Using partial records to identify productive older ewes to retain in the breeding flock to increase the flock net reproduction rate

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Lee ◽  
M. A. Sladek ◽  
S. Hatcher ◽  
J. S. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Genetic Resource ◽  
New South ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Western Region ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selection Decisions ◽  
Net Reproduction

The reproductive performance of 7286 ewes from three Merino genetic resource flocks maintained in the central-western region of New South Wales was used to compare the use of fertility and fecundity information and net reproduction information whether recorded early (at 2 and 3 years of age) or later in life (at 4 and 5 years of age) with lifetime performance (at 2–6 years of age) as alternative selection criteria to identify productive older ewes to retain in the breeding flock. While the lifetime net reproduction rate is the best indicator of a ewe’s reproductive performance in later life, producers basing their selection decisions on pregnancy scanning data, which provides information on both fertility and fecundity, can improve the net reproduction rate of their flock by 2% regardless of the base reproduction rate. Despite little difference in likely flock reproduction rates between using early or later life scanning information as the selection criteria, early life performance is the best choice for commercial producers because it provides scope for eliminating twice-dry ewes from the breeding flock early in life, especially when combined with udder examination at marking.

Vegetation changes and animal productivity under sheep and goat grazing on an arid Belah (Casuarina cristata) - Rosewood (Heterodendrum oleifolium) woodland in western New South Wales.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Vegetation Changes ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Goat Grazing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Net Reproduction

In an arid (275 mm rainfall) belah (Casuarina cristata)-rosewood (Heterodendrurn olrifolium) woodland, goat does of feral origin and Merino ewes were grazed separately or in mived groups to.determine the relative effects of the different com- binations on the shrub and herbaceous vegetation, and on total animal production. The goats browsed the accessible foliage of trees, but did not obtain a substantial amount of their forage from that source. Thus they were competitive with sheep for the herbaceous layer (principally Stipa variabilis (variable speargrass) and Sclerolaet~a spp. (copperburrs). Grazing sheep and goats together did not achieve greater animal production than grazing them separately. Under drought conditions, those sheep grazing in conjunction with goats lost weight sharply in comparison with the goats, or to other sheep grazing without goat competition. The weights of the kids born in this trial were only 60% of the weights of the lambs, at both weaning and 1.5 years of age, although the net reproduction rate of does (120%) was twice that of the ewes (57%). Goat grazing did not suppress the unpal- atable shrubs. It is concluded that the grazing of feral goats. either alone or mixed with sheep, will not result in higher animal production or shrub control in this woodland community.

scholarly journals The research and educational priorities of rural occupational therapists

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Daly ◽  
Lynne Adamson ◽  
Esther Chang
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Community Care ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Final Phase ◽  
Research Project ◽  
South Wales

The aim of this pilot research project was to identify the research and educationalpriorities of occupational therapists practising in rural New South Wales. Eightparticipants were recruited in the south-western region of the State. The Delphitechnique was used to obtain the most reliable consensus of the research participants.Priorities emerged in four designated areas: (1) research that would be of value toclients; (2) research that would be of value in providing community care for clients;(3) research that would be of value in facilitating health promotion and diseaseprevention; and (4) research that would be of value to professional and educationalneeds. In the final phase of the study, 23 high priorities were identified. The findingsof the study suggest directions for research and continuing education in occupationaltherapy which may benefit rural practitioners and their clients.

Cumulative reproductive performance effect on overall lifetime productivity in Merino sheep

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1470
Author(s):  
J. S. Richards ◽  
M. A. Sladek ◽  
G. J. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The South ◽  
Performance Effect ◽  
South West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Effect Of Age

Reproduction is an important driver of profitability in commercial sheep flocks. Historically, Merino flocks have been run with a fixed age structure, ignoring individual merit and casting for age at a specific age. More recently, research has focussed on utilising the variation within age groups by keeping productive older ewes longer and culling less productive ewes earlier. Previous studies have also examined the effect of age on reproduction and the impact of reproduction status on productivity, but little research has been conducted on cumulative effects of reproductive performance on later productivity, reproduction and health. The present study examined the impact of higher lifetime reproduction on other key production and fitness traits in older ewes run under commercial conditions. Data were collected from two commercial wool-producing properties in the South West Slopes and the Central West Plains of New South Wales during 2009–2011. Reproduction, fleece measurements, bodyweight and condition and dental health were recorded during the study. The results showed that age had a bigger effect on productivity and dental health than did cumulative lifetime reproduction. Environment and genetics determined the level of impact, with minimal loss in productivity from increased age of animals occurring in the South West Slopes flock, whereas the Central West Plains flock would appear to require closer monitoring of productivity as ewes aged. The data collected did not allow separation of the genetic and environmental influences within the study. Retaining animals with a higher reproductive performance past normal culling age does not necessarily result in reduction of productivity or ewe health, but this must be monitored.

