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Journal article
The economic optimum mob size at lambing for triplet-bearing Maternal and Merino ewes across southern Australia
Animal production science, Vol.65(2), AN24334
2025
Appears in Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
Abstract
Context
Lambing triplet-bearing ewes in smaller mobs significantly increases lamb survival.
Aims
This paper reports economic analysis to assess the optimum mob size for triplet-bearing ewes during lambing.
Methods
The analyses considered scenarios for Merino and non-Merino (Maternal) flocks where producers subdivided lambing paddocks using permanent fencing or where ewes were re-allocated within existing paddocks on the basis of pregnancy status.
Key results
The optimum mob sizes for triplet-bearing ewes during lambing were affected by ewe breed, stocking rate, lamb price and the target return-on-investment if subdividing paddocks. The optimum mob size for triplet-bearing Maternal and Merino ewes was between 27% and 40% of the optimum for twin-bearing ewes and this was similar for scenarios where paddocks were subdivided, or where ewes were re-allocated within existing paddocks. At the standard lamb price of AUD$7/kg carcass weight, the economic return from adjusting the relative mob size of triplet-bearing ewes was AUD$2.05 per multiple-bearing or AUD$14.20 per triplet-bearing Maternal ewe and AUD$0.54 per multiple-bearing ewe or AUD$5.70 per triplet-bearing Merino ewe.
Conclusions
Overall, these analyses demonstrated that reducing mob size at lambing can be a profitable strategy for improving survival of triplet-born lambs, depending on the current size of lambing mobs.
Implications
As reported previously for single- and twin-bearing ewes, it is difficult to provide generic recommendations to producers for the optimum mob size of triplet-bearing ewes at lambing because optimum mob size was dependent on several enterprise-specific factors.
Details
- Title
- The economic optimum mob size at lambing for triplet-bearing Maternal and Merino ewes across southern Australia
- Authors/Creators
- John M. YoungPaul R. Kenyon - Massey UniversityLyndon J. Kubeil - Agriculture VictoriaAndrew N. Thompson - Murdoch University, Centre for Animal Production and HealthJason TrompfAmy Lockwood
- Publication Details
- Animal production science, Vol.65(2), AN24334
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- Meat & Livestock Australia: L.LSM.0013
This research was funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (Grant number: L.LSM.0013).
- Identifiers
- 991005732475807891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Environmental and Life Sciences; Centre for Animal Production and Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
- 3.51.799 Farm Animal Welfare
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
- ESI research areas
- Agricultural Sciences