noteworthy Small landholder SerieSnW 25 2010

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Roy Butler and his wife Judith, operate a small but successful Dorper enterprise on their property ‘Little Rock’ near Merredin.

The couple farm just 30ha but have achieved an average return of $66 per hectare during past eight years.

roy recently spoke with Noteworthy about ‘little rock’s’ accomplishments.

“We run an average of 56 sheep at any one time — the total number has never exceeded 95,” roy said.

“The property is made up of five paddocks of permanent pasture. The pasture contains a variety of native perennial grasses and introduced annual grasses plus annual legumes and capeweed. native bluebush is present over half the area.

Summers tend to be hot and winters are cool. The annual average rainfall is about 310mm — mainly winter rainfall. our soil fertility is low but salinity is not a problem.

our initial interest was in developing the property’s native pastures — the sheep were a secondary thought. We chose dorpers because they are low maintenance. They shed their fleece and therefore do not require shearing — and so inputs of time and money are minimal.

The development of our small commercial flock of Dorpers began during 1998, starting with dorper cross merinos, Poll dorset and dorper cross Wiltshire horn ewe lambs. The flock was progressively upgraded, always using pure dorper rams and one pure van rooy ram. eight rams, one ram at a time, have been used since 1998.

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our sheep are usually sold on the farm and never through a saleyard. Since 1999, the only sheep purchased have been two ewes and six rams.

Looking after the sheepWe run a single mob rotated across five paddocks and a ram is always present.

mortality rates have been very low. (See Table 1 for sheep health regime.)

The big ‘Little Rock’ story

Case study Case s

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“Been there… …done that”

taBLe 1 Sheep health regime

• Asmall-scale,simplyrunsheepenterprise has the potential to deliver healthy returns.

• Strategicgrazingandadequatenutrition can alleviate sheep health problems and boost breeding capacity.

• Keepinginputcostslowis essential to maintaining the positive economic performance when farming sheep on a small scale.

Quick view

task Note

Shearing The last year that any sheep were shorn was during 2003 (one ewe).

Crutching once during 1999.

lice treatment once during 1999. lice were suspected although none were seen.

Fly strike Two sheep were treated for very small patches of body strike before 2003 and none since.

Worms no sheep drenched for worms since 2000. Consistently good nutrition, rotational grazing and a hot, dry climate all help in worm control.

Tail docking none since 2002.

Castration Very few ram lambs castrated in the past eight years. This necessitates the sale of ram lambs at an early age.

Vaccinations lambs receive two injections of 3-in-1 vaccine (tetanus, pulpy kidney and cheesy gland).

Identification lambs are ear tagged and marked at 1-2 months old.

Weaning lambs are not weaned.

Weighing all sheep are weighed approximately monthly. at this time, as necessary, lambs are vaccinated, tagged and earmarked.

mineral and/or vitamin supplements

none.

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Input costsin most years our largest input cost has been for purchase of supplementary feed. no fodder or grain is produced on the farm. Cereal hay and lupins are the usual supplements but occasionally pellets have been purchased.

Supplementary feeding usually occurs from november to may, or even into June during some years, and takes at most 15 minutes each day.

The second largest cost is the purchase of rams. To avoid inbreeding it is necessary to replace a ram more frequently than for a conventionally managed flock. This is because these sheep reach puberty at about 5-7 months and remain in the flock. In 13 years there have been eight rams, purchased at an average price of $975 each.

The amount of time spent caring for the sheep is minimal. all sheep are weighed monthly at which time the lambs are vaccinated and tagged as required. This process takes two people a maximum of two hours.

We have not applied fertiliser since 2000. There has been no cultivation since the land was purchased during 1992.

Good breedersIf nutrition is adequate, Dorper ewes may cycle and conceive at any time of year. Similarly, rams are fertile and willing at any time. To simplify management and take advantage of the long breeding season, a ram runs with the ewes all year round. Twinning is common and some ewes (about 20 per cent) lamb twice within 12 months.

Figure 1 shows the total number of lambs born at little rock during each month, aggregated from 1998–2009, compared with the number of lambs born in each month during 2009.

In a conventionally run flock, a common measure of flock productivity is the number of lambs marked each year, as a percentage of ewes joined. For this flock, marking percentage is difficult to assess because pregnant ewes may be sold during the year and ewe lambs are defined as ewes when they

reach 40 kilograms. When calculations have been attempted, marking percentages have been about 120–140% per year.

