Evidence-Based Management for the Modern Sheep Enterprise
Dan Roe – Shearwell Business Development Manager SA
As the Australian sheep industry evolves, the integration of technology into livestock production is no longer a novelty—it is a necessity. One of the most impactful innovations is Electronic Identification (EID). By enabling individual animal recording, EID transforms a traditionally mob-based management system into a precise, evidence-based operation. Research, case studies, and real-world outcomes are increasingly demonstrating how EID technology can lead to measurable economic and genetic gains across sheep enterprises.
The Science Behind the Tag
At its core, EID is about individual animal data. With each sheep assigned a unique electronic tag, producers can collect and analyse data on:
Growth rate (liveweight over time)
Reproductive performance
Health interventions and treatments
Carcass traits (linked via abattoir feedback)
Genetic merit (linked to ASBVs)
Studies have shown that producers who use EID to inform decisions can experience up to a 5–15 per cent increase in production efficiency, depending on the depth of implementation (MLA, 2020).
Real-World Application: Case Study
James Taylor, a commercial and stud Merino producer near Burra, South Australia, has integrated EID across his 2200-ewe operation since 2022. Initially starting with EID tags and a Shearwell stick reader to monitor weaning weights, James soon expanded to full reproductive tracking and liveweight-based drafting.
By using EID-informed selection, James reduced the replacement ewe age from 19 months to 16 months, with no loss in reproductive performance—a result aligned with findings from national reproduction benchmarks.
Additionally, the business saw a reduction in saleyard penalties by $3.80 per lamb through improved liveweight drafting precision, leading to an annual return of over $4,500 from drafting alone.
For a comprehensive overview, please refer to the full case study: makingmorefromsheep.com.au
Five Ways EID Directly Increases Profitability
1. Genetic Gain through objective selection
EID supports performance-based selection of rams and ewes by linking physical traits to Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs). When used with genomic tools, EID enhances accuracy and shortens the generation interval.
Impact: Faster genetic improvement and a more productive flock.
2. Optimised reproductive performance
By recording mothering ability, birth type, and lamb survival, producers can identify and retain high-performing maternal lines while eliminating chronic non-performers.
Impact: Improved lamb survival and kilograms of lamb weaned per hectare.
3. Improved animal health management
Recording health treatments via EID enables targeted intervention, resistance monitoring, and more efficient use of labour.
Impact: Reduced input costs, lower mortality, and better welfare outcomes.
4. Precision feeding and marketing
Liveweight tracking supports data-driven nutritional decisions and allows precision drafting for market specifications. Producers consistently report higher compliance and better sale prices.
Impact: Increased carcass value and reduced feed wastage.
5. Compliance and risk reduction
EID streamlines NLIS requirements, vendor declarations, and biosecurity records, ensuring traceability and reducing audit risk.
Impact: Less time on paperwork, more time in the paddock.
Getting Started: Practical Pathways
EID adoption doesn’t require full-system integration from day one. Most successful users begin with:
EID tagging at lamb marking
Weighing and recording at weaning
Basic software or spreadsheet tracking
Gradual inclusion of reproduction, treatment and drafting data
While EID systems were initially driven by compliance, the real value lies in their role as a strategic management tool. By turning individual animal data into action, producers are making decisions that reduce cost, improve yield, and increase profit.