Workshop targets sheep values

Sheep producers attended an optimiser workshop at Moora last week under The Sheep’s Back program of making more from sheep.

Discussions included the pros and cons of shearing more than once a year, how a chaff cart measures up to its investment, best economical way of renovating pastures, and stock-water quality — is it production efficient?

The Sheep Back’s WA co-ordinator Ed Riggall said chaff carts as a sheep management tool can be used to save feed costs and improve ewe condition.

Mr Riggall said a four-site trial was taking place to discover if chaff carts could be a real missing link.

“We will do the sums if sheep do better on chaff piles versus dry feed,” he said.

“So far we have linked a fair weight gain advantage using chaff carts.

“The benefits include improved condition score of sheep plus the run-off effect of longer crop rotation, earlier seeding and less soil nutrient removal.”

Local producer Norm Yukish said he had used a chaff cart for the first time recently and said it was initially acquired to eliminate hand feeding.

“We are still assessing the benefits of the chaff cart and are hoping it will give us more benefit out of our sheep feed,” Mr Yukish said.