EWE lambs grazing canola and forage brassica crops can achieve better reproductive performance than ewe lambs on other forages.
This is according to new collaborative research by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), CSIRO and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
DEPI researcher Maggie Raeside said scientists at the Red Meat Innovation Centre in Hamilton had been looking at ways to increase the profitability of prime lamb producers in south-west
Victoria.
“Our research has found that grazing canola as a forage could potentially increase animal productivity by providing feed of high nutritional value at a time of year when feed supply from pastures is often low and of poor quality,” Dr Reaside said.
“In the high rainfall zone of south-west Victoria, canola and forage brassica crops have achieved better reproductive outcomes on ewe lambs than other forages, such as perennial ryegrass.”
Dr Raeside said the research project had compared the performance of ewes on lucerne, chicory, plantain and perennial ryegrass over a four week period before joining followed by a six week joining period.
“The animals were monitored and their live weight gain and condition score profiles recorded,” she said.
“Rams were entered into their plots for a six week joining period and their subsequent reproductive performance was determined by pregnancy scanning 12 weeks later.”
However, Dr Raeside said there were some risks associated with the use of spring sown canola.
“Evidence to date suggests that spring-sown canola crops may not reliably remain vegetative and may head early in the year causing a potential loss in grain yield,” she said.
“This is an important area for further research to identify how grazing can be used to effectively manage the crops development.”
Dr Raeside said the aim of the research was to develop management guidelines for the sheep industry that detail the benefits of grazing ewes on spring-sown canola crop varieties and the potential risks associated with the practice.