BestWool/BestLamb groups
Read the latest information from the BestWool BestLamb groups around Victoria:
2022 editions
South West Prime Lamb Group
Dung beetles
August 2022 edition
Dung beetles have been the focus of on-farm demonstrations underway with the South West Prime Lamb Group (SWPLG). The group established an Enhanced Producer Demonstration Site (EPDS), co-funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and sought support through the Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers (DBEE) project.
Read more:
- South West Prime Lamb Group: Dung beetles (PDF - 933.2 KB)
- South West Prime Lamb Group: Dung beetles (WORD - 3.3 MB)
Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb groups
Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures
May 2022 edition
A producer demonstration project, ‘Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures’ is investigating the benefits and costs of precision soil mapping and variable rate applications (VRA), compared to traditional soil testing and fertiliser/ameliorant applications. The comparison is undertaken through a paired-paddock demonstration across four sites in Central Victoria.
The project is a collaboration between the Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb groups, Precision Agriculture Pty Ltd and Agriculture Victoria, with funding from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
Read more:
- Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb: Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures. (PDF - 607.8 KB)
- Pyrenees and Smeaton BestWool/BestLamb: Precision soil mapping in central Victorian pastures
(WORD - 702.2 KB)
Boort BestWool/BestLamb group
Using drones on-farm to monitor sheep welfare
April 2022 edition
The Boort BestWool/BestLamb group have recently finished a three-year on-farm trial investigating the usefulness of drones to monitor lambing ewes and other farming operations.
The on-farm demonstration was set up in early 2019, with funding from Meat and & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Agriculture Victoria.
The group chose to investigate the practicality and usefulness of a drone to monitor sheep welfare at lambing, and at other critical times in the year, to see if the technology reduced time and labour costs normally associated with these tasks.
Read more:
- Boort BestWool/BestLamb: Using drones on-farm to monitor sheep welfare 2022 (PDF - 366.7 KB)
- Boort BestWool/BestLamb: Using drones on-farm to monitor sheep welfare 2022 (WORD - 423.0 KB)
Western Plains BestWool/BestLamb group
Final year of Producer Demonstration Site shows management can influence lamb survival
March 2022 edition
The Western Plains BestWool/BestLamb (BWBL) group have recently finished a three-year on-farm Producer Demonstration Site in south west Victoria which looked at factors impacting lamb survival. The project looked at ewe condition and feed on offer throughout pregnancy, as well as mob size and shelter at lambing, and how each of these factors influenced lamb survival rates and was funded by Agriculture Victoria and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
To view their findings, read the Group Profile below.
- BestWool/BestLamb - Final year of Producer Demonstration Site shows management can influence lamb survival (PDF - 615.4 KB)
- BestWool/BestLamb - Final year of Producer Demonstration Site shows management can influence lamb survival (WORD - 385.9 KB)
2021 editions
Boorhaman BestWool/BestLamb group
Prime lamb production systems
June 2021 edition
In this month's profile, we look at the Boorhaman BestWool/BestLamb group's three-day tour visiting multiple south west Victorian sheep producers. The group were eager to compare how producers measure success, what their key performance indicators are and what are the factors that drive profit in their businesses. With the focus on lamb finishing systems, pasture and grazing management, including stocking rates and lamb growth rates.
Read more:
- BestWool/BestLamb – Prime lamb production systems (PDF - 560.5 KB)
- BestWool/BestLamb – Prime lamb production systems (WORD - 1.7 MB)
St Arnaud BestWool/BestLamb group
To wean or not to wean prime lambs
May 2021 edition
In this month’s profile, we revisit the St Arnaud BestWool/BestLamb group to get an update on their MLA producer demonstration site 'To wean or not to wean'. Two years into the demonstration, what is the data collected showing about the production benefits of weaning lambs at 12 weeks of age.
- BestWool/Best Lamb – To wean or not to wean prime lambs (PDF - 469.2 KB)
- BestWool/Best Lamb – To wean or not to wean prime lambs (WORD - 409.5 KB)
Apsley, Balmoral and Fiery Creek BestWool/BestLamb groups
This hat fits every farmer
In this profile, we focus on the importance of health and mental wellbeing in all farming businesses. Learn more about The National Centre for Farmer Health's new Farmer HAT tool, the involvement of the Apsley, Balmoral and Fiery Creek BestWool/BestLamb (BWBL) groups in the pilot program and how other BWBL groups can participate in this program.
April 2021 edition
- BestWool/BestLamb – This hat fits every farmer (PDF - 375.9 KB)
- BestWool/BestLamb – This hat fits every farmer (WORD - 495.6 KB)
Western Plains BestWool/BestLamb group
Lamb survival management strategies
February 2021 edition
In this month’s group profile, we revisit the Western Plains BestWool/BestLamb Group to learn about the results of the second year of their three year on-farm demonstration site, which is focused on management strategies for improving lamb survival.