Effect of fitting sheep covers and injection of a mineral supplement on the brightness, clean colour and photostability of wool grown by grazing Merino sheep

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
S. Hatcher ◽  
J. W. V. Preston
Keyword(s):  
Factorial Design ◽  
Genetic Resource ◽  
New South ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Combined Effect ◽  
Mineral Supplement ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selection For

Wethers sourced from a Merino genetic resource flock, selected on the basis of their measured wool clean colour at 2 years of age, were stratified on the basis of clean colour and allocated to one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The aim was to investigate the effect of coating the fleece and administration of a commercial mineral supplement on brightness, clean colour and photostability over a 12-month period when run on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Coating the fleece significantly improved both the brightness and clean colour of the fleece (P<0.001, by 4 and 0.5 T units, respectively), but had no effect on the photostability of the two traits. The mineral supplement had no significant impact on the colour or photostability traits and there was no evidence of an interaction between coating the fleece and the mineral supplement. Although the improvements in brightness and colour arising from coating the fleece complemented the predicted responses to genetic selection for these two traits, the combined effect would not be sufficient to replace the routine use of oxidative bleaching during processing.

The effect of lambing performance on the face cover of ewes

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Dun ◽  
BH Clinton ◽  
TH Crofts ◽  
JOC Furner ◽  
AC Godlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Face ◽  
Average Face

Face cover was scored on 1979 maiden ewes mated on seven commercial properties in New South Wales. Results from four muffled flocks (full range of face cover scores) showed a small regression of percentage ewes wet on face cover scored prior to mating (b = -2.9, P<0.01). There was no relationship between these measurements in three open faced flocks (no ewes with face cover above score 4). A second score for face cover, given when the ewes had lambs at foot, was very strongly related to percentage wet ewes (b = -7.5, P<0.001, for muffled flocks and b = -6.3, P<0.01, for open faced flocks). The importance of time of scoring in determining the strength of the relation between reproductive performance and face cover, was caused by wet ewes dropping 0.6 grades in average face cover score between mating and marking. Dry ewes maintained their level of face cover.

Effect of prolonged undernutrition on the recovery and reproductive performance of maiden Merino ewes

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
P McInnes ◽  
TJ Grainger ◽  
MD Smith
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Year ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
The Mean

Data are presented on the recovery and reproductive performance of 2 1/2-year-old maiden Merino ewes after a prolonged period of undernutrition. The 217 sheep had been hand-fed on a submaintenance ration in pen feeding trials at Glenfield, New South Wales. During the seven months of the trials they had lost 6 kg (28 to 22 kg) body weight. They were transported to Condobolin in south-western New South Wales, divided into two treatment groups and run on good quality pastures. One group was joined immediately (May 1959) and again ten months later, and the other group was mated after six months at Condobolin (in October 1959) and again 12 months later. The ewes recovered rapidly. The mean weight of both groups had reached 30 kg within six weeks and 40 kg within six months. In the first year 73 of the 100 May-mated ewes bore lambs, but only 38 of these lambs were weaned. Ewes bearing lambs had a higher body weight at the start of joining and gained more during joining than the barren ewes. At the other three joinings (October 1959, May 1960, October 1960) lambing percentage was from 86-89 and weaning percentage from 62-69-both normal for the district. The proportion of twin lambs (3-6 per cent) was low. Wool weight in 1959 was not affected by time of mating or by pregnancy.

