Using historic data to understand the cost of an extra condition score in sheep

Below optimum body condition in sheep is associated in its extreme with death due to malnutrition and at lesser levels with reduced reproduction and productivity. Producers who need to increase ewe body condition are forced to change their management practices to increase feed available, which comes at a cost. A long-term solution is to breed for a ewe that is better able to meet the body condition targets of the production system. An industry led desire within maternal and Merino based sheep operations is to increase genetic condition within the breeding objective and this requires an understanding of the bio-economic value of body condition in adult ewes specific to each production system.