Full Name: Improving climate resilience of the Australian Sheep Industry
Project Lead: University of Adelaide
Funding Body: SA Drought Hub
Objective: The focus of the research is to increase conception rates and mitigate the impacts of heat stress on ewes and rams. To achieve this; the aim is to develop a series of management tools that can be used across all producer systems to increase the reproductive efficiency, optimise animal health and recovery prior to and throughout gestation, and provide an option to combat the negative effects of heat stress. A vitamin drench or a melatonin implant will be used as these are easily implemented into any production system and have proven benefits for mitigating heat stress and improving the viability of embryos. In conjunction with this is the development of a climate warning system that can predict under what climatic conditions ewes and rams are likely to struggle during conception. This will enable producers to target supplementation only when necessary to improve reproductive outcomes. The use of sensor technology, on animal and in the environment will facilitate this.
This project will implement two treatments:
1) delivery of a single pre-joining drench of ADE in ewes and/or rams at joining
2) implant of melatonin in ewes and/or rams one month prior to joining
Demonstration Site Locations: Spalding, Caltowie, Quorn & Orroroo
Contact: Rachel Trengove UNFS, 0438 452 003