CURRENT drought conditions across most of Australia places great pressure on livestock industries.  Around Australia the biggest concern is to get breeding stock through in reasonable condition and to avoid erosion in the process.

Drought situations require careful planning of quite complex business and family decisions. Decisions that enable quick, full recovery after the drought, rather than for short-term cash flow, are best.

Producers on Upper Eyre Peninsula have had their share of poor years and are probably better prepared than people in high rainfall area. On Eyre Peninsula we also have a good supply of grain, hay and straw – although it is expensive. Failed crops are also a valuable source of feed.

This represents an opportunity for our producers to carry as many stock through as possible – even if they are sold after the drought. This may be the time for producers to increase their stock numbers if they have decided to reduce their cropping intensity.

Steps to take over the summer

• Condition score your stock, and maintain them in at least condition score 2. Preferably separate them into good and poor mobs.
• Assess the paddocks and establish when the paddock feed is likely to run out. Allow 1.5 kilograms of dry feed per DSE each day. Leave enough ground cover to protect the soil.
• Work out how much hand feeding each mob will require.
• Total the mob requirements up to work out how much fodder you will have to buy. Consider the impact, and probability, of an early, average and late break.
• Review your stock water requirements. Allow for 4 l a day for ewes and 60 a day for beef cattle.
• Assess your financial situation, including expected peak debt.
• Talk with your financial institutions, farm advisors and stock agents.
• Maintain healthy animals and monitor them continually.
• Look after the health and well-being of your family (including children) by including them in decision making and taking time off to spend with them. Talk to and share your problems with a mate.

The Grain and Graze project can help producer groups work through the issues involved.  Contact Minnipa Agricultural Centre on 8680 6223, Brian Ashton on 8688 3403, or your local PIRSA office at Streaky Bay, phone 8626 1108.