The association between face cover and the productivity of Merino ewes in twelve NSW flocks

1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (28) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
JP Drinan ◽  
RB Dun
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
The Body ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
The Face ◽  
Fleece Weight

The association between the face cover and productivity of more than 3000 Merino ewes has been examined in 12 flocks located in the major sheep producing areas of New South Wales. Each flock was divided into Open (scores 1 and 2), Moderate (scores 3 and 4), and Muffled (scores 5 and 6) groups. A significant negative association between face cover and reproductive performance was apparent in two flocks that contained appreciable numbers of muffled-faced ewes. A similar trend was apparent in another Muffled flock, but in one other Muffled flock and four Open flocks, there was no evidence of such an association. The results from the remaining four flocks were not considered, due to the possibility that the results were confounded by face cover scoring after joining. In one Muffled flock, the body weights of weaner lambs were negatively correlated with their dams' face cover. A relationship between face cover score and total greasy fleece weight, corrected for previous reproductive performance, was absent from most flocks and negative in two, despite evidence of a positive correlation with belly weight. There was a trend to inferior fleeces of finer trade count in Moderate and Muffled groups of several flocks. Excess face cover was found to be an undesirable attribute in Merino flocks. Its importance was greatest in flocks containing appreciable numbers of muffled-faced ewes

Ecological attributes of the threatened fauna of New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
A. L. Curtin ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
D. Ayers ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Northeastern Region ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatened Fauna

The aims of this study were to identify common ecological patterns among threatened fauna in New South Wales, and to identify priority areas for research and management by determining which regions and habitats contain high numbers of threatened fauna. Threatened and non-threatened fauna were taken from the listings of Lunney et al. (1996, 1997). Species were categorized into weight classes, diet groups, habitats and regions and by level of knowledge available about them. All regions and habitats of the State contain threatened species. The northeastern region of New South Wales contains the greatest number of threatened species but the western region has suffered the most extinctions, especially of mammals. Species that historically inhabited a greater number of regions are less likely to be currently threatened or to be extinct than those with restricted distributions, and large species are more likely to be threatened than smaller species. The best predictors of a threatened mammals species were seeds and vegetation in the diet, heavier body weight, and ground-dwelling, burrowing, and rock pile/cave-dwelling habits. The Critical Weight Range (35?5 500g), although strongly associated with extinction of non-volant mammals, was not the most important predictor. Lord Howe Island held the highest proportion of threatened and extinct birds. Factors showing the strongest associations for threatened birds were carnivory, large size, and distribution in the southeastern region. The most poorly-known region for birds was the north-east, and the least known habitat was shrubland (including mallee, heath and chenopod shrubland). The status of reptiles was poorly known in all regions, especially the western region. Frogs were also poorly known in all regions. Frogs were most at risk if they were large, inhabited closed forest or occurred in the central or northeastern region. The study further revealed little association between particular ecological attributes and conservation status. This indicates that there are complex and pervasive threats affecting the status of New South Wales fauna. Research and management priority status could be argued for all regions and most habitats in the State, but the western or northeastern regions may face the most problems depending on the criteria used (e.g., past extinctions, number vs proportion of threatened species). Further, the conservation status of birds, reptiles and frogs is in particular need of attention from researchers.

Aborigines and Their Central Schools: Part I

1989 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Hill
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Research Study ◽  
New South ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Major Research ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Western Region

Central Schools in New South Wales administratively combine primary and secondary schools on a single site. They are normally located in small, relatively isolated, rural communities. In the Western Region of the NSW Department of Education there are 19 Central Schools varying in size from 88 to 557 students. At the time of this study eight of the Central Schools catered for students from kindergarten to Year 12, the remaining eleven catered for kindergarten to Year 10.In 1987/88 Mitchell CAE, in collaboration with the Department of Education in the Western Region, undertook a major research study into the perceptions of Central Schools held by those most closely involved (Sinclair 1988). Prior to the study much of the knowledge of how Central Schools were perceived was anecdotal and impressionistic. This study aimed at gathering comparative data from all Western Region Central Schools about how those who taught, studied, or sent their children there perceived the quality of education provided by Central Schools.

Production responses in selenium supplemented sheep in northern New South Wales. 2. Liveweight gain, wool production and reproductive performance in young Merino ewes given selenium and copper supplements

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (115) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Wilkins ◽  
RJ Kilgour ◽  
AC Gleeson ◽  
RJ Cox ◽  
SJ Geddes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Copper Treatment ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Selenium Treatment

Young Merino ewes on five commercial properties in northern New South Wales were supplemented with selenium and their production was compared with untreated flock mates. They were studied from weaning till first lambing at about two years of age. Treatments of 5 mg selenium were given orally every six weeks for approximately 12 months. Copper treatments were also included to test for a possible concurrent deficiency or interaction with selenium. There were significant responses to selenium in liveweight in four of the five flocks and in wool production in two of the flocks at both shearings. Reproductive performance at first mating was also significantly better in two flocks. There were no beneficial effects of copper treatment nor were there any significant interactions with selenium treatment in any aspect of production measured.

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