A more economically meaningful measure of flock productivity is the percentage of lambs born and raised (and either still in the flock or sold) out of ewes 40kg and heavier. During 2002 there were 47 lambs sold from 39 ewes (weighing 40kg or more) that were present on Australia Day 2002. That is, 120% lambs were sold, at an average weight of 34.5kg. during 2009 there were 57 lambs raised to sale or retained, from 29 ewes, or 197% lambs born and raised. Twins were common and some of the ewes lambed twice within 12 months.

dorpers reach puberty relatively early, and can mate and conceive from about 5-6 months of age, or at about 40kg or heavier. As an example, by September 2008 78% lambs had been marked from ewes born during 2007; these ewes were 9-17 months old at lambing. early breeding can maximise lifetime productivity, especially in a breed, such as the dorper, which does not produce wool.

Insurance: are you covered?

The big ‘Little Rock’ story

Financial year total sheep July 1

Income $

expenditure $

Return $/ha

2002–2003 48 3894 299 120

2003–2004 60 4230 1125 104

2004–2005 58 4730 718 134

2005–2006 58 4040 1922 71

2006–2007 48 2950 5312 -79

2007–2008 55 1950 2044 -3

2008–2009 70 3387 1273 70

2009–2010 (to Feb 16 2010) 54 3837 413.94 114

taBLe 2 Profitabilityofthesheepflock

taBLe 2 Lambs born each month in 2009 compared with total born 1998–2009

January

FebruaryMarch

April MayJune

JulyAugust

September

October

November

December

MonthN

umbe

r of

lam

bs

120

100

80

60

40

20

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Lambs born each month in 2009 compared with total born 1998–2009

Total 2009

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imPorTanT diSClaimer The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western australia and Kondinin information Services accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. © Western australian agriculture authority, 2010.

i believe our story shows that meat sheep production on a small landholding can be profitable, as judged by the simple measure of dollar return per hectare. Critical factors are the reproductive performance of the sheep and the cost of inputs. Other important contributors to the modest financial success of this small flock are the breed of sheep and the farm’s proximity to sources of reasonably priced supplementary feed.”

the Department of agriculture and Food recommends that beforeyoufollowthesemanagementpracticesyoufirstconsult a local veterinarian or farming advisor.

FoR MoRe INFoRMatIoNTheSmallLandholderInformationServiceandKondininGrouphavedevelopeda series of Noteworthy factsheets. For copies of the Noteworthy factsheets or more information go to www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder or contact the Small Landholder Information Service on 9733 7777.

The big ‘Little Rock’ story

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roy would like to remind you to keep a weather eye out for a number of pests that can make your animal’s life a misery and even cause death.

Unlike the fleecy sheep, Dorpers and other hairy sheep very rarely get fly strike, although there have been some incidents. Blow flies are attracted to faeces build-up (dags), the sweaty, moist skin folds and any open wounds where they can lay eggs that will grow into maggots. Warm humid weather usually increases the incidence of flystrike. Sheep can die from the shock and infections that are caused by flystrike.

You also need to watch for Barber’s Pole and Scour worms. To catch worms early, carry out regular Worm egg Counts (WeCs). Take faecal samples to your veterinarian for counting. Poor appetite, weakness and diarrhoea are all signs that you have a worm problem.

Watch for lice as infestations can cause severe irritation — affected animals become distressed, won’t eat and lose weight or condition. When one animal visibly has lice it’s likely that more in your flock are affected.

daFWa recommend that your sheep should be monitored or observed at least once every two days by someone who can spot the early signs of these pests. all these pests require early urgent action. By the time the animals look sick the problem is severe. Keep in close contact with your local veterinarian for advice on how to treat your animals. Weighing your animals every four weeks the way roy does is another opportunity to inspect your animals closely for these pests.

Animal Health Alert:

Roy with some his Dorpers showing excellent condition.

ConTaCT deTailSdaFWa www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder (08) 9733 7777 or (08) 9368 3807Kondinin Group www.farmingahead.com.aulandmark slh@landmark.com.au (08) 9318 8260

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Notes

The Noteworthy collection continues to grow as new factsheets filled with farming tips and techniques are added each month.

Check-outtheentirestableofNoteworthyfactsheetsatthe Department of agriculture and Food’s Small Landholder Information Service

website www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder oratKondininGroup’swebsitewww.farmingahead.com.au

topics include:• Spray safe — stay safe• First time fencing unravelled• handle handy aTVs with respect• Chainsaws for the small landholder• Cattle ownership is a serious step — no bull• Blue-green algae• Water quality — critical for livestock• Water — sufficient summer supply saves lives• Soil testing accurate samples yield better results• Supplementary feeding — keeping livestock healthy during summer

and more...

