New Malt Barley Variety Wins Accreditation

OPTIMISE CONCEPTION RATES WITH BLUEPRINT® LIFT

Correct management of stock prior to joining has a large influence on the conception rates of your flock. Ewe nutrition is key to joining success. When ewes are in an optimal body condition at joining, their ovulation rate and chance of conceiving twins (fecundity) increases.

Ram preparation is also crucial – rams must be healthy and in the best condition possible. Lambing potential is maximised when rams can work and have viable sperm throughout the joining period. Ideally, aim to begin preparation of rams eight weeks prior to joining, as it takes seven weeks for sperm to develop.

Both ewes and rams will benefit from a flush of high protein and energy from grain or pastures prior to joining. If rams are on a low protein ration or dry paddock feed, they could benefit from the inclusion of lupins in their diet, up to 750 grams per head per day, for eight weeks leading up to joining. If the rams are on better quality pastures, we can assist with adjusting the quantity of lupins or make recommendations depending on the protein sources available. Ideally rams should be between condition score three and four at joining.

Ewes can also benefit from supplementary feeding with grain such as lupins, prior to joining. Feeding levels will vary depending on the condition of the ewes but could benefit from up to 500 grams per head per day, for at least 7 days prior to the rams going in. Ewes should be in condition score three and on a rising plane of nutrition to optimise their fertility at joining.

To supplement pasture and grain intake, a vitamin and mineral loose lick such as Blueprint© Lift – a granulated, weather resistant loose lick, will assist to boost levels of vitamins, macro and micro minerals, prior to joining, to optimise reproductive success.

Blueprint Lift contains Bioplex© chelated trace minerals and Sel-Plex© from Alltech© that mimic the way minerals are delivered through plants and offers significantly higher bioavailability to the animals than traditional mineral salt sources.

Manganese, zinc and selenium are all crucial in the reproductive process – deficiencies have been associated with silent heat, poor conception, early embryonic death and weak or stillborn progeny. Blueprint Lift is a balanced blend which can help to overcome deficiencies and optimise the fertility of your flock. It also contains Alltech technologies to assist with rumen health and the feed efficiency of your animals.

An example of supplementing ewes with Blueprint Lift in maximising the potential progeny (as scanned embryos) and the farm’s economic profit comes from producer Tom, in the Goulburn region of New South Wales. His ewes, when joined, were in a transition period adjusting to green feed after a break in a prolonged dry spell, where they were receiving a full feed ration.

Tom was still supplementary feeding grain through this period as well as giving access to good quality hay ad-lib and Blueprint Lift on a rapidly growing pasture.

Scanning for triplets gave Tom the following results: > 190% in Merino x Merino > 146% in Maiden Merino x Merino > 173% in Border Leicester x Merino > 207% in Poll Dorsett x Cross breed ewes > 126% in Cross breed ewe lambs (optional joining at 7 months to fill gap in numbers after drought de-stocking)

Off the back of two years of very heavy drought, Tom was able to feed his ewes to better reach their genetic potential, in addition to correct management practices and the inclusion of essential vitamins and minerals in the form of Blueprint Lift. These numbers put Tom in a good position to capitalise on what has turned out to be a very good season.

This joining program made sure the ewes were in an appropriate condition score, had access to good quality protein and energy sources as well as essential vitamins and minerals.

For expert advice, speak to your local Elders Livestock Production Advisor or head into your nearest Elders branch.

FENNEC® DOUBLES DOWN ON LICE PROTECTION

While dual action drenches for worm control are widely accepted by sheep producers, there has not been a combination product for lice control – until now. Fennec, Australia’s first dual action lice treatment, also offers 5-weeks protection from reinfestation.*

Fennec’s dual active ingredients – imidacloprid and abamectin, have given producers a new weapon in the war against lice which costs the industry $120 million a year.

Dr Yan Laurenson, senior research fellow with the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England, says using a double active is “the responsible thing to do”.

Dr Laurenson, whose research areas include parasite drug resistance, says the chance of lice developing resistance to two actives given at the same time as “very, very small”.

“This is a step beyond using a traditional rotation, which may inadvertently allow resistance to build,” Dr Laurenson says.

“With lice, the goal is complete eradication. Any lice that may be resistant to the first active will be killed by the second active.”

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cattle and Sheep Technical Manager, Dr Gareth Kelly, says the efficacy of Fennec’s dual action will resonate with sheep producers looking for a simple and easy to use treatment to eradicate lice and prevent wool cut losses.

“The combination offers sheep producers a solution to safeguard their flock from lice and most importantly preserve the efficacy of current actives for much longer. History has shown that sheep lice are highly capable of developing resistance to single active lousicides. The use of a dual action product can decrease the chance of resistance building up,” he says. Imidacloprid and abamectin both cause paralysis of the lice, but studies have shown that the actives act in different ways. So Fennec offers a twopronged attack against lice. In addition, the actives do not have a common resistance pathway. This is important, as it is less likely that lice will develop resistance to either active when used together than to one of them alone, which in turn can slow the onset of resistance on a farm.”

Dr Kelly says effective lice control is not just an economic consideration for the producer, but also a big issue for the industry, so a product that can do the job effectively while keeping resistance at bay is a big step forward.

If left unchecked, sheep lice infestations can cause reductions in wool cut of up to 1 kilogram per head. They downgrade wool quality by reducing yield and increasing the amount of wool placed in inferior lines because of un-scourable colour and cotting.

Fennec is quick acting and long lasting. Sheep are protected from reinfestation for five weeks after application, making it the longest protection knock-down pour-on on the market when applied within 24 hours of shearing.

“While the science behind Fennec is more complex, it is just as simple and easy to use as traditional pour-ons, but its dual active ingredients pack a much bigger punch,” Dr Kelly says.

FENNEC POUR-ON FOR SHEEP IMIDACLOPRID ABAMECTIN 35 mg/mL 4 mg/mL

To find out more about Fennec Pour-On, head to www.fennecpouron.com.au

*Compared to other knockdown lice control products when applied within 24 hours after shearing. 1. Lice in sheep – Victorian Farmers Federation www.vff.org.au › Factsheet_Livestock_LiceinsheepV2. 2. http://www.liceboss.com.au/sheep-goats/about-lice.php Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia Pty. Ltd., Level 1, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde NSW 2113 Australia. ABN 53 071 187 285. Fennec® is a registered trademark of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. AU-OVI-0049-2020