Number 129 July 2007

Document produced by Meat & Wool New Zealand Limited. Phone 04 473 9150. All due care has been taken in preparing this information, however Meat & Wool New Zealand Limited does not guarantee its accuracy,
and opinions expressed can change without notice. To the extent possible Meat & Wool New Zealand Limiteds liability is excluded, and persons acting in reliance on the information do so at their own risk.
Accelerated lambing system
(1) What it involved
Through funding from Meat & Wool New Zealand, Massey
University compared an accelerated and a conventional
lambing system. The experiment ran for three years on a
40ha farmlet in the Manawatu. The sheep grazed pasture
and forage crops.
506 mixed age ewes were split into either conventional
lambing or accelerated lambing groups. Half of the ewes
were high fertility (Composite) and half were medium
fertility (Romney).
Figure 1: Allocation of ewes to trial
Conventional Accelerated
High fertility composite 118 133
(50% East Friesian, 25%
Poll Dorset, 25% Texel)
Medium fertility (Romney) 121 134
The accelerated system was designed to have ve
breeding periods within each year (28 March, 9 June, 21
August, 2 November and 14 January). To achieve this, the
ewes were divided into three ocks with a similar proportion
of high and medium fertility ewes. Each of the breeding
periods were 73 days apart and were 21 days in duration,
resulting in a total of 15 breeding periods over the three
years.
Lambing began 146 days after the rst day of the
synchronised breeding period, and lambs were weaned
from their dams 73 days later. The day of weaning
coincided with the rst day of the next synchronised
breeding period. Therefore, each of the ve lambing
periods within one year, occurred 73 days after the
preceding lambing period.
This R&D Brief outlines an experiment where groups of ewes were lambed every 73
days in rotation, giving a continual supply of lamb. The performance of this accelerated
lambing system was compared to the conventional 365-day system.
Results showed that for this accelerated lambing system to be feasible and protable, constant feed and labour supplies
are needed. Also high out-of-season pregnancy rates and schedule premiums are required. High fertility ewes performed
better than medium fertility ewes in the experiment as they produced more kilograms of lamb weaned/ewe bred. The cost
of producing a lamb out-of-season is estimated to be $0.50/kg of weaned lamb more than the conventional system.
Ewes that were not in lamb were removed from the group
and joined the next group of newly weaned ewes for re-
breeding. Ewes were culled if they had three consecutive
unsuccessful breeding periods.
On the farmlet at the start of each 73 day period there was
one group of ewes being re-bred, one group beginning to
lamb and one group in mid pregnancy. For example, ewes
bred at the 28 March breeding period began lambing 21
August. Lambs from these ewes were weaned and ewes
re-bred on 2 November. Ewes mated in June, lambed
in November, and were weaned and re-bred in January.
Dry ewes from June were re-bred in August. This pattern
continued from March 2003 to August 2006.
Figure 2: Example of a Star accelerated
lambing system. Lambs are born every 73 days.
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Jun 9
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This system is based on the Star system developed at
Cornell University, where a ewe has the opportunity to lamb
ve times in three years.
Rams and hormone treatments
In the accelerated system, the ram/ewe ratio was 1:10 and
the breeding period 21 days. The reproductive hormone
progesterone was given to ewes at all ve matings to
synchronise oestrus. This was via an intravaginal device
(CIDR) inserted 11 days prior to ram introduction. Another
hormone called eCG was injected at the January, August
and November breeding periods to induce ovulation.
In the conventional system no reproductive hormones were
used. The ram/ewe ratio was 1:80 and the breeding period
was 46 days beginning March 28. These ewes were run on
a separate 20ha block. Lambing began on 21 August and
lambs were weaned at an average age of 96 days.
All rams were of the same breed as the ewe.
All lambs were removed from the farmlet after weaning.
Using hormones is only one method of breeding out of
season. Another option is to select ewes that have the
capacity to naturally breed out-of-season e.g. Dorset Horn.
Feed demand similar
Ewe intake was about 4% higher in the accelerated
system.
Ewes in the accelerated lambing system required
627kg DM/year (6270 MJME) years compared to
615kg DM/year (6150 MJME) for conventionally
lambed ewes.
What is different is that in the accelerated system, feed
demand was at all year round as 1/3 of the ewes are in
lactation, 1/3 are being bred and 1/3 are in mid-pregnancy.
Demand was consistently 27kg DM/ha. This feed demand
prole is similar to a nishing system.
In the conventional system, feed demand peaks in spring
(reaching 42kg DM/ha/day). In winter it dropped to 18kg
DM/ha/day.
