Project snapshot: 

‘Less predators, more lambs’ producer demonstration site

Showcasing Meat and Livestock Australia’s “Less predators, more lambs” producer demonstration site in Mansfield, Victoria:

Mansfield, located in Northeast Victoria’s Goulburn Broken Catchment, is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian Alps. Surrounded by diverse landscapes supporting both farming and natural habitats, this region’s distinct character lends itself well to the demonstration of integrated predator management. From 2021 to 2024 Mansfield was home to a Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) funded Producer Demonstration Site – the “Less Predators, More Lambs” project. The project focused on improving lamb survival rates through effective combined predator control measures and was led by Dr Matt Mahoney of Agridome Consultancy with support from core project partners including Greg Mifsud, National Wild Dog Management Coordinator at CISS, and Lucy-Anne Cobby, Community Wild Dog Control Coordinator at Australian Wool Innovation. This initiative highlights the area’s commitment to integrating sustainable farming practices with environmental conservation, and the need to manage total predation pressure to enhance agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.

Foxes are known to have significant impacts on sheep farmers through both direct predation and indirect effects such as mismothering. Directly, foxes attack and kill lambs, leading to immediate losses of livestock. Research has indicated that foxes can kill an average of 7% of lambs per year but can be as high as 30%. When wild dogs are present alongside foxes, the combined impacts can be even higher. Foxes typically prey on newborn lambs, while wild dogs will take lambs or older and larger animals. At Mansfield, post-mortems of a sample of dead lambs confirmed 18% had been killed by primary predation. Indirectly, the presence and activity of these predators can cause stress and panic among sheep flocks, often resulting in cases of mismothering where ewes abandon or fail to properly care for their lambs. This can lead to increased lamb mortality due to exposure, starvation, and other vulnerabilities. These impacts combined contribute to substantial emotional stress and economic losses for sheep farmers in the region as well as biodiversity losses on their farms and surrounding areas.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s Less Predators More Lambs Producer Demonstration Site demonstrated how combined predator control and livestock management practices can lead to increased lamb survival rates. Photo: iStock

To address these challenges, the “Less Predators, More Lambs” project was initiated with the goal of reducing the combined predation pressure of foxes and wild dogs on lamb survival rates in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. Beginning in 2021, the project engaged eight core producers who served as demonstrators, each implementing a range of predator management activities on their properties. These activities were tailored to the specific needs and conditions of each farm and were developed with guidance from project leaders Matt, Greg, Lucy-Anne, and other partners.

Each core property in the demonstration site received assistance in developing and implementing a property-specific Predator Control Management Program (PCMP). These programs were designed to mitigate predator impacts and improve lamb survival, with a broader aim of influencing the wider community by showcasing the benefits of coordinated predator control practices. Each program was tailored to the specific needs and conditions of each property. The PCMPs used a combination of baiting and shooting, along with the use of motion activated fox lights to deter predators. 

Producer workshops were also fundamental to the project’s success. Training and accreditation in 1080 baiting was provided, along with proven techniques for laying baits, setting Canid Pest Ejectors, and setting traps. Along with information on control tools, participants received comprehensive guidance on best management practices for their ewe flocks, including approaches to ewe management such as reproductive health assessments and optimal nutrition strategies. 

As a part of the project, the FeralScan App was used to monitor predator activity. This app allowed farmers to log incidents of livestock attacks and coordinate PCMP control measures effectively. The FeralScan app was set up to notify the group as well as the local wild dog management controller of any sightings or attacks allowing for an immediate response. 

The FeralScan App was an invaluable monitoring tool at the Producer Demonstration Site, allowing rapid coordination of responses to any predation that occurred. Image: FeralScan.

To further refine predator control strategies, lambs found dead were subjected to post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of death, whether due to predation, mismothering, or other factors. This information was crucial in fine-tuning the predator control strategies. Overall, the training emphasised the importance of integrating multiple predator control methods with good livestock care and farm management. 

The results of the project were substantial, demonstrating that the combined practices led to the notable increase of 3% in lamb survival rates. This equated to potentially an extra $42,000 income (280 lambs at $150/head) over the participating farms. This improvement translated to an average economic benefit of $3.87 per hectare, with the potential to add between $1,800,000 and $4,500,000 annually to the region’s economy if these practices were widely adopted. The project clearly showed that effective predator control, when combined with comprehensive ewe management practices, could substantially enhance both lamb survival and farm profitability. Producers involved in the project reported significant reductions in predator impact, which not only resulted in fewer dead lambs and sheep in their paddocks but also contributed to improved mental health for those managing the farms. The ability to control the problem effectively provided a sense of relief and empowerment among the farming community.

The project’s findings underscore the economic and environmental benefits of managing total predation pressure using multiple techniques, good planning practices, and a community working together. The data collected contributed to a cost-benefit analysis that supports the adoption of this model for future programs across the industry and even into other sectors.

Training and accreditation in 1080 baiting and tools like this CPE and others helped farmers achieve success in reducing predation impacts on their lambs. Photo: James Speed.

The “Less Predators, More Lambs” project addressed the broader community’s needs by involving local producers and fostering a collaborative approach to predator management. Workshops and seminars provided a platform for knowledge sharing, enhancing the skills and confidence of all participants. This was crucial for sustaining the project’s impact, ensuring that best practices are adopted and maintained over the long term. The project’s integration of modern technology like the FeralScan App showcases the potential of digital tools in agricultural practices, enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response to predator threats.

Predation impacts on wildlife and livestock often come from multiple predators, including foxes, wild dogs, feral cats, and feral pigs. As demonstrated by the “Less Predators, More Lambs” project, managing as many of these predators as possible can significantly reduce the overall predation pressure in an area. Since the tools and techniques for controlling foxes and wild dogs are similar, both predators can often be managed with minimal extra effort. In many farming areas, wild dogs are the primary focus of predator management. However, when wild dog control programs are implemented in areas where foxes are also present, these programs can simultaneously reduce the impact of foxes. Many management programs target both foxes and wild dogs, and some even aim to reduce total predation pressure by including feral pigs and feral cats in their efforts. These programs provide greater benefit to the system than programs where only one predator is targeted.

Information on this page was obtained from MLA, the National Wild Dog Action Plan and CISS [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

This project snapshot initially appeared in the October 2024 issue of the National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordination Program Newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here or fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

Banner photo: iStock.

Other Resources

Click here to find out more about FeralScan a free community-designed website and smartphone app that allows you to record observations and evidence of introduced pest animals (such as foxes and feral cats), the damage they cause (including predation of native wildlife or lambs), and control actions in your local area (such as baiting, trapping and shooting).

The PestSmart Toolkits provide further information about how to plan, manage and improve your feral cat or fox management program.

The CISS Glovebox Guides, Planning Guides and Field Guides are useful pdf or printed booklets for managing pest animals like feral cats and foxes, developing a simple feral cat or fox management plan or undertaking a best practice baiting program.