Management & reproduction

Reproductive rate varies widely among livestock species. Nonetheless, efficient reproduction is critical to profitability in all livestock industries. Nutrition and genetics are the key drivers of efficient reproduction. However, there are many other facets of management such as, behaviour, use of technology and housing that must also be taken into consideration if farm enterprises are to raise their reproductive rate.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development conducts research, development and extension activities in collaboration with industry partners to improve the productivity of the main livestock species. The objective is to support the economic development of the state by improving the profitability of Western Australian farm enterprises.

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Articles

  • Position of the hand on the sheeps back for condition scoring sheep. The thumb should be placed on the backbone and the fingers feeling the short ribs.

    Condition scoring of sheep

    29 October 2013

    Condition scoring sheep is an easy and accurate method of estimating the condition or 'nutritional well being' of your sheep flock.

  • Lucilia cuprina - the main species of blowfly that initiates about 90% of all strikes is the Australian sheep blowfly

    Managing non-mulesed sheep

    5 December 2013

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been involved in a variety of research projects to help producers manage non mulesed sheep.

  • Ewes with lambs at foot

    Sheep pregnancy scanning benchmarks

    10 October 2019

    Sheep pregnancy scanning occurs at around 90 days after joining and is performed by a skilled operator using an ultrasound scanner.

  • Merino ewes grazing

    Optimising sheep flock structure

    19 September 2019

    Selling or changing breeding numbers can have a profound impact on the on-going structure of the flock.  It is important to determine the changes to the flock over many years to understand the impa

  • Sheep flock composition calculator

    3 October 2019

    Use this tool to determine the impact on flock structure over six years of changes made to retaining or selling classes of sheep or changing the weaning ratio.

  • Young Merino lambs waiting to be marked.

    Setting up your sheep enterprise

    25 November 2013

    The way the sheep enterprise is managed, including infrastructure and the pasture system, will influence the profitability of the enterprise and be reflected in the cost of production and the labou

  • State Barrier Fence with the installation of lap wire which has upgraded the fence to wild dog standard

    State Barrier Fence effectiveness surveys

    17 January 2014

    A grower suvey and benefit cost analysis on the State Barrier Fence has demonstrated the positive impact the fence is having on wild dog management.

  • Hogget sheep in the yards.

    Sheep management and reproduction

    9 December 2013

    Wool and sheepmeat production systems rely on the breeding ewe — how she is managed sets up the efficiency and profitability of both the ewe and weaner flock.

  • Liver removed from lamb carcass and ready to collect a sample

    Ewe abortion and newborn lamb deaths surveillance program

    20 June 2016

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development conducts a surveillance program for ewe abortion and newborn lamb deaths to assist sheep producers to identify the cause of abortions a

  • Poultry sheds aerial view

    Regulation of poultry production

    30 January 2014

    Legislation regulating the poultry industry covers a wide array of issues ranging from disease control, food health and safety, the environment (odour and noise emissions), to agricultural chemical

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