ON FARM SHEEP Balancing opportunity and risk The opportunity to boost on‑farm returns by allows weight gain SNAPSHOT: joining ewe lambs needs to be balanced of 100–150g/day John Keiller, against the risk of eroding capital value if the throughout joining young ewes aren’t managed correctly, according to • use rams with good Cashmore Park Victorian seedstock producer John Keiller. Australian Sheep Breeding (co‑principal Cashmore Values for number of lambs Oaklea Performance John (pictured) is co‑principal“So, yes, ewe lambs are an weaned (i.e. early puberty),Maternals), Cashmore, of Cashmore Oaklea amazing opportunity, but low birth weight and south‑west Victoria Performance Maternals and I wouldn’t consider joining positive lambing ease S hashem unless I had everythingtbeen joining ewe lambs • use experienced rams at a since 1995 else right first. higher percentage than for . “We’ve refined our practice “The potential survival of adult ewes, i.e. 2% rather so we’re now joining at about embryos of ewe lambs is than 1.3% for mature ewes seven‑and‑a‑half months, 70% versus adult ewes at • set date‑based (rather but aiming to get it down to 85%, so the priority should than lamb weight‑based) seven months,” John said. always be given to your adult weaning targets to give ewes – they’re your most dams sufficient time “That will allow the ewe efficient producers. to recove r. lambs to lamb at 12 months, Area: providing the most efficient “Manage adults perfectly and Risky business 1,350ha consumption of our only then, if you have surplus“Joining ewe lambs is all spring pasture.” energy on the farm, consider about opportunity versus Enterprise: mating ewe lambs. It’s not risk,” John said. Prime lambs and seedstock John said the economic a given.” benefits of joining ewe lambs Firm targets key “If you allow insufficient Livestock: were clear for his enterprise time for post‑weaning 9,000 Maternal Composite in the high‑rainfall region of to success recovery of weight and ewes, 1,000 Cashmore south‑western Victoria, but John said ewe lambs need condition score, the risk Nudie ewes choosing this path is not a to be carefully managed, to is that a large number of decision to be taken lightly. ensure they have sufficient high‑value breeding animals Pasture: time to hit adult weight will pregnancy‑test empty Perennial ryegrass, white “We join up to 2,500 ewe targets needed to achieve a and be sold as empty clover and sub‑clover lambs which gives us about successfulsecond joining at 22‑month‑olds at a low value 1,600 extra lambs annually,” 19 months of age. Some of Soil: as mutton. Sandy loam he said. his management strategies include the following: “All these capital‑value animals “With an average weaning that you spent development Rainfall: weight of 28kg, at a • ensure ewe lambs are 7–7.5 money on will give you 830mm value of $3/kg live months of age at joining one lamb and then that’s weight, that equates to • ensure ewelambs weigh a it – they’re out of the system. John Keiller $84/head. That’s $135,000, minimum of 37kg at start of You will only undertake E: cashmoreram@ or $112.50/ha, gross across the 50‑day joining that poor management gmail.com the sheep‑grazed area. • provide nutrition that process once.” ■ T: 0409 804 638 15