ON FARM SHEEP TECHNOLOGYz More value from Identifyi lot feeding By understandingfeed efficiency, theMacSmith family H ow can the performance is using an on‑farm of individual lambs be RESEARCH IN feedlot to not only measured in a feedlot? REVIEW relieve grazing pressure but also increase Agricultural consultant Hamish PROJECT NAME profitability across their Dickson and NSW sheep producer Feeding system innovation to grazing business. Will MacSmith wanted to look beyond increase labour efficiency pen‑level feed intake and growth rate, Will (pictured) and his father so they designed a trial supported by RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS Lachie started finishing the MLA Producer Innovation Fast‑Track Crown Agriculture Merino wether lambs on pilot program (see story opposite). FUNDING ORGANISATIONS their central NSW mixed MLA Donor Company and farming enterprise to free up They built a system into the MacSmiths’ pastures for ewes and ewe on‑farm feedlot, with feeders set up in a Crown Agriculture lambs over summer. series of small stalls so the feed intake GOAL and growth of individual animals could To demonstrate the benefits of With feed being their biggest be closely monitored. automated feed delivery systems input cost, they wanted to for any scale intensive feeding find out where it went, to Scales and sensors identified each determine if growth rate animal as it fed and measured its weight, operation, and provide a low‑cost was a good indicator of feed intake and how long it fed for. system that can be adopted without profitability. a high level of technical ability. “The most important measure we always “From a profitability point wanted to get to was the cost of gain – BUDGET $140,751 of view, we had no idea of what rate is the animal growing at, and good and bad performers,” what is it costing to feed that gain?” DURATION Will said. For example, some lambs grew at October 2017 – November 2018 “All we had to work with acceptable rates but ate a lot of feed KEY FINDINGS TO DATE was individual live weight – in this case, the lambs actually cost • Producer involvement in gain through electronic more to produce than they returned. innovation projects supports identification (eID). The trial revealed a wide individual the human capability involved in developing practical technology “The data available to me variation in feed intake and growth was so limited compared rates, which Hamish said has for the industry. to the cropping side of implications for any producer finishing • Technology can be used to our business.” lambs in feedlots. identify the profit margin of each animal in real time. Will teamed up with “Most producers don’t use electronic agricultural consultant tags in a feedlot, so they generally just • Producers can increase profitability in on‑farm feedlots by measuring and business partner use pen growth rate and possibly feed Hamish Dickson to find conversion rates to guide management real‑time performance, rather than relying solely on productivity traits some answers. decisions – but you can’t do a lot with such as growth rate. this information in real time. “If you have electronic tags and can measure individual growth rates, Hamish Dickson you can identify animals that aren’t E: hamish@crownagriculture.com.au growing well and decide how to manage them differently, ideally as The MLA Producer Innovation early as possible. Fast‑Track pilot program provided participants with support and “There are situations where if you mentoring to develop and apply had detailed information on animal innovation skills to address performance, you would make very industry problems. different decisions at an earlier Find out more at: stage and create more value from mla.com.au/fast‑track the feedlot.” ■ 24