Precision sheep management: from potential to practical adoption
The Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) conference was held in Brisbane in mid-October, bringing together agricultural extension professionals to explore innovation and impact in practice.
With the theme Tech + Extension- A Powerful Partnership for Change, the SA Drought Hub’s Livestock Technical Specialist, Dr Penny Schulz, was well placed to present on precision sheep management (PSM).
Dr Schulz’s key message was that precision sheep management strategies require a clear business case and implementation plan to support adoption.
This long-term project is a collaboration between research organisations, commercial innovators, and producers, designed to accelerate the adoption of precision management strategies across the Australian sheep industry, and that any solutions delivered are practical, profitable, and producer-led.
“We’re now one year into this five-year project and about to establish 30 demonstration sites and 24 research and development sites on commercial sheep operations across the country,” Penny said. “We’re also forming new learning groups, new learning modules, and a dedicated online platform – which is super exciting!”.
Before commencing this work, the project team conducted a national survey that received 477 responses from producers managing flocks of 100 or more sheep. The aim was to build a clear understanding of current practices and opportunities in the precision sheep management space.
“This dataset provides one of the largest, most up-to-date insights into how precision management is currently being applied in Australian sheep production systems,” Penny said.
From the survey findings, the most widely used tools were electronic identification (eID) tags, weigh scales, and auto-drafters. Data management software was moderately used, while automated systems (other than drafting), remote sensing, and pedigree recording showed limited adoption.
“Producers tend to invest in foundational technologies – those that make handling and management more efficient,” Penny explained. “More specialised or data-heavy tools remain in the early adoption phase, often due to unclear returns on investment and the time required to manage them”.
She also emphasised that the next step for extension professionals is to help bridge the gap between potential and practice.
“In some areas, we still lack strong evidence about the potential and actual benefits these technologies can deliver, and that’s something this project will help validate,” she said. “Producers don’t just want to know how to use a tool- they want to know why it matters, how it fits into their business model, and what’s in it for them. That means helping them calculate and experience real returns, not just adopt tech for tech’s sake”.
The key takeaways from the presentation highlighted that adoption is highest for practices that deliver immediate, tangible benefits to producers. However, complexity and data load can limit uptake, and time and labour constraints remain challenges. Penny also emphasised that effective extension must clearly link precision sheep management to enterprise goals and profitability to ensure long-term adoption and impact.
A new online platform, Precision Sheep HQ, will launch within the coming months. It will feature a range of practical resources, including case studies, how-to videos, and a detailed report on the national precision sheep management survey.
To learn more about the project, contact Dr Penny Schulz at penny.schulz@adelaide.edu.au or 0417 853 094.
Read a full summary of the SA Drought Hub’s contributions to the 2025 APEN Conference here.
