A range of dietary additives showing potential to improve the viability of newborn animals when supplied in utero are undergoing the first comprehensive trials in sheep in Australia.
The Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) project aims to identify compounds with the biggest potential to boost a lamb’s ability to survive and thrive in late pregnancy and the days immediately after birth. If successful, these will contribute to higher whole-flock productivity and profits on-farm.
The ‘New approaches to increase the weaning rate of the national sheep flock’ initiative is one of 12 on-farm research, development and adoption (RD&A) projects to receive MLA investment in 2017-18, instigated through the organisation’s regional consultation process.
This process enables red meat producers to have input into the direction of RD&A funding that is most relevant to them for their environmental conditions.
Previous MLA research has recognised poor lamb survival pre-weaning is a major source of reproductive inefficiency in the national sheep flock and this new investment will help producers fine-tune their nutrition and management tactics.
MLA Program Manager – Sheep R&D and Objective Measurement, Richard Apps, said it was particularly targeted at finding dietary supplement options for twin-bearing ewes in the second half of gestation, but would also apply to ewes carrying a single foetus.
“Survival rates for twin and singleton lambs across Australia’s sheep flock average about 70% and 90% respectively and this has not changed in many years,” Mr Apps said.
“For the national Merino flock, the average is lower at about 50% and 75% respectively.
“Improving these rates is integral to increasing on-farm productivity and the competitiveness of sheep production and meeting an expected global rise in demand for red meat in coming years.”
The project is led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) in collaboration with The University of Adelaide.
https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/new-research-focuses-on-feed-additives-to-lift-lamb-survival/