Summer drought guide
December 2019
Feeding livestock - what do the dollars and tonnes look like?
Matthew Lieschke, Senior Agriculture Advisor
First, some tips when putting together a drought ration
- Energy is #1. Stock feeds are often marketed on a protein basis, but energy is actually the most important thing to look at first when formulating a ration. Concentrates such as cereal grains and pellets tend to provide best ‘bang for buck’ when it comes to energy. For example, if you are paying $400/t for a 12.5ME barley the equivalent price on an energy basis for a good quality, 9ME hay is $290/t. For this reason, the feed budgets below are based on concentrates to keep cost down. (If this is unclear please contact the Agriculture Advisor at your nearest office)
- Target your protein: Protein is the expensive part of any ration, so it’s important not to waste it. Dry adult stock only need around 8% protein in the diet. Protein is much more important for young stock, with protein requirements generally falling between 14-16%. The younger the animal, the higher the protein requirement. Depending on age/liveweight, early weaned stock may need 18-20% protein in the diet.
Note regarding protein: Often we need to add lupins or other high protein feeds to grain for young stock. However, due to the tight finish this year some of the cereal grains (wheat, barley, oats etc.) have been testing very high for protein (e.g. 14% +). It is well worth getting a feed test done to verify both energy and protein levels – you may find that you don’t need to add additional protein for young stock.
- Shop around: It is well worth having a look around at different feed options and pricing feeds on a cost per unit of energy (and protein) basis. The Drought Feed Calculator is a Free App that can be downloaded onto your phone/tablet and is a great tool for costing out feeds, formulating rations and working out how much to feed various classes of livestock. It’s also very handy for putting together a feed budget.
How much feed and $ do I need?
In terms of feed budgeting, the biggest unknown is how long the feeding period might extend for. At this stage the weather outlook for early next year (Jan – Apr) is indicating drier than normal conditions, so the chances of good rain in late summer/early autumn is looking unlikely. In this situation the best we can do is to use historical weather data and look at when an autumn break is most likely to occur.
With this approach in mind, many producers are planning on feeding stock until the end of May. Some are budgeting into winter. Tables 1 and 2 below provide an indication of the cost and tonnages required for 5 months of full hand feeding for sheep and cattle (i.e. January – May).
Depending on the cost of grain, for sheep you are looking at around $34-36/hd for Merinos and $39-42/hd for 1st X ewes. To feed cattle the estimated cost is between $335 - $436/hd for mature cows and $268 - $342/hd for early weaned calves. These feeding rates are for full hand feeding (i.e. stock are getting no grazing value out of the paddock) and do not take wastage into account. If wastage is say 10%, then you will need to increase the amount of feed required (and cost) by 10%.
With drought feeding it’s critical that you don’t degrade pastures and lose valuable topsoil and nutrients. This will have a major impact on your business for many years to come. Feeding stock in a confined area (e.g. sacrifice paddock or droughtlot) is an important drought management tool where core breeding stock can be fed without compromising groundcover across the remainder of the property. For further information on confinement feeding go to the ‘Confinement feeding – a valuable drought tool’ article below.
Managing pastures now and for the future
Matthew Lieschke, Senior Agriculture Advisor
One of the critical decisions for producers at present is deciding which stock to keep and which stock to sell. These are difficult decisions as there are many factors to consider such as water, cost of feeding, cash reserves, labour, future price and availability of livestock and so on. In developing your strategy for the period ahead, it’s also critical to consider the impact on pastures and soil.
Very low levels of subsoil moisture at the end of winter combined with below average spring rainfall has unfortunately resulted in below average pasture growth. While livestock performance during spring has generally been very good (due to high pasture quality), the major concern heading into summer is the lack of cover in paddocks. Maintaining adequate levels of groundcover was a big issue last summer and will be a major challenge once again.
There is a huge financial penalty incurred when we start degrading pastures and losing valuable topsoil. Sowing new pastures is an expensive and risky exercise, generally costing upwards of $400/ha. Unprotected soil can result in 100s of tonnes of topsoil lost per hectare – losses that will have a major impact on future production and sustainability. It’s critical that these valuable assets are protected and your country is able to quickly recover once the drought breaks.
Research at Scone NSW has shown that at least 70% groundcover is required to prevent excessive erosion. Once groundcover is below 70%, there is increased risk of wind and water erosion and damage to perennial pastures. Unfortunately we have already seen evidence of wind erosion over the last month with a number of dust storm events occurring. Late summer/early autumn is when we tend to get storm events and is a risky period for water erosion.
Aside from erosion, one of the biggest issues with overgrazing is the reduced ability of pastures to capture rainfall when the break occurs. Where groundcover is very low it is likely that 50% or more of what falls is lost to run-off. Depending on the size of the rainfall event (and follow-up rain), groundcover could be the difference between achieving an autumn break or not. Even retaining as little as 0.5t/ha of pasture dry matter can offer useful protection against erosion as well as increasing the amount of rain captured during heavy storms. This is highlighted in a recent article by Coonabarabran Agronomist, Bob Freebairn titled ‘Wait for a decent break’ appearing in The Land 21 November 2019.
How do I ensure groundcover targets are met?
The first thing to assess is the amount of pasture/groundcover on your property relative to the number of stock on hand. The lower the level of carry-over pasture going into summer, the more important forward planning and monitoring becomes. It’s important to note that high quality dry pasture (e.g. sub clover residue, leaf residue) will quickly decay with moisture/rainfall. This needs to be factored in when assessing pastures and identifying trigger points.
Reducing stocking pressure is the key tool during drought to maintain adequate groundcover. This can be done in a number of ways such as early weaning, selling down stock, agisting stock or feeding stock in a containment area/ sacrifice paddock. One of the big advantages of confinement feeding is it allows producers to maintain core breeding stock without compromising groundcover. For further information on confinement feeding please refer to the article ‘Confinement feeding – a valuable drought tool’ below.