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Department ofAgriculture and Food

SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 01 2008noteworthy

Spray safeS TAY S A F E

The use of spray technology to control

weeds, pests and diseases is widespread

and is often heralded as the easiest

option. However, safe and effective

spraying is about more than random

chemical warfare.

Before leaping into attack with a fi st full of

chemicals, fi rst correctly identify the pest, weed

or disease you want to control. A wide range of

publications, web sites and local landcare or land

management experts can assist you with this

fi rst step. Weeds are probably the most common

thing sprayed by small landholders.

The Weeds CRC has an excellent site,

www.weeds.crc.org.au, with an extensive range

of publications that can help you identify weeds

and decide upon the best control options.

While the most popular control option for pests,

weeds and diseases often is to use a spray, this is

neither the only nor always the best option.

Get advice before loading the spray tank.

If spraying is the best option, select a chemical

that is registered for control of the pest, weed or

disease you have correctly identifi ed. In addition

to the information available through DAFWA,

there are excellent commercial databases such

as Infopest (available for purchase through

Queensland Department of Primary Industries)

and HerbiGuide (a WA-specifi c program that

also includes an excellent weed identifi cation

component, purchasable through www.

herbiguide.com.au). In the public domain, the

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines

Authority (APVMA) has a comprehensive

database of all currently registered products and

permits, which enables you to view or download

product labels, at www.apvma.gov.au. A less

comprehensive database which also brings up the

labels and MSDSs (material safety data sheets), is

Pestgenie, at www.pestgenie.com.au

Read the labelAfter selecting a suitable product read and follow

the label directions. This is a legal requirement.

Most people only look up how much to mix. Just

as important is the timing. Weeds need to be

controlled when they are small and actively

growing. It is near impossible to kill mature

weeds, irrespective of how much spray you

use. It is also a waste of time and herbicide to

attempt to kill weeds when they are under stress

because the weather is too hot, too cold or too

dry. The weed shuts down in these conditions and

the herbicide is not taken up by the plant.

Similarly, insects need to be sprayed when they

are small and there are not too many of them.

Caterpillars larger than 8mm are just as hard

to kill as big weeds. And, if the bugs arrive in

numbers, you will experience severe damage and

losses before the spray takes effect.

Like weeds and insects, plant pathogens have to

be detected early and a spray applied before the

number of spores increases dramatically.

Check the label to see if an adjuvant has to be

added to the spray mix; what spray equipment

can be used; how to mix the pesticide in the

tank; if there is a minimum water volume

recommended; what personal protective

equipment (PPE) to wear to protect your health;

when crops or pastures can be harvested or fed

to livestock after spraying (the withholding period

or WHP); and what environmental precautions

need to observed – like not spraying when bees

are foraging.

Some chemicals can be rendered inactive by

poor water quality. Always check the label

to determine how water quality may affect a

particular chemical. Ensure you have your water

tested and are aware of any quality issues —

wetter and adjuvants are available to ameliorate

quality issues if necessary.

Select your weapon

For spot spraying, (spraying individual weeds)

a knapsack sprayer is adequate. However, if

you need to spray woody weeds or vines, such

as blackberries or lantana, a powered wand is

required. A knapsack is incapable of putting out

the volumes necessary to wet big blackberry

bushes, for example. Small boom sprays

mounted on ATVs or tractor three-point

linkages (3PLs) usually have the option of

a hand gun running off the pump.

Safe and effective spraying is

about more than random chemical

warfare

There is a variety of tools

available for chemical

application including the

knapsack sprayer and small

boom sprays mounted on ATVs.

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noteworthy SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 03 2008

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Department ofAgriculture and Food

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ATVs are far more than just a recreational four-wheel motorbike. They are capable of carrying small loads such as a hay bale, herding animals, towing trailers, operating small spray units or simply providing transport around your property. ATVs are also popular for recreational riding, the purpose for which they were originally designed, but must be operated with signifi cant care to avoid serious injury or death.Decrease rollover riskAs opposed to a motorbike, where the rider

and bike often go in different directions, ATV accidents often involve the vehicle rolling onto the rider. These accidents are unfortunately all too common, with ATVs the cause of more deaths across Australia than tractors, up to last year.

