Lamb backgrounding for Western Australia

Page last updated: Wednesday, 22 November 2017 - 11:50am

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Eastern Riverina

This region encompasses the lucerne-growing districts north of Bendigo, particularly either side of the Murray River with suitable soil, as well as parts of north-east Victoria.

Table 4 Typical characteristics of lamb backgrounding in the eastern Riverina
Zone Growing season Rainfall amount Pasture types

Eastern Riverina

 

Example: Corowa

 

Mostly Merino genetics as a base, often joined to terminals.

The growing season is generally shorter than the southern high rainfall zone, but extended by lucerne well into summer.

Lucerne growth rates will depend on summer rainfall and soil type.

Generally less than the high rainfall zone but more evenly spread through the year.

 

Less issues with waterlogging in winter.

High quality pastures in the spring- phalaris/sub clover- hay off late November/early December.

Lucerne (irrigated or dryland) over summer.

Increasingly backgrounders are using grain to meet both backgrounding and finishing targets
Corowa average rainfall (mm), having less rain in winter than Hamilton (high rainfall zone). There is a lot of variation of total rainfall in this region.
Figure 5 Corowa average rainfall (mm), having less rain in winter than Hamilton (high rainfall zone). There is a lot of variation of total rainfall in this region
Table 5 Potential weight gain from feed available in the eastern Riverina
Feedstuff Liveweight gain in grams per head per day (g/hd/day)
On summer pastures, dry from Dec-Apr, lucerne backgrounding 100g/hd/day

Lucerne (irrigated summer)

Feedlot (finishing stage)

200g/hd/day or less

Better than 200g/hd/day

Table 6: Gross margin for lamb backgrounding and finishing in the eastern Riverina. (Note: lamb weight increase from 28kg to 50kg liveweight. 77kg of feed - made up of 55% barley, 25% lupins, 20% hay - is fed.)

Total income ($/head)

$123.66

Total costs ($/head) $98.25
Profit ($/head) $25.42
Return in investment (%) 26%

There are currently few regions outside of the intensive dairying areas of WA that grow dryland lucerne similarly to that undertaken in the eastern Riverina. That has not always been the case. Lucerne used to be grown quite extensively on the southern Sandplain, but less has been grown since introduced aphids wiped out stands in the late 1970s. According to consultants in WA, aphid-resistant lucerne varieties (though now available) have not been substantially sown due to the low returns from livestock in comparison to better returns from cereal and canola rotations.

Livestock profitability has recently lifted and if gross margins of about $25/lamb could be achieved, this might appear to be competitive with crop in this zone, given the number that could be run on lucerne over summer. However, this gross margin would be considerably eroded by freight costs to and from the southern Sandplain.

Contact information

Perry Dolling
+61 (0)8 9821 3261
Mandy Curnow
+61 (0)8 9892 8422