Ovastim & Lamb Survival Trial

This five-year trial is investigating how Ovastim, a polyandroalbumin-based injection, influences scanning and lamb marking rates compared with an untreated control group of ewes. The trial involves 70 first-cross and composite ewes in both the treatment and control groups, and is now in its third year. This trial is over 5 years to determine if there are any detrimental effects of using Ovastim over multiple years.

What is Ovastim?

Ovastim is a simple and economical injection designed to increase lamb production. It contains polyandroalbumin and is recommended as a practical tool to enhance reproductive performance in sheep enterprises.

What Does It Do?

• Increases Ovulation Rate → More Lambs
  Ovastim can lift ovulation rates from 18% to 45%, with ovulation being the key driver of lamb numbers.
• Boosts Fecundity of the Flock
  By increasing the number of eggs per ovulation cycle, Ovastim improves the likelihood of twins and overall lambing percentages.

Costs

💰 $2.50 per injection

• Year 1: Two injections required per animal
• Following Years: One injection per animal

Results So Far

Lambing percentage rates (% pregnancy scanning and live lambs at marking):

Why It Matters

By improving both ovulation and fecundity, Ovastim offers sheep producers a pathway to higher lamb survival rates, better flock performance, and increased farm profitability. This trial will continue to generate data over the next three years, providing producers with robust, real-world results to inform their management decisions.