Utilising eID data to increase profit

What do I need to collect data using eID?

Data collection using eID requires a device to read the eID tag and a device to input the data. There are some handheld devices which can achieve both of these functions. However, if your handheld reader doesn’t let you enter data directly into the device or if you are using a panel reader, then you will also need a device, such as an indicator or laptop, to capture the data.

You will also need software to manage the data, such as Excel. Alternatively, you can utilise a service provider for data management. Some additional equipment that you may require, depending on your objectives, are a barcode printer, barcode scanner and scales for weighing fleeces.

Agriculture Victoria and AWI Extension SA have some useful information about eID equipment and software that can help you identify what may suit your needs and budget (links to the resources are at the end of this article).

We also recommend that you visit suppliers or a neighbour, or ask the supplier to take you to a client of theirs that is already using the gear, to test out different equipment and see what works for you. You don’t need to buy expensive equipment at the outset; service providers can be utilised while you find your feet and work out if you’d like to invest in your own equipment. Perhaps you have neighbours or friends who may be interested in co-purchasing equipment that can be shared to reduce costs?

What data should I record?

There is no point collecting data if you don’t have a use for it. Therefore, consider:

• The goals of your enterprise and where you want to be in 5-10 years
• Your breeding objective and which traits are profit drivers
• What data can help you to improve your management and save time and labour
• Which data is easy for you to record that can help reach your objectives and choose profitable sheep.

Using eID doesn’t need to create extra work. Be opportunistic and base your recording around your management. Collect the data you need when your sheep are already in the yards, such as during pregnancy scanning, lamb marking or shearing.

If you are new to eID, you may like to start recording data on a small scale, such as recording a few traits on your maidens or latest drop of lambs to familiarise yourself with the equipment and the processes involved with data collection.

Valuable data that can be recorded include:

• Pregnancy scanning results
• Lamb birth type
• Dam age
• Wet & dry udder assessment of ewes at marking
• Fleece weight and micron
• Weight and condition score.

Some pregnancy scanning contractors can record pregnancy scanning data against the ewe’s eID for you, so check with your scanner when booking.

Once you’ve determined what data is of value to your enterprise, make sure to include when and what data needs to be collected in your annual management plan.

An eID auto drafter scans the sheep eID and automatically drafts out the sheep according to the data on the individual animal. PHOTO: Shearwell Data

Examples of utilising data collected via eID to increase productivity and profit

Use fleece weight and micron data to make informed selection decisions

Fleece weights of individual sheep, along with their wool test results (such as micron), can be used with other production data to rank animals and identify both superior and poor performers. You can also use wool data to monitor progress towards your target fleece weight and wool quality, and to assist with ram purchasing decisions to reach these goals.

How does fleece weighing work? The ideal setup for fleece weighing includes a handheld reader, barcode printer, barcode scanner and fleece scales connected to an indicator. The handheld reader is connected to the barcode printer via Bluetooth. The sheep’s eID tag is scanned and a barcode is printed. This barcode then stays with the sheep whilst it is shorn. The fleece and barcode are then brought to the fleece scales, the barcode is scanned into the indicator and the fleece weight is recorded against the eID.

A barcode printer is also handy for wool testing so that a barcode can be placed in the bag with the wool sample, which is then used by the wool testing facility to record the wool test results against the sheep’s eID.

Increase selection pressure by identifying superior ewes and culling passengers

Identifying ewes with superior performance to retain, and those with poor performance to cull, will increase reproductive efficiency and selection pressure within a flock. Pregnancy scanning, lamb marking and weaning are key times to make use of eID and record data for individual ewes that can be used to identify the performers and passengers.

Culling ewes that are scanned empty or fail to rear lambs (identified by wet & drying udder assessment at marking) in two consecutive years can be used as a strategy to increase the reproductive performance of your flock, largely by reducing the number of ewes scanned empty.

Similarly, you can identify ewes that repeatedly rear lambs to weaning and retain these superior ewes in your flock. If you match lambs to their dams, you could take this to the next level by determining the number of lambs and kilograms of lamb weaned per ewe. This data can then be used to rank ewes to assist with selection decisions.

Use lamb birth type and dam age data to class single- and twin-born lambs from maiden and adult ewes separately

Twin-born lambs may have phenotypic disadvantages compared to single-born lambs. Data from the Merino Lifetime Productivity site at Pingelly showed that a higher proportion of twins are culled compared with singles when they are classed together, which may compromise genetic gain for several traits. Lambs born to maiden ewes may also be disadvantaged compared to those born to adult ewes.

Provided you have pregnancy scanned for multiples and have lambed and marked singles and twins (and triplets) separately, you can simply record lamb birth type against the lamb’s eID on the marking cradle. If you have lambed your maidens separately from your adult ewes, or lambed in age groups, you can also record dam age on the marking cradle. This data can then be used at classing to ensure you are not making biased selection decisions.

Assess the responsiveness of your flock to condition score at joining using ewe CS and pregnancy scan data

Improving ewe nutrition for joining increases the number of lambs conceived on average, however the response is variable. The LifetimeWool project showed that some ewe flocks are responsive to improving condition score at joining (+30 lambs per condition score) whilst others are less responsive (+10 lambs per condition score). This was shown to affect the profitability of ewe management options approaching joining by $1 to $3 per ewe, depending on the value of extra lambs.

You can collect data for condition scores at joining and pregnancy scanning to determine the responsiveness of your flock – a link to the instructions is at the end of the article. Knowing your flock's response is important when deciding about feeding ewes leading up to joining.

Manage animals based on weight or condition score and weight gain

Monitoring the weight and/or condition score (CS) of sheep within your flock is essential for making informed management decisions that maximise productivity. Condition score is recommended for managing adult stock and liveweight for lambs and weaners. Benefits of monitoring CS or weight include:

• Optimising paddock allocation and supplementary feeding to achieve condition score targets for ewes at joining and lambing, and to optimise the recovery of ewes after weaning
• Ensuring rams are in optimal condition for joining
• Ensuring weaners are achieving their target weaning weight and target growth rates for optimal productivity and survival
• Helping to meet market specifications by the target sale date.

Monitoring ewe condition score has advantages over liveweight during pregnancy and the dry period, due to the developing fetus and variation in gut fill. A random subsample of at least 50 sheep from the mob allows you to calculate an average condition score for the mob. You can then adjust paddock allocation and/or supplementary feeding as required to meet the condition score targets for each class of sheep.

More Information:

• Agriculture Victoria: Choosing an eID tag reader and software: www.awiextensionvic.com/eidreadersoftware
• AWI Extension SA: eID equipment, fact sheet: www.awiextensionsa.com/eidfactsheet
• LifetimeWool: Reproductive rate of your flock, worksheet: www.wool.com/reproratewkst
• Find out more about the state-based AWI Extension Networks at www.wool.com/networks 

This article appeared in the December 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.