Quicklinks to calculators, tools and resources
Online calculators | |
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| Use this tool to determine the impact on flock structure over six years of changes made to retaining or selling classes of sheep or changing the weaning ratio. | |
| Pregnancy scanning benchmarks for sheep
| Use this tool to view the latest pregnancy scanning rates (reproductive rate) of WA sheep flocks. Choose to see the whole data set or refine the results to show by time of lambing, by year or by sheep type. Add in your own pregnancy results to see where you fit within the curve. |
| Annual feed budget for sheep enterprises
| This tool can be used to estimate the supplementary feed requirements of a sheep enterprise for a single year. The calculator provides a broad estimate of the feed requirements for a single class of sheep as well as an average feed requirement on a monthly basis to maintain condition in adult sheep and grow weaners at a moderate rate. The tool gives outputs in either a graph or table format. |
| Supplementary feed calculator for ewes on low green feed
| This calculator was developed using the best available data for animal and pasture relationships for annual legume-based pastures. It should be used at the break of season and relies on an accurate assessment of Feed on Offer (FOO) and the current pasture growth rate of the pasture. The values for the animal requirements are taken from GrazFeed®. |
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| This tool can be used to work out the cost of a number of different sheep feeds. It can also be used to work out the feed value of a chosen mix of feed in terms of its energy and protein value and provide a cost per tonne, per megajoule of energy and per kilogram of protein. |
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| Deferred grazing is a tactic where stock are excluded from pasture areas to maximise germination and establishment of pasture seedlings. Use this calculator to determine how many days it will take to meet a pasture target at a particular pasture growth rate. |
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| Strip grazing is a tactic used to increase FOO during winter and is a valuable management tactic for woolgrowers wanting to increase stocking rates, maintain stocking rates in poorer seasons or improve the quality of wool produced. This calculator allows you to determine the area of the strip within a paddock required for your sheep. |
Tools (downloadable or hard copy) | |
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| Preventive chemical application is an important part of flystrike management in sheep. Both the flystrike chemical planner and the app allow you to view the main chemical groups and the relevant wool, local slaughter and export interval date for each chemical group. The flystrike assist app helps producers make decisions about the appropriate chemical for flystrike prevention while observing chemical withholding periods. Specifically designed for your smart phone, the app allows you to set an application date and prepares a timeline for that application. The app also allows you to record treatments for different mobs of sheep and sends you reminders when withholding and protection periods are completed. |
| Lambing planner app and hard copy tool
| The lambing planner sets out key management operations that make up the breeding cycle, providing information on ewe and ram nutrition, condition score targets at different stages of reproduction and lambing guidelines. You can select a joining date, and from that point gain a series of guidelines and recommendations regarding the use of teasers, ram preparation, joining ratio, ewe feed requirements and the timing of worm egg counts (WEC) and lamb vaccinations. |
| Condition scoring of sheep gives producers an accurate picture of the mob's nutritional status which can be used to predict production of wool and lambs as well as general wellbeing. The sheep condition score app allows the user to record condition scores of a sheep flock and view the results instantly on the screen. The screen shows a histogram of the scores, a running tally and the average score of the mob. Users can choose to send the data via email to their computer or view results from past sessions. The app contains useful information on condition scoring and a video on the method used. | |
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| Pastures from SpaceTM provides estimates of Pasture Growth Rate (PGR) and Feed on Offer (FOO) on a weekly basis across the South West Agricultural region. |
| Feed Budget Tables for dry & drought conditions (ewes)
| Dry and drought feed tables including pasture decline tables for mixed temperate pastures and Mediterranean annual pastures. |
| Feed Budget Tables for the break of season (ewes) | Break of season tables designed for annual pastures in the development phase. |
| Ewe Management Handbook for the Cereal-Sheep Zone (WA)
| Information and recommendations of ewe management, early lambing, and the value of dry pastures throughout the season. |
| Ewe Management Handbook for the Medium Rainfall Zone (WA)
| Information and recommendations of ewe management, covering early and late lambing. |
| Photo standards for annual pastures. Physical copies are out of print, contact your local DPIRD office for remaining copies. | |
Reports and resources | |
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| Katanning Research Station - Strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 | A baseline carbon footprint assessment and emissions reduction strategy with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for the research station by 2030. |
| Information and best practice recommendations for lamb marking including castrating and tail docking, mulesing, pain relief, chemical use, ear tagging and vaccinations. | |
| Investment options to expand sheep production in Western Australia | Outlines potential business and investment structures that could exist in WA to expand the industry and take advantage of growing market opportunities. |
| Examines agricultural regions of Victoria where lamb backgrounding is established, compared with areas of WA to determine whether lambs can be successfully backgrounded. | |
| Prices, patterns and profitability of feedlots: Investor-ready sheep feedlot report | Confined feeding of sheep in commercial feedlots could benefit WA producers and processors. This report examines the factors that influence sheep feedlot profitability. |
| Opportunities for individual sheep management in Western Australia | Sheep managers can use electronic identification (EID) technology and automatic readers to manage individual sheep in a flock. Accurate and reliable data opens opportunities for improved supply chain management. |
| Is grain really better for your bottom line? What is the cost of getting back into sheep? Opportunities for sheep enterprise expansion, and 23 top sheep producers have their say. | |
| Increased use of forward contracts within the supply chain of the WA sheep meat sector could result in greater supply chain integration and investment. | |
| Sheep – the simple guide to making more money with less work | The way the sheep enterprise is managed, including infrastructure and the pasture system, will influence the profitability of the enterprise and be reflected in the cost of production and the labour efficiency of the enterprise. |