An ATV can weigh up to 300 kilograms and if the bike rolls over serious head or chest injury is a likely outcome. For this reason it is essential riders wear helmets at all times. In addition, it is unlikely you could lift an ATV off

yourself in the event of such an accident.The main causes of ATV rollover are cornering too fast without adequate weight shifting, travelling on steep slopes, overloading the carry racks and hitting obstacles, such as rocks.Shifting weight for safe corneringA motorbike rider can lean the entire bike into a

turn when cornering, counteracting forces that keep the bike upright. This is not possible in an ATV as all four wheels must stay on the ground for stability. An ATV rider has to rely on shifting his or her weight to counteract cornering forces, leaning into the turn to help prevent the vehicle from tipping over. The sharper the turn and the faster the speed, the higher the risk of tipping the ATV.Anyone riding an ATV must be able to quickly shift

their weight across the seat and forward into a turn when cornering. A fi rm grip on the handle bars and the foot pegs will help riders shift quickly, as will gripping the fuel tank fi rmly with your knees.When cornering, transfer your weight forward and into the direction you want to turn, your backside must actually move across the seat (not just your upper body) to get maximum stability while turning.

Lean forward when driving up a slope to prevent the ATV tipping backwards. If the slope feels too steep, avoid it and fi nd another safer route.

Take extra care when driving across a slope; shift your body so that weight is applied on the uphill side of the ATV as shown.

Check the load rating sticker and never exceed rated mass.

Handle handy ATVsW I T H R E S P E C T

ATVs are popular but must be operated with signifi cant care to avoid serious injury

or death

popular but must popular but must popular but must

serious injury

Whether farming 10 or 10,000 hectares, there are few handier, all-purpose farm vehicles than an (all-terrain vehicle) ATV.

✔ Always wear an Australian standards-approved helmet when operating an ATV. ✖ Never carry a passenger unless operating an ATV designed for two people.✔ Read the owner’s manual from cover to cover.✖ Take heed of safety warning labels on the ATV: Don’t operate if under the infl uence of drugs and alcohol, or if under the age of 16.

✔ Lean into corners and lean forward when travelling up slopes.✔ Brake evenly and fi rmly, and slow down when driving in unknown terrain.✖ Don’t ride on the roads; paved surfaces affect bike handling, especially when going from dirt to tar or vice versa.

Safety checklist

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noteworthy SMALL LANDHOLDER SERIESNW 02 2008

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Department ofAgriculture and Food

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What you will need

• A helper

• Pliers

• Posts (strainers and drop posts)

• Wire

• Post hole-digger

• Gripples and applicator or wire-strainers

• Crow bar

• Safety glasses

• Gloves

fencing tool kit

Landholders have a legal obligation to fence

their property.

Local councils can provide some basic guidelines

and minimum fencing requirements.

Generally the cost of a boundary fence between

private land is shared equally between both

parties. Boundary fences between private land

and the Crown are the responsibility of the

landholder.

Creating boundaries

Whether replacing an existing fence or erecting

a new one the fi rst step is to decide on the most

appropriate fence for the job. Fences can be

divided into two broad categories — conventional

and electric.

Conventional fences use prefabricated rolls, plain

wires or barbed wire to create a physical stock

proof barrier.

Electric fences rely on a psychological barrier

created by an electric shock to prevent stock

crossing the fence.

The most appropriate fence design will

depend on a number of factors:

1. The type of animal needing to be kept in or

out: Different animals have different fencing

requirements — cattle for instance place much

higher pressures on fences than sheep.

2. Whether the fence is an internal fence or

boundary fence: Boundary fences may need to

be sturdier than internal fences. Barbed wire

may be recommended for boundary fences.

3. The topography of the site: Does the

fence pass through gullies or up

steep slopes and other issues such

as whether the fence will have to

withstand fl oods or fi re.

Other landholders and local fencing

suppliers can help determine the most

suitable fence for your application.

The make-up of a fence

A fence consists of three main

elements; strainer assembly at either

end; intermediate posts, droppers and

wire stretched tight between

the strainers.

Strainer assemblies

These are the most important part of any fence.

Their job is to transfer the tension in the wires

to the ground. There are two main strainer

assembly designs —the diagonal stay and the box.

(See Figure 1 on page 2.)

The diagonal stay assembly is most suited to

heavy, dense soil conditions. Where more

strength is required, for example in sandy or

boggy conditions, a box assembly would be best.

Intermediate posts and droppers

Intermediate posts perform two functions; to

guide the line wires off the ground at the correct

spacings and, to some extent, provide

lateral resistance to pressure by

transferring it into the ground.

A well-designed fence will be

cost-effective, require little

maintenance and last a lifetime.

First time fencing U N R AV E L L E D

The fi rst step is to decide on the most appropriate fence design for

the chosen purpose.

The fi rst step The fi rst step

Well-designed and constructed fences are essential

infrastructure on any property. Without quality fencing

maintaining livestock can be a real headache. Straying

stock are not only a danger to themselves and passing

motorists but also a sure-fi re way to get the neighbours off

side. Luckily smart investment in the right fencing material

and a little fencing know-how can go a long way to managing

both four- and two-legged creatures. Phot

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