For this reason, the accelerated system would suit farms
that
have constant pasture growth all year round (i.e. warm
winters like the west coast of the North Island and/or
have irrigation).
can keep feed costs low in traditional slow growth
periods e.g. winter.
have an environment suited to lambing in winter.
Conserving and then feeding out surplus pasture, or using
forage crops can help even out feed supply. However,
this feed is likely to cost more than feed grown during the
spring surplus.
In the experiment, 6ha of forage crops were planted in
spring (Pasja) and autumn (annual ryegrass) to meet feed
demands. The balance was in permanent ryegrass/white
clover (14ha).
(2) The results show
more weight of lambs
weaned/ha but only for
high fertility ewes
Over the three-year experiment, the high fertility
ewes managed to wean 26% more kilograms of
lamb weight in the accelerated lambing system than
the conventional (14,319 versus 11,399). On a per
hectare basis, this is 49kg/ha extra per year. The
medium fertility ewes actually weaned 8% fewer
kilograms of lamb in the accelerated system (12,917
versus 11,886).
Overall, more lambs were weaned in the accelerated
system (781 versus 553). This extra 40% of lambs
weaned was a result of a 95% increase in the number
of ewe matings (934 for accelerated versus 478 in the
conventional system).
The limiting factor was a low pregnancy rate in all ewes
mated in the accelerated system (particularly at the August
and November matings and to a lesser extent January).
Pregnancy rates ranged from 55% to 76%, compared to
90%+ for the conventional system.
Pregnancy rates 27% and 39% lower
The average pregnancy rates were 69% for the high
fertility ewes and 58% for the medium fertility ewes in the
accelerated system over the fteen breeding periods.
The pregnancy rates for the conventional system were
around 96% for both breeds. This means the high fertility
ewes had 28% less ewes in lamb at scanning in the
accelerated system and medium fertility ewes even fewer
(40% less). On average, the high fertility ewes had 1.68
lambs/birth in the conventional system and 1.62 in the
accelerated system.
Weaning weight 7kg less in accelerated
because weaned younger
Lambs were lighter at weaning in the accelerated system,
simply because they were weaned earlier (69 versus 96
days).
Figure 3: Lamb born June 29 aged
50 days, in Accelerated system.
Ewe weight not compromised by more
frequent lambing
Ewes were actually heavier at mating and pre-lamb in the
accelerated lambing system because they were able to be
fed constantly above maintenance. This was true for both
breeds of ewe.
High fertility ewes out preformed the medium
fertility ewes in terms of kg lamb weaned
In the accelerated system, the high fertility ewes performed
better, weaning 40.6kg/ha/year extra lamb weight than the
medium fertility ewes. This was because the pregnancy
rates were higher.
Figure 4: Pregnancy rate, lamb and ewe weights
for conventional system versus accelerated
system. Data from high fertility ewes only, on
20ha farmlet over three years of the experiment.
Conventional Accelerated Advantage
over
conventional?
Potential matings/ewe 3 15 5 times more
Weight ewe at mating 66kg 69kg 3kg more
Pregnancy rate 96% 69% 27% lower
Average number lambs 1.44 1.28 13% less
weaned/ewe lambed
Average number 1.49 1.84 23% more
lambs weaned/ewe
lambed/year
Lambs weaned 413 697 68% more
over 3 years
Lamb liveweight gain 240 239 SAME
(grams/day)
Liveweight of lamb 28 21 7kg less
at weaning
Kg lamb weaned 11,399 14,319 26% more
during three years
Recorded ewe deaths were 2.6%/year in the accelerated
system and 1.2%/year in the conventional.
(3) Does it pay?
The answer to the question depends largely on the
amount of premium paid for lamb produced out of
season. However, premiums may not only come from
selling lambs on schedule between the higher-paying
June to November period. Higher than normal prices
might be achieved through setting up a supplier/
processor/distributor arrangement, where a farmer brands
their product and gets a special deal because they can
supply branded lamb all year round.
$0.50/kg of lamb liveweight weaned. This is because of
extra labour required, synchronisation costs for ewes
and extra feed costs.
It has been estimated (source: presentation to Sheep
Council) that in a conventional lambing system, it costs
around $50 to produce a 33kg lamb (15.5kg CW). This
works out at $1.51/kg LW.
Therefore, if this lamb was produced out-of-season it
would cost around $2/kg LW to raise.
To make a prot, lamb produced out of season would
therefore need to earn above $2/kg LW.
If farmers wanted a 15% prot, then lambs would have to
be sold at $2.30/kg LW (or $76 for a 33kg lamb).
In the accelerated lambing ock, average lamb weaning
weights (at 73 days) was 21kg.
