“Knowing the Growth Efficiency Potential in the Lamb Crop ”

1. “Knowing the Growth Efficiency Potential in the Lamb Crop ” Dr. Jeff Held South Dakota State University

6. Flock Management Goals High ewe reproductive efficiency genetics, nutrition and health Lower unit cost of production reduce feed cost – ewe flock feed efficiency (F/G) and cost of gain – lamb performance Lower labor requirement facilities and feeding management more mechanical applications Risk/marketing management enter marketing agreements utilize wool LDP and LRP-Lamb

7. Lamb Feed Efficiency and Cost of Gain • Growth performance (ADG) • Optimum economic finished weight (YG2/3)

8. Growth Performance (ADG) • Genetics / Frame size • Growth trait selection • Crossbreeding (hybrid vigor) • Sex of animal – R>W>E • Age • Health status

9. AVERAGE DAILY GAIN Large Frame Daily Gain (lb) Small Frame Live Weight (lb)

10. Ave Wt = 91 lb Sire and Dam were a Wool Breed No Crossbreeding

11. Ave Wt = 99 lb -Terminal Breed Sired -Heterosis (6%)

12. Heritability of Selected Traits

13. How do you select the the best terminal sire?

14. Terminal SireFarm Flock Performance InformationIndividual Sire Performance - Hampshire *Pipestone LW Sire Evaluation

15. Terminal SireFarm Performance InformationHampshire Sired Progeny Performance *Pipestone LW Sire Evaluation

16. Lamb Feed Efficiency (F:G)

17. Cost of Gain (CG) Expression 1 = cents/pound of gain Expression 2 = (feed cost(cents/lb)) * (daily feed intake, lb) average daily gain (ADG), lb Expression 3 = feed cost(cents/lb) * feed efficiency (F:G) *CG=Economic Expression For Feed Efficiency

18. Key Variables in Cost of Gain • Feed Costs • Price ingredients on nutrient basis (E, CP) • For every 1% CP + $10-15 per ton • Nutritionally sound and palatable • Feed Efficiency (F:G) • Ad lib feed intake at 4% of body weight • Growth performance (ADG) **CG equally affected by $15/ton = 0.1 ADG

20. Standard - Corn and Protein Pellet

21. Mixed Ingredient Finishing Diet

22. Mixed Lamb Finishing Diet - DDGS

23. Mixed Diet with DDGS

24. High Forage Lamb Diet

25. Whole Corn MDGS Liquid Supplement

27. Relationship of Cost of Gain and Optimum Finished Weight

28. USDA Lamb Yield Grades Yield Grade % Cutability Adj. Fat Depth 1 51.0 0.00-0.15 2 49.7 0.16-0.25 3 48.4 0.26-0.35 4 47.1 0.36-0.45 5 45.8 over 0.45

29. USDA YG 2

30. USDA YG 4

31. Predicting Optimum Economic Lamb Finished Weight • Following graph illustrates the relationship of dam weights on predicting lamb finished weight at constant lamb carcass merit. USDA Yield grade 1 (0.15 in. adj. fat depth) • Average mature weight of the dams for both the ewe and sire breed multiplied by 64 %. (mature body size) For example: Suffolk = 210 lb Hampshires = 190 lb Suffolk-Hamp cross lambs would have a predicted finished weight: ((210+190)/2) x 0.64 = 128 lb **For every 10 lb increase = 0.1 in. more fat depth

38. LAMB PROFIT POTENTIAL YG 2/3 Cost of Gain/Value per lb Small frame Large frame Frame size Live Weight (lb)

39. YG 2/3 YG 2/3 Profit Large Frame Feed Cost

40. LAMB PROFIT POTENTIAL YG 1-2 YG 2-3 Cost of Gain/Value per lb Large Frame Live Weight Live Price

41. Key Points:Lamb Profit Potential • Optimum profit – when live price and cost of gain are equal!! • Profit – CG less than live price • Loss – CG greater than live price • ADG less than 0.6 lb/day

42. Lamb Profit Summary • Degree of finish (YG) is an indicator for optimum economic finished weight • 0.25-.30 in. fat depth (YG 2/3) • Frame-size is the most significant factor to determine the optimum finished weight • Impact on average daily gain • cost of gain

43. Overall Summary • Feed efficiency (F:G) is the profit generator. • Growth performance (ADG) is the key variable in F:G. • Select superior growth genetics. • Utilize hybrid vigor for growth performance. • Recognize the relationship between growth efficiency, cost of gain and carcass merit. -”Lamb Profit Potential” • Lambs are not created equal!!!

44. Questions???????