Could a tax for poor performing farmers improve lamb survival?

Western District woolgrower and Quality Soft Wools Australia chairman Peter Small said such a tax would motivate farmers with lower lamb survival rates to improve their enterprise, or to simply "move on".

It follows the release of an independent evaluation of sheep reproduction research, development and extension (RD&E) in Australia since 2012 which reviewed the success of 120 industry projects and initiatives.

The Sheep Reproduction RD&E Impact Assessment found the intended on-farm gains associated with the sheep and wool industry's levy-funded bodies' RD&E projects had not been achieved.

Between 2012-2017, Australian Wool Innovation and Meat & Livestock Australia invested $20.71 million in sheep reproduction RD&E projects, 16 per cent less than the $24.70 million recommended in the Sheep Reproduction RD&E Investment Plan 2012-2017.

The report found while stakeholders believed research and data had helped to improve several reproduction issues, that knowledge had not been well applied or adapted by industry.

It also found stakeholders believed the level of funding allocated to the industry for RD&E was inadequate to achieve desired outcomes.

Mr Small, who joins about 6000 Merino ewes to Suffolk rams annually, said there were a number of problems with agricultural research in Australia.

"The first thing is research by and large lacks leadership and research projects are too short," said Mr Small, whose company owns Merino knitwear clothing business Toorallie Australia.

"Most projects only last for three years and because [the researchers'] tenure is uncertain, a lot of that time is spent trying to source funding to continue the project or start a new project altogether.

"We need well thought out, long-term projects - not something that is going to last a few years."

Mr Small said research objectives were also an area which required urgent attention.

"If you're trying to target the poor performers in the industry, you need different research than if you're trying to identify the priorities and requirements of the top-performing sheep producers," he said.

"I'm nearly 80 and in my experience, the only way to motivate someone is to tax them, that way you can put lazy assets to work the same you do with empty shops, houses and factories.

"We don't need any more research, what we need to do is to motivate our poor performing farmers who have low survival rates."

NSW-based Merino stud Pooginook Station, Jerilderie, recorded a 124 per cent lambing result this year from 5850 ewes.

Manager John Sutherland said the enterprise had managed to maintain an 111pc lambing average between 2011-2019, despite years of harsh conditions and drought.

"For me it's all about coming up with an annual plan: starting at the joining and how many ewes you will run to match the budget and the season you have in front," Mr Sutherland said.

"You need to remain flexible in your management and your strategy and depending on the seasonal outlook, how many breeders you will retain, increase or cutback.

"R&D is important to continue doing but we have to follow the science and research and we're certainly learning how to improve our management here at the station depending on how the season changes."

During the drought, the station used confinement lots ranging in two to eight hectares to prevent ewes from expending energy, while maintaining what ground cover remained.

"The science and principles are very clear and at the end of the day the body condition score of the ewes at joining is key," Mr Sutherland said.

"Following lifetime ewe management principles by MLA and AWI to optimise production and therefore economic return does work, but you have to learn to live and adapt."

Mr Sutherland had three tips to optimise lambing survival rates which included, preparing the ewes for joining, managing the body score condition of ewes between scanning and lambing, and weaning at no more than 12-13 weeks.

"We lamb five weeks from mid-May so weaning at 12 to 13 weeks helps prepare the ewe for the next joining and allows the lambs to get the best available pasture for themselves," he said.

Western District livestock consultant Tim Leeming, Precision Lambing, said a mild winter had led to a spike in lambing percentages.

"You don't have to be a particularly good sheep farmer when you get nice warm Julys and early break," Mr Leeming said.

He said RD&E was crucial but ultimately hinged on the extension component, allowing farmers to develop their understanding.

"When researchers are putting together projects around a certain issue such as lamb survival, they have to make sure in the forefront of their mind is how it will be extended on the ground," Mr Leeming said.

"Programs like the Lifetime Ewe Management Course, which has been the most successful extension program in the sheep industry, is a great example because it had a model which involved practical skills, repetition, it was on-farm and also developed camaraderie."

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