To get lambs to 33kg LW farmers would have to either
wean lambs and continue growing at fast rates off
the ewe. This may require a speciality lamb-nishing
unit on the farm or relationship with a lamb nisher.
keep lambs suckling on the ewe for longer while still
getting the ewe back in lamb during lactation. This
has been done successfully experimentally (see
Massey University paper below).
In this experiment, the extra 2,920kg of lamb production
over three years from the high fertility ewes would have
paid for the oestrus induction and synchronisation costs.
However, it was uneconomic for the medium fertility ewes.
The extra lamb weight (at $1.60/kg LW) bought in another
$234/ha.
(4) Why bother with
accelerated lambing?
Potential for more prot through improved output/
ewe e.g. 26% more weight of lamb weaned over three
years.
Farmers could get more of their lamb crop into
the premium paying times e.g. June, August and
November.
Opportunity to become a special supplier to meat
processors or lamb nishers with premiums because
you can supply all year around.
Rather than scan over 180% and suffer high lamb
losses, it may be more efcient to breed ewes more
often, with slightly lower scanning percentages but
better lamb survival.
Ewe dairy milking units could produce all year round.
Lamb produced all year round means buyers (e.g.
supermarkets, restaurants) would not need to go to
other countries to ll in the gaps of supply.
More efcient use of processing facilities.
Cost: $1.50/kg LW for conventional versus $2/kg LW for
out-of-season lamb
Steve Morris, project leader and Massey University
Professor, estimates that producing lamb out of season
using the Star system, will cost the farmer an extra
Our competitors are looking at the system, to improve
production and we need to keep up.
(5) Implications for
the farm
More intensive labour:
Lambing/weaning/breeding every 73 days.
Oestrus synchronisation treatment and/or ewe
selection for out-of-season breeding ability.
Each mob must be closely monitored for parasites
and diseases. The chance of problems is increased
because of the extra production demands on the ewe.
Physical:
Sub-division required: small enough blocks to run
several smaller groups of ewes.
Several sheltered lambing blocks.
Integrated parasite programme involving sheep/cattle
rotations and new pastures.
Forage crops and/or supplements to provide a year
round supply of quality feed.
Before considering accelerated lambing, it would be best
to approach a lamb nisher, meat processor or butcher
to discuss the branding opportunities and subsequent
premiums that could come from supplying lamb all year
round.
As a rst step towards shifting to a full-blown
accelerated lambing system, farmers could breed a
proportion of the ock out-of-season. For example,
no more than 20% of ewes mated in December/
January. January may be better as it is the transition
back into the natural breeding season.
(6) Two commercial
examples of
accelerated lambing
Hawkes Bay farmer and meat processor Craig Hickson,
is experimenting with accelerated lambing without using
hormones. This involves selecting and breeding from ewes
that naturally ovulate all year round.
The Ponsonby family (from Douglas Downs), have
maintained New Zealands largest mob of Dorset Horn
ewes over a period of thirty years. Their ock of Dorset-
Horn-cross ewes have shown the ability to ovulate out of
season and produce a lamb every eight months. A study
was run on their Otago farm to trial three lambings in two
years. The results are included in the Alliance Group report
listed below.
Acknowledgements & more information
A farmer mentor group helped guide the project, to ensure
relevance to farmers. It was funded by Meat & Wool New
Zealand, the C. Alma Baker Trust and Riverside Farm
Research Fund.
For more see -
A Comparison of Two Lamb Production Systems in
NZ, G. de Nicolo, S.T. Morris, P.R. Kenyon, P.C.H.
Morel. In PhD Thesis, Accelerated and Out-of-Season
Production in NZ, Massey University, 2007.
Article on accelerated lambing system in Hawkes Bay,
Country-Wide Northern, March 2007.
Visit www.country-wide.co.nz
Alliance Group, AgResearch and Rural Solutions out-
of-season lamb study on the Ponsonbys Otago farm.
The effect of weaning pre-or post-mating on
performance of spring mated lambs and their lambs in
NZ, de Nicolo, et al, NZ Journal of AgResearch, page
255-260, Vol 49, 2006.
STAR system developed at Cornell University, http://
www.ansci.cornell.edu/sheep/management/breeding/
star/description.html
For the full reports phone Meat & Wool New Zealand on
0800 647 000 or visit www.meatandwoolnz.com Farming/
R&D/ R&D Briefs.
Contact:
Steve Morris
Massey University
(06) 350 5364
s.t.morris@massey.ac.nz
Andy Bray
(04) 474 0693
andy.bray@meatandwoolnz.com
Figure 5: Romney lambs aged four weeks in the
Accelerated system.