Merino weaners have a reputation for not being the easiest part of a Merino flock to manage, but across northwest Victoria those weaners don’t just play a vital part of any self-replacing Merino enterprise but also help underpin the local sheep meat market.
In flocks trying to protect micron and wool quality, crossbred programs are not always the best fit.
And difficulties can arise because these young animals are trying to grow themselves, as well their first fleece, and doing so when protein-rich pasture feed is often limited.
As a result, weaner ill-thrift can occur.
This is when young sheep fail to thrive when other classes of stock in the flock are in satisfactory health and body condition.
BestWool/BestLamb Victorian organiser lead Lyndon Kubeil says weaner ill-thrift results in poor growth and fertility, reduced wool cut and wool quality (especially staple strength) and increased susceptibility to disease (especially worms) and can lead to high mortality rates in young sheep up to one year of age.
While there are multiple and often concurrent causes of weaner ill-thrift and mortality, they are all primarily related to animal management and husbandry, with genetics only having a small effect.
This is why he is encouraging the region’s sheep breeders to attend the combined BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef conferences to be held in Ballarat on June 19 and 20.
The AgVic senior specialist says this is the first time since COVID that the two conferences will be held together – and in Ballarat.
“We are holding everything under the one roof this year and the programs include keynote addresses and concurrent sessions, giving participants the ability to tailor their time to suit their needs and interests,” Lyndon says.
“Keynote presenters, including agribusiness professionals John Francis from Agrista and Cam Nicholson from Nicon Rural Services, who are presenting on both days, are sure to draw a crowd,” he says.
“Cam Nicholson’s presentation on ‘Grazing Management – balancing the compromise’ will show us how to make better decisions and find the right strategic balance between the plant and the animal in a grazing enterprise.”
Ticket sales will be capped this year to suit the size of the new venue and early-bird purchases will close on May 31 at trybooking.com/events/landing/1211584
For more details call Lyndon Kubeil on 0418 532 085 or email lyndon.kubeil@ecodev.vic.gov.au
