In December we ran a series of six workshops for livestock producers coping with drought conditions. These “Stockwise” workshops were initiated and funded by AWI, MLA and the PIRSA Drought Response Project.

The workshops were well attended and people said that they got a lot out of them. There was some very good discussion. We finished with a BBQ and a few drinks, so it was also enjoyable.

A key issue that was brought up was how to keep cover on paddocks to reduce the risk of severe wind erosion. People really don’t want to see severe erosion like we had in previous drought such as 1982. However, unfortunately some paddocks are already bare and eroding. These paddocks have four, or five, months to go before they can expect pasture growth. A lot of damage can occur in that time.

It was also evident at the workshops that people don’t want to be forced to sell their breeding stock. With the prices of feed, especially grain, so high this is a real dilemma for producers.

At the meetings we discussed ways to get more out of paddock feed without losing too much ground cover. Dividing paddocks, or fencing off sand hills, with temporary fencing may be possible. Water supply could often be improved to utilise feed in all areas of the paddock. Mobile watering points are one option. Troughs do not have to be long but they need a flow rate into the trough of about 1 litre a second.

Spreading lupins in areas of the paddock with good cover is an option. It may keep the sheep away from vulnerable areas. Educate the sheep to lupins first and then start to broadcast them. You can start with as little as 700 grams a sheep a week, spread once a week. Increase it to one kg a week if necessary – as long as there is sufficient ground cover.

At the current price of lupins people may say it’s too expensive to feed sheep. However, work it out. A skinny sheep (below condition score two) is a liability and the sheep will reward you for keeping them in better condition. One kg of lupins a week for 20 weeks may cost $10 a sheep but could add $20 to the value of a young sheep. A ewe in reasonable condition can rear a lamb and have a good fleece of wool, easily covering the $10 investment.

On the other hand it is not economic to keep sheep in very good condition - above condition score three. It is best to let them slowly lose condition and this will save you feed and money. Condition score your stock regularly and draft them into “good” and “poor” mobs to get this balancing act right.

Having the sheep in the paddock for short periods is better than for long periods. Bigger mobs will make this easier but may not work if the soil is too powdery or if the water supply is not good enough. Try it, but watch to see how it goes.

If paddocks are becoming bare, remove the sheep early and containment feed them. At present grain and hay prices it will cost about $1.40 a sheep a week. While this is expensive, it is better than seeing your farm turn into a dust bowl.

Make plans and in necessary lock the sheep up early. They can always be released if we get rain. Sheep can also be released onto a saved paddock just before lambing. Some paddocks are so vulnerable that it would be best not to graze them at all until near to the break.

Hay may be cheaper than grain per unit of energy this year. However, pure hay rations take slightly more energy for the stock to maintain condition. A suggested ration is about 50:50 hay:grain – depending on the relative prices.

Agistment may be a good option this year – it may cost less that $1.40 a sheep a week even with transport and inspection costs included. If full time croppers are concerned about bringing weed seeds onto their farm in agisted sheep, containment feed them for two weeks on hay only. This way their stomachs will empty out of weed seeds. This should assure the farmer agisting the sheep that the weed seed risk is low.

Feed test fodder and pasture for energy and protein levels. Last year all feed tested (including pasture and stubble) was very high value. It may be the same this year.
 
Finishing lambs on grain will only be economic if there is a big difference in price between unfinished and finished lambs. It takes about 60 kg of feed to put 10 kg live weight onto a lamb in a feedlot.

Supplementing with lupins in good stubble may be cheaper (if there is no erosion risk).

Good luck and let’s hope the coming year is a bumper with similar grain prices.

AUTHOR: Brian Ashton, Livestock Consultant, Rural Solutions SA

CONTACT: Brian Ashton, Rural Solutions SA Pt Lincoln Office, Telephone: 08 8688 3403 Mobile: 0427 201 958, Email: ashton.brian@saugov.sa.gov.au