ON FARM SHEEP INTEGRITY s eID pays its way E lectronic • Scenario 1. Visual classing “As the study showed, this identification (eID) of replacement ewes; can lead to a long‑term How to tags can deliver all animals pregnancy cumulative advantage, as implement four‑fold returns for scanned and twice dry well as enabling tough sheep producers by ewes culled. All other ewes decisions to be made eID on‑farm improving breeding and culled based on age group. about which stock to retain Return per $1 invested = and which to sell in a Hamish said the first selection decisions. $5.81 drought situation. step to successfully An MLA‑funded study, run implementing eID by SA livestock consultant • Scenario 2. Visual classing “You want to protect within a breeding Hamish Dickson (pictured) of replacement ewes in your star performers flock is to have a clear from AgriPartner Consulting, combination with individual breeding objective. examined the economic fleece data; all animals – eID can make Considerations include: impact of using eID in Merino pregnancy scanned and sure you have twice dry ewes culled; all • your enterprise goals and crossbred or composite other ewes culled based the information • what you want commercial flocks. on age group. Preferential to improve in the available to business Hamish found that over a selection applied to ewe five‑year period, sheep hoggets with higher total identify them.” • the data you need to producers could achieve kilograms of lamb weaned. drive that improvement. an average $4 in returns Return per $1 invested = Hamish said eID is not a for every dollar invested in $3.47 silver bullet for improving “Once you understand capturing data with eID. flock performance, but what data needs to “The relative gains varied provides an easier and be collected, you can “The voluntary adoption between scenarios, but more accurate way to decide whether to of electronic tags by all scenarios delivered collect information to guide use eID to collect it,” commercial sheep producers a positive outcome,” decision‑making. Hamish said. has been fairly low, despite Hamish said. the technology being readily “There are many aspects Producers can hire or available for over 10 years,” “The results clearly of managing a sheep purchase equipment for Hamish said. flock which you need to collecting and managing showed there are have running well before data generated by eID, “One of the causes of that low economic gains considering eID.” ■ but the costs in Hamish’s adoption rate has been a lack study were based of information surrounding available through Hamish Dickson on contract rates for the long‑term effects on flock using eID to make E: hamish@agripartner. data collection. structure and profitability of com.au using eID to make breeding more informed “For producers who and selection decisions.” breeding and Some useful tools to get aren’t fully confident in the most out of eID are: using the technology yet, Hamish used scenario selection decisions.” there are more and more modelling to track how agriculture.vic.gov.au/ service providers able to returns could be achieved sheepEID help with implementing On‑farm impacts with different levels of MLA Project Manager – A webinar is currently eID, as well as collecting eID implementation and Sheep Research and being scheduled to and managing the data supporting technologies, Development, Joe Gebbels, discuss the project generated,” Hamish said. such as pregnancy scanning said MLA chose to support results. Details to and fleece weighing to the project because of its register will be record individual animal data. potential to make on‑farm published on the MLA decision making easier and website or you can Using data captured through contact Hamish directly. eID helped to increase more accurate. producer gross margins by “eID can help collect the data identifying superior animals producers need to make to act as replacements, informed decisions on culling as well as removing and retention strategies, under‑performing animals. driving productivity and Examples of management profitability improvements,” scenarios and the returns per Joe said. dollar invested include: 30