Making More From Sheep Email Update No 2

1. News:
- Prime lamb producers can expect to receive strong prices over the next few years, however the nation's flock is set to shrink to a size not seen since the beginning of last century. These forecasts were included in Meat & Livestock Australia's recently released 2008 Sheep Industry Projections mid-year update (see www.mla.com.au). The MLA report also notes that a further decline in the breeding flock, a build up in farm debt and rising costs are likely to limit the prime lamb industry's expansion over the coming five years.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag demonstration sites have been set up on six commercial enterprises in Victoria to look at the potential benefits and economics of the tags. While most sheep producers manage mobs as a single entity, Sheep CRC research shows that the next big gains in productivity will be in managing the variation between individuals in a flock. While individual animal management can be done in existing commercial enterprises, the RFID tags, along with automated scanning and handling devices, allow for efficient and reliable individual assessment of animals. See www.sheepcrc.org.au for further information.

2. R & D update: Worm control for scouring and dag prevention 
As sheep producers plan strategies to combat blowfly strike in unmulesed sheep, the need to minimise dag formation will become a major factor. Almost all scouring is due to worms, but not all of this is due to the presence of a worm burden in the sheep’s gut. Research over the past decade has shown that scouring in reaction to worms takes two major forms, with different causes and management responses. These two forms are high worm burden (drench responsive) scours and low worm burden larval challenge (non-drench responsive) scours. To find out more click here to read the full article contributed by Brown Besier (DAFWA) and Caroline Jacobsen (Murdoch University).

3. In Brief: 
Make sure your fertiliser decisions pay
With fertliser products like superphosphate (8.8% P) at around $460 per tonne, it makes good sense to soil test before developing a fertiliser strategy. In addition to providing information on elements like phosphorous, potassium and sulphur, a standard soil test will also provide an analysis of pH and electrical conductivity. Understanding which elements are limiting and combining this with an assessment of the responsiveness of species present will assist in getting the best return for investment in fertiliser (see module 6: Healthy soils in the Making More From Sheep Manual).
Climate change and ruminants
Protecting the environment is a key responsibility for the red meat industry and a vital part of maintaining its ongoing sustainability. To findout about the link between livestock and methane (a significant greenhouse gas) as well as MLA's research priorities related to natural resource management, check out the new climate change section of the MLA website and the new climate change newsletter.

4. Coming Events:
 Over 1750 sheep producers have now attended events on various Making More From Sheep modules. The events may be small workshops, larger seminars or webinars (a seminar that you attend on your computer and phone without leaving home). The one thing these events all have in common is that after participating you will be able to implement at least one of the management practices or tools from the Making More From Sheep Manual on your property. With 20 events around Australia in the next month there could be something for you. Examples include:
-Wean More Lambs half day workshop at Corowa, NSW, on August 21st
-Cost of Production half day workshop at Boyup Brook, WA, on August 27th
-Grow More Pasture half day workshop at Mt Gambier, SA, on August 28th.
 See the Events page on the website for more details.