Stock water - managing your needs over summer
Fiona Leech, Senior Agriculture Advisor
Well below average rainfall again this year across the South East region, with minimal run-off into dams is causing land managers to now draw their attention to on farm stock water supplies as the heat of summer approaches.
Knowing where water is on farm and how much is available is vital in times of drought. In fact for producers, doing a water budget becomes equally as critical as a feed budget. History has shown us that it is not a feasible practice to be carting water to livestock for extended periods. Hence an on-farm water budget is a useful tool to identify issues around possible water shortages for livestock over the months ahead.
Those with past experience on a given farm are likely to have a good knowledge of water storages present including their capacity and ability to hold water as we move into drier times. However, it is a recommendation to all regardless of your experience with current on-farm water storages, to assess your situation without delay as we progress through the heat of summer.
A water budget takes into account evaporation from storages, seepage, other animal usage and fouling to then allow assessment of amounts of water available for stock to drink. A calculation using numbers of animals and their predicted water intake will then allow you to determine a timeframe for which the water will last.
Two factsheets are available to help undertake an on-farm water budget:
- NSW DPI Primefact 269, sixth edition – Stocktaking water supply for livestock
- Factsheet South East LLS – Assessment of quantity of dam water, livestock demand and loss factors.
As on-farm water storages move to more critical levels there are things that can be done to help conserve the water. Shifting and consolidating water is a useful way to help reduce evaporation losses and also provides an opportunity for shallower dams to be cleaned out.
Troughing water out of dams is a means to achieving better extraction of the water and reducing the risk of stock getting stuck as the dams lower. Troughing water via the use of a header tank is also worth considering in order to reduce evaporation of the limited water supply.
Evaporation rates over the summer period will result in the loss of between 1 m and 1.5 m depth of water from dams. In more recent years evaporation rates have exceeded past records due to warmer temperatures and increased wind events. Dams with more protection from vegetation will help reduce evaporation rates. The summer months can see evaporation rates from dams anywhere from 30 to 50% of their capacity. It is worth noting in the past in extreme cases land managers have successfully covered dams to remove the evaporation loss factor.
In assessing your water situation on farm it is important to also remember that rainfall events over summer are erratic and there is always a chance that heavy thunderstorm activity may provide run-off water into dams ultimately providing some relief to water shortage issues. Unfortunately such run-off from heavy rain can bring debris, manure etc. with it often fouling the dam water collected in the short term.
Once the debris settles or is partially removed from the dam, water usually is then suitable for stock to drink. Due to the increased nutrient load however, that may end up in dams following such events, it is worth closely monitoring these dams for algal growth (particularly blue-green algae) over the warmer months.
For drought affected farmers who are planning to modify on-farm water infrastructure or may have already undertaken works, there is an On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate scheme available for new purchases and installation of pipes, water storages such as tanks and troughs associated with stock watering and water pumps, de-silting of dams, drilling new stock water bores and their associated power supplies such as generators. The Scheme allows farmers to claim up to 25 per cent of expenses associated with new purchases and installation of new on-farm water infrastructure up to a maximum of $25,000. Rebates are available on work undertaken since July 2018 and applications can be accessed via the NSW Rural Assistance Authority website. The Rural Assistance Authority can also be contacted directly by phoning 1800 678 593.
The Rural Assistance Authority also currently has interest free loans of up to $50,000 available to eligible primary producers to assist with on-farm water infrastructure improvements.
For those who may need to purchase water we advise to call your local council regarding stand pipe access points and the associated costs for buying water. It is also worth checking with your local council to see if water restrictions will have any impact on your ability to access water. If so you may need to factor in the cost of carting water (which is not recommended long term) into your management decisions. A reminder that a subsidy is also available for transport costs associated with obtaining water for stock or household (domestic) use on a property.
For further information regarding on-farm water issues please contact your South East Local Land Service Agricultural Advisor located in offices across the south east region. A range of useful information regarding water quality is also available from NSW DPI.
NSW DPI water testing kits are available from our Local Land Services offices for testing the suitability for stock drinking purposes, garden and irrigation use as well as for domestic purposes. However, before deciding to test your water we recommend that you contact your nearest Local Land Services Agricultural Advisor to discuss the water issues you are experiencing.
Confinement feeding - a valuable drought tool
Matthew Lieschke, Senior Agriculture Advisor
The importance of confinement feeding to protect pastures, maintain groundcover and prevent erosion was a major focus of the recent ‘Confinement Feeding and Managing Drought’ workshops held at Cooma, Tarago and Bookham. Led by industry consultant Geoff Duddy, the workshops provided valuable insights and tips for confinement feeding both sheep and cattle. Below are some of the key points that were covered.
Location, location, location:
Correct location for a drought lot or sacrifice paddock is key in ensuring it operates smoothly and minimises environmental damage. Medium clay loam soils are preferred. Sandy soils are prone to erosion and pose risks to groundwater contamination due to high infiltration rates. Heavy clay soils can cause ‘pugging’ and access issues with rain. A slope of 2-3% is ideal for drainage. Access to a good supply of good quality water is essential distance to yards, silos and fodder are also important factors to consider.
Infrastructure:
Pen design, pen size and fencing materials were all discussed. If you are setting up a droughtlot, a minimum of 5m2per animal is recommended for sheep and lambs. This minimum area increases to 15-25m2 for cows. Giving animals a bit more room will help reduce stress, but excessive area can lead to dust problems. Infrastructure costs can be reduced by utilising existing paddocks and fences. Confinement areas don’t need to be expensive to be functional!
Some form of feed trough is recommended to reduce wastage, especially for cattