Improving lamb survival by optimising lambing density

Lamb mortalities represent a major source of reproductive wastage and are estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry more than $1B each year. Improving reproductive performance is therefore a high priority for AWI and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to sustain the national ewe flock and meet domestic and export demand for wool and sheep meat. This project quantified the effects of mob size and stocking rate on the survival of Merino and non-Merino lambs born across southern Australia to deliver improved recommendations for sheep producers regarding the allocation of ewes to mobs and paddocks at lambing. This project also aimed to assist producers to make more informed decisions about the cost-benefit of investing in paddock subdivision through permanent or temporary fencing to improve reproductive performance and farm profitability.