FlockTalk August 2017 – wool focus
FlockTalk articles on: Time is right for wool industry. Wool: get the basics right and reap the rewards. Click here to view these articles. Published in the Queensland Country Life 17 August 2017.
Genetics & Reproduction
Increasing lambing success at Blackall – a producer case study
The Banks family are passionate sheep people and have made significant management changes to increase lambing success and to lift the overall profitability of the enterprise. Some of these changes have included scanning to determine where losses were occurring, splitting ewes into mobs of singles and twins, culling unproductive ewes, supplementary feeding and using electronic … Read more
Technology and networking key to success
Being willing to adopt new technology and utilise effective, information networks will be key to the future success of the state’s sheep and wool industry according to one of Western Queensland’s younger producers. Jesse Moody works alongside his parents, running Abbadoah and Yarmouth, with the properties making up around 56,000 hectares of mulga and Mitchell … Read more
How pregnancy scanning can boost production
A Blackall sheep and wool producer says introducing a pregnancy-scanning program can improve flock fertility by 10 to 15 per cent within a 12-month period, as well as allow producers to fine-tune ewe management. Ben Banks and his wife Oona manage the 46,500 hectare family property, Rivington, west of Blackall, where they run 25,000 Merinos … Read more
VIDEO: Pregnancy scanning in sheep – a producer’s view on the benefits and getting started
Ben Banks from ‘Rivington’ Blackall has been scanning for about 9 years and scans 100,000 ewes per year. Ben talks about the benefits of pregnancy scanning your ewes and how you can use the data you collect. Ben also gives some tips for those who are just starting out with scanning. Ben believes scanning is … Read more
Sheep pregnancy scanners
There are a number of sheep pregnancy scanners that operate in and/or service Queensland including: Damo’s Preg Testing – Damien Pollett (Tweed Heads), 0447 049 057, dmpollett@bigpond.com D & S Meppem Livestock Services – Damien Meppem (Gurley)- 0439190923, wilwurkkelpies@gmail.com Mike Rival (Goondiwindi), 07 4671 2203, mikerival@bigpond.com Ben Banks (Blackall), 0429 799 807 or 07 4657 5959, … Read more
Wild dog fencing and new technology create most positive outlook for wool ‘in a decade’
Western Queensland sheep and wool producer Jim King believes the erection of exclusion fences to reduce wild dog pressure is one of the most positive moves his industry has seen in more than a decade. The Longreach property owner said the fences had given the sector a much-needed shot of confidence, prompting some producers to … Read more
WEBINAR: How to have a successful lambing in dry conditions – Part 3 Supplementation strategies
How to decide what to supplement your pregnant ewes with? Get some tips from San Jolly from Productive Nutrition Pty Ltd. San talks about feeding grain, hay, meals and urea.
WEBINAR: How to have a successful lambing in dry conditions – Part 2 Practical and social considerations
There are a number of things to consider to have a successful lambing in dry conditions. Listen to San Jolly from Productive Nutrition Pty Ltd talk about some of these including: do you have the feed or financial resources, pregnancy scanning; and containment feeding (12 mins 21 secs).
WEBINAR: How to have a successful lambing in dry conditions – Part 1 Nutrient demand
Ewe nutrient demand changes throughout pregnancy. As demand increases so too does the ewes energy and protein requirements. These requirements are also influenced by whether the ewe is carrying a single lamb or multiples. Listen to San Jolly from Productive Nutrition Pty Ltd discuss nutrient demand in pregnancy and the ewes requirements (11 mins 32 … Read more