Triplet lamb survival rates could be boosted thanks to new study

Some people say three’s a crowd, but not researchers who are looking to increase the survival rate of triplet lambs. And a Yarra Valley farmer who is participating in the study has welcomed the project.

David de Pury and his son Finn with some of the lamb triplets at Yeringberg in Coldstream. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The survival rates of female sheep and their triplet lambs could be boosted thanks to a new study being conducted across Australia, including the Yarra Valley.

The project could have a big impact on the lamb industry at a time of higher prices and a supply shortage.

Mackinnon Project veterinary consultant Dr Elsa Glanville said the Melbourne University project ‘Unlocking the key to ewe survival’ was an in-depth study of ewe mortality around lambing time.

The studies are looking at how to improve survival rates of lamb triplets. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“This is an internationally recognised conundrum that when we have ewes lambing, the same as anything giving birth, there’s risk involved in that process,” she said.

“Our objective as clinical veterinarians and researchers is to try and understand what the major causes of those losses are in order to devise strategies to minimise that loss and optimise animal welfare so we are continually striving to improve the life of our ewes.”

Dr Glanville said it was impossible to estimate the current rate of deaths because there was simply not enough data and “so much variation between properties” and different breeds of sheep.

One of 40 farmers across Australia taking part in the project is Dr David de Pury, who manages the 670 ha Coldstream property Yeringberg, which his family has been farming since 1863.

The lamb triplets have been split into seven different mobs. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Triplet-bearing ewes have been divided into seven different mobs and monitored. It is hoped to find out which factors are more important to their survival, including better shelter, different feed or smaller groups.

“We have sheep that die and you always wonder ‘Am I doing something wrong?’, so (it is reassuring) to have a detailed in-depth analysis of why they die,” he said.

“There is no one factor … that’s glaringly obvious.”

Dr de Pury said with milder weather this year there had been “really good” lamb and ewe survival — although it was usually a precursor to a drought.

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He hoped the studies would reveal what could be done to improve the survival of lambs and ewes.

“Nobody likes to have animals dying, so we are always looking for ways to keep them as healthy as possible,” he said.

“That way there are more to sell at the end and it also keeps consumers happy that we’re doing the right thing by the sheep.”

The farm is also taking part in Agriculture Victoria’s ‘Mums with multiples’ study, which is monitoring lamb and ewe survival on many farms across the state.