Nutritional management of the Australian sheep flock

Abstract

New technology such as on–farm fibre measurement, radio–frequency ear tags and automatic drafting will facilitate more precise management of sheep flocks including targeted nutrition. Increasing value of sheep meat makes reproductive efficiency a more important contributor to on–farm profit for specialist wool enterprises than it has been in the past. Severe under– nutrition in most Australian sheep flocks during at least part of the year is the major reason for reproductive inefficiency. It is increasingly evident that chemical treatment of internal parasites will not Provide a single sustainable solution and that nutritional management can play an important role in sustaining resistance and resilience. The combination of developments in technologies and the current status of the Australian sheep flock provide a well–defined challenge and significant opportunity for improved nutritional management.