Evaluation of a remote drafting system for regulating sheep access to supplement

Abstract

Abstract. Remote drafting technology now available for sheep makes possible targeted supplementation of individuals within a grazing flock. This system was evaluated by using 68 Merino wethers grazing dry-season, native Mitchell grass pasture (predominantly Astrebla spp.) as a group and receiving access to lupin grain through a remote drafter 0, 1, 2, 4 or 7 days/week for 8 weeks. The sole paddock watering point was separately fenced and access was via a one-way flow gate. Sheep exited the watering point through a remote drafter operated by solar power and were drafted by radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, according to treatment, either back into the paddock or into a common supplement yard where lupins were provided ad libitum in a self-feeder. Sheep were drafted into the supplement yard on only their first time through the drafter during the prescribed 24-h period and exited the supplement yard via one-way flow gates in their own time. The remote drafter operated with a high accuracy, with only 2.1% incorrect drafts recorded during the experimental period out of a total of 7027 sheep passes through the remote drafter. The actual number of accesses to supplement for each treatment group, in order, were generally less than that intended, i.e. 0.02, 0.69, 1.98, 3.35 and 6.04 days/week. Deviations from the intended number of accesses to supplement were mainly due to sheep not coming through to water on their allocated day of treatment access, although some instances were due to incorrect drafts. There was a non-linear response in growth rate to increased frequency of access to lupins with the growth rate response plateauing at~3 actual accesses per week, corresponding to a growth rate of 72.5 g/head.day. This experiment has demonstrated the application of the remote drafting supplementation system for the first time under grazing conditions and with the drafter operated completely from solar power. The experiment demonstrates a growth response to increasing frequency of access to supplement and provides a starting point with which to begin to develop feeding strategies to achieve sheep weight-change targets.

ASAS–NANP Symposium: Mathematical Modeling in Animal Nutrition: Opportunities and challenges of confined and extensive precision livestock production

“…Additionally, precision feeding had an estimated gross margin of AU$6,000 and improved the reproductive success of a flock ( Jordan et al, 2006 ). Bowen et al (2009) evaluated the accuracy of a remote, solar-powered drafting system to supplement grazing Merino wethers. Treatment groups were allowed access to ad libitum lupin grain 1, 2, 4, or 7 d a week through an automated drafting gate at the water source.…”

“…Based on their radio frequency identification tag and assigned treatment group, the remote drafter allowed access to supplement or sorted the sheep back to pasture. Sheep were accurately given access to the supplement yard through the automated gate with only 2.1% of incorrect drafts into the self-feeder ( Bowen et al, 2009 ; Brown-Brandl et al, 2019 ).…”

Lost in translation—the use of remote and on-animal sensing for extensive livestock systems

“…High-value quantitative information will enable a step change in the precision management of pastures and grazing sheep and cattle ( Bailey et al, 2021 ). Opportunities for remote monitoring and management include pasture growth rates and feed on offer from satellite imagery ( Hill et al, 2004 ; Mata et al, 2004 ), walk over weighing ( Brown et al, 2014 ; González-García et al, 2018 ), virtual fencing ( Umstatter, 2011 ; Marini et al, 2018 ), remote drafting for supplement management ( Bowen et al, 2009 ), UAVs for tracking and control ( Yaxley et al, 2021 ), and the use of cameras or sensors for monitoring water points ( Bailey et al, 2021 ). Pasture monitoring provides an indicator of available feed in a constantly changing and complex mosaic of pasture phenologies.…”

Environmental sensor networks for vegetation, animal and soil sciences

“…As the identification of the animal is increasingly being linked to other data such as animal live-weight, management decisions can be made based on combined data on resource use and animal condition (Bowen et al, 2009). Management is often achievable through autonomous control.…”