Prime lamb production in Western Australia : a review of the development of the prime lamb industry in Western Australia

PRIME LAMB production in Western Australia has evolved into an industry based almost entirely on the local market. This has not always been the case. In the 1930-40 era a substantial proportion of the State\u27s prime lamb production was exported to the United Kingdom. During this era the industry was equally dependent on exports and local market

High pre-mating liveweights improve the lambing performance of merino ewes

Analysis of lambing trials with Merino ewes has shown a highly significant association between pre-mating liveweight and lambing performance. With May-June lambing ewes there was a 2.9 per cent, lambing increase for every extra 10 lb. liveweight; for July-August- September lambing ewes there was a 6.9 per cent, increase for every 10 lb. liveweight increase. With the May-June lambing there was a critical weight below which twinning was negligible

More lambs by mating weaners

Farmers can increase sheep numbers by mating ewe weaners. Trials have shoen that this does not affect the later performance of these ewes

Carrying prime lambs through summer

The annual lamb glut in September- October has caused many farmers to show interest in feed lotting and other methods of carrying over prime lambs for a higher priced market. Unfortunately however, little information has been available on the necessary techniques under Western Australian conditions. This report presents the results of the first year of a trial being conducted at Chapman Research Station to examine some of the problems associated with carrying lambs through the summer for later marketing

Later mating improves lambing results

Ovulation studies in Western Australia have indicated that increased lambing percentages in crossbred and Merino ewes could be expected from mating in February-April rather than December- January. Such increases have been demonstrated in time of lambing trials with crossbred ewes, but had not been seen in Merino flocks until recently. This report summarises the results of time of lambing trials with Merinos carried out at the Merredin and Wongan Hills Research Stations between 1963 and 1969

Capretto : a new meat industry

Capretto is the term the Italians use for the meat from a goat upto 20 weeks old. For centuries goat meat has featured on tables from the Mediterranean to asia and the Pacific Islands. Western Australian premium quality capretto has a dressed weight of between 6 and 1kg. Its pinkish flesh is tender and leaner than sheep meat, so it\u27s ideal for the health conscious. This article describes a market development programme undertaken by the Department of Agriculture\u27s Goat Industry Development Unit (GIDU) and the Australian Cashmere Growers Association\u27s (ACGA) Meat Marketing Committee to establish a premium market for capretto carcasses

Mating weaners does not affect future ewe performance

Maiden ewes in Western Australia are usually mated in their second year because of supposed ill-effects of earlier mating on the ewe\u27s future production. Mating at a younger age however, providing there was no reduction in future performance, would provide for an extra lamb drop and thus increase the lifetime output of ewes. Information from various sources indicated that weaners could be successfully mated providing their bodyweights were satisfactory. This trial was carried out to test the results of mating weaners under Western Australian conditions

Rejections of sheep and lamb carcasses are costly

A 1976 survey of more than 48 000 sheep and 25 000 lambs slaughtered at two of Western Australia\u27s export abattoirs has indicated a high rejection rate for W.A. carcasses. Rejections may be for disfiguring, blemishes requiring trimming or for diseases which can lead to condemnation. Savings that producers can make by simple management changes, could thus save the industry $3.12 million a year. Reduction in other causes of rejection or further reduction in some of those mentioned id feasible but requires more research and may be more difficult to achieve