where large amounts of time are spent and what tasks are expensive to undertake

ldquoThis knowledge assists in making sense of the returns that can be achieved from investing in handling equipmentrdquo Sandy said

It is important to first identify the likely operations where labour savings can be achieved commonly operations such as crutching weighing and drafting and fly control

While there is variation between enterprises Table 1 provides some useful benchmarks from efficient sheep enterprises that have incorporated handling equipment to improve efficiency Producers can use these benchmarks to compare their current systems and identify the potential for improvement

Practical considerationsWhen choosing between the wide range of options on the market Sandy reminded producers it is critical to figure out how equipment will be used and how it will work in your system

ldquoDonrsquot buy this sort of equipment to make work for yourself and think about it in the context of your production systemrdquo Sandy said

ldquoYou really want a minimum of 10 years from any piece of equipment ndash beyond this time frame therersquos not that big an effect on return on investmentrdquo

Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

ldquoNot only do they reduce the time and effort required to complete these operations they also have the added benefit of reduced time spent musteringrdquo Sandy said

ldquoPortability may also be a consideration if significant amounts of time are spent musteringrdquo

ldquoDepending on your system it might be worth mounting sheep handling equipment on a trailer to allow it to be moved between locations around the farmrdquo

ldquoHowever due to the challenges of getting equipment set up properly to ensure sheep flow through the system itrsquos often best to set up in one place that works mdash often back at the yardsrdquo

ldquoTherersquos no use getting the equipment and then finding you canrsquot get sheep to run through itrdquo Sandy advised

ldquoThis is an important part of the investment working it out and putting it into place can add 20 to the cost of an equipment purchaserdquo

The number of sheep being processed also has a notable effect on return on investment

ldquoIf yoursquove only got a few thousand sheep running through the system each year then more expensive equipment will be hard to justifyrdquo

Further informationSandy McEachern Holmes Sackett Pty Ltd M 0427 326 367 E sandyholmessackettcomau

Multipurpose Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

Photo Catriona Nicholls

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business 7

winter 2014

Table 1 Common costs handling efficiencies and return on investments offered by a range of sheep handling equipmentCrutching

(eg sheep handlers) Fly control

(eg Electrodip)Weighing and drafting

(eg Auto-drafter)

Capital cost of handling equipment ($) 500ndash25000 10000ndash16000 6000ndash12000

Rate (sheeppersonh ) 50ndash90 900+ 450ndash550

Rate of return on investment () 15ndash60 15ndash45 0ndash25

ldquoIf yoursquove already got spare time then yoursquore not really adding to the profitability of your business by going out and buying the latest bit of gearrdquo Sandy said

ldquoIt might make the job easier but yoursquore not getting a return on investment from the labour savings

ldquoIt is important any new piece of equipment improves efficiency and profitability as well as improving the work environment

ldquoMake sure you know what yoursquore doing is as efficient as possible before even considering any capital investment

ldquoIf investing in equipment means you can employ less casual labour or work one day a week off farm thatrsquos where the real benefits can be achieved

ldquoOften the best returns are found in the jobs that are too physically demanding to do yourself (ie crutching) and therefore high-value labour is employed to get these jobs done But with currently available sheep handling technology therersquos not a job thatrsquos too hard with sheep any more mdash therersquos no excuserdquo

Time is moneySandy encourages producers to gain an understanding of where large amounts of time are spent and what tasks are expensive to undertake

ldquoThis knowledge assists in making sense of the returns that can be achieved from investing in handling equipmentrdquo Sandy said

It is important to first identify the likely operations where labour savings can be achieved commonly operations such as crutching weighing and drafting and fly control

While there is variation between enterprises Table 1 provides some useful benchmarks from efficient sheep enterprises that have incorporated handling equipment to improve efficiency Producers can use these benchmarks to compare their current systems and identify the potential for improvement

Practical considerationsWhen choosing between the wide range of options on the market Sandy reminded producers it is critical to figure out how equipment will be used and how it will work in your system

ldquoDonrsquot buy this sort of equipment to make work for yourself and think about it in the context of your production systemrdquo Sandy said

ldquoYou really want a minimum of 10 years from any piece of equipment ndash beyond this time frame therersquos not that big an effect on return on investmentrdquo

Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

ldquoNot only do they reduce the time and effort required to complete these operations they also have the added benefit of reduced time spent musteringrdquo Sandy said

ldquoPortability may also be a consideration if significant amounts of time are spent musteringrdquo

ldquoDepending on your system it might be worth mounting sheep handling equipment on a trailer to allow it to be moved between locations around the farmrdquo

ldquoHowever due to the challenges of getting equipment set up properly to ensure sheep flow through the system itrsquos often best to set up in one place that works mdash often back at the yardsrdquo

ldquoTherersquos no use getting the equipment and then finding you canrsquot get sheep to run through itrdquo Sandy advised

ldquoThis is an important part of the investment working it out and putting it into place can add 20 to the cost of an equipment purchaserdquo

The number of sheep being processed also has a notable effect on return on investment

ldquoIf yoursquove only got a few thousand sheep running through the system each year then more expensive equipment will be hard to justifyrdquo

Further informationSandy McEachern Holmes Sackett Pty Ltd M 0427 326 367 E sandyholmessackettcomau

Multipurpose Equipment that can be used for multiple operations such as sheep handlers can greatly improve efficiency

Photo Catriona Nicholls

8

winter 2014

Sheep Connect Tasmania Connecting people in the sheep business

Phot

o C

atrio

na N

icho

lls

useful linksAustralian Wool Innovation wwwwoolcom

Meat and Livestock Australia wwwmlacomau

Sheep CRC wwwsheepcrcorgau

LiceBoss wwwlicebosscomau

WormBoss wwwwormbosscomau

Making More from Sheep wwwmakingmorefromsheepcomau

Sheep Genetics Australia wwwsheepgeneticsorgau

Australian Merino Superior Sires wwwmerinosuperiorsirescomau

Beyond the Bale digitalwoolcomau

EverGraze wwwevergrazecomau

Latest market information (beef and sheepmeat) wwwmlacomauPrices-and-markets

Latest market information (wool) woollandmarkcomaudaily-wool-prices-and-sales-roster

Latest weather wwwbomgovau

FarmPoint wwwfarmpointtasgovau

8Change of details or subscriptionTo make sure our database is up-to-date and we are only delivering information to those who really want it please take five minutes to update your details if we have them wrong

Please update my contact details as per below

I no longer wish to receive the Sheep Connect Tasmania hardcopy newsletter

Title _______First name _________________________________

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Fax or post your details to James Tyson PO Box 46 F (03) 6336 5395 KINGS MEADOWS 7249You have subscribed to this newsletter as a stakeholder in the future of the Tasmanian wool industry If you do not wish to continue receiving emails or hard copy newsletters from the Sheep Connect Tasmania team contact James Tyson at jamestysonutaseduau

To subscribe to the Sheep Connect Tasmania email newsletters or update your details scan the QR code on the right or type the following address into your internet browser address bar httpeepurlcomss-ar

Stay focussedManaging ewe nutrition during

late pregnancy can overcome poor nutrition during early pregnancy A condition score change in ewes up to day 90 of pregnancy will change lamb birth weight by 03 kilograms and a condition score change after day 90 will change birth weight by 05 kilograms

The placenta and foetus represent a considerable mass in late pregnancy and feed quality needs to be high to enable sufficient intake of nutrients this is particularly the case in the last two weeks of pregnancy

Improving ewe nutrition during late pregnancy will normally increase birth weight and lamb survival increase wool production in ewes but also increase fibre diameter When pasture conditions do not enable gains in late pregnancy it is most profitable to maintain condition throughout pregnancy

The birth weight of a lamb is determined by the following factors sex litter size placental development ewe condition genetics length of gestation and the timing quality and quantity of pasture during pregnancy

Optimum birth weight for lamb survival is between 45 and 55 kilograms Survival decreases sharply if lambs weigh less than 4 kilograms or more than 6 kilograms at birth

For further information refer to Module 10 wean more lambs of the Making More from Sheep manual at wwwmakingmorefromsheepcomau

TIA is a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and

the Tasmanian Government

This newsletter is published by TIA and AWI