PRIME lamb producers are being urged to individually identify lambs, ewes and rams.
The Department of Primary Industries says individual animal identification using ear tags more accurately records, monitors and evaluates lamb performance.
DPI lamb specialist Peter Bailey said there were benefits of knowing the breeding of the top or bottom-performing 20 per cent of lambs finished for slaughter.
"Those rams and ewes producing the bottom-performing lambs can be culled from the breeding flock," Mr Bailey said.
"If you single sire mate or mob mate by the same genetic sire base, then you can quickly identify what rams are performing best on your farm to produce the best lambs.
Individual animal identification could identify which lambs finished early, grew faster and were more feed efficient.
"Selection or culling decisions in a self-replacing flock can be more efficient by integrating information on individual ewe hoggets, ewes or rams including using data on scanning, lamb marking, weaning, survival days to sale and carcass data," Mr Bailey said.
"This can take performance recording for commercial producers to a whole new level to achieve improved productivity and greater profit."
Lamb lean meat yield could vary by 10-12 per cent in individual carcasses from the same genetics, he said.
"If this can be identified on an IAI basis, management and genetic changes can be made to maximise the benefits of this difference in yield.
"IAI provides information and feedback to potentially improve genetic gain by up to 1 per cent (annually and cumulatively)."
Mr Bailey said new technologies were affordable but the full benefits were yet to be realised.
"What we do know is that integration of information from consumers to producers will be a key driver to improving sheep industry productivity and profitability.
"I am keen to work with producers who are interested in participating in IAI projects to achieve these potential productivity gains."
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