Stress on a merino sheep can be measured between shearing events as can the quality of the wool (micron). Therefore, a direct financial relationship can be draw between the stress on an animal and its output, measuring this relationship will be able to quantify the benefit of raising sheep in a low (or high) stress environment. Environments vary between farmers due to a number of factors that can be used to determine if the environment is stressful or not for the animal.
The study will be a mix of qualitative and quantitative. With qualative and quantative data being collected originally then applying understood measurements of stress within merino sheep.
The steps taken to collect the data on what will be studied is as follows;
•Short questionaries filled in by farmer to see what practices they meet of the industry standards (questionnaire below)
•Wool samples from each farm, collected at the annual shearing event, analysed using a commercially available cortisol enzyme-immunoassay in order to determine the concentration of cortisol in each of the samples. Cortisol to be measured by every 10mm of wool. This step will be completed at the University of Queensland.
15 samples are to be collected for the three given aged groups from each farm (45 samples p/farm);
1-Year old Ewe (Hogget)
2-Year-old Ewe
3-Year-old Ewe
I will likely be able to obtain 3-4 farms to provide samples
Wool samples to be measured for micron as well, which will play a key part in measuring the price of wool as per the Melbourne Sale Yard prices
The below questions have been formulated based off the Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework which provides a guide on best practices that contribute to animal welfare in the sheep industry. The questions are;
•Mulesing;
o Use of Pain Management (Yes / No)
o % of livestock mulesed
•% of flock that used pain relief at castration and tail docking
•Pregnancy Scanning (Yes / No)
•Vaccines Used
•DSE Stocking Rate
•Months on supplemented grain diet
•Number of yarding events per year
Locations that will have tested sheep;
•Marradong, Grass Valley, Wandering, Hastings, Broomehill – all locations are in Western Australia.
Collection of this data will occur over a 3-6 months period as available producers have shearing events spread out over different months of the year. Access to the producers has been obtained through personal connections of the student.