Improving Lamb Survival and Reproductive Efficiency in Sheep

Established in 2007, the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (the Sheep CRC) has the improvement of reproductive efficiency in Australian sheep flocks as one of its objectives. This involves achieving increases in net reproductive rate, with emphasis on improving lamb and weaner survival. By deciding on this objective, the Sheep CRC has responded to scientific and industry views that considerable scope exists for improvement and that both economic and animal welfare benefits would flow from achieving reproductive efficiency gains. This paper addresses the improvement of lamb survival up to weaning time and relies heavily on research and survey findings in Australia, however, some New Zealand information is also drawn upon to broaden its relevance to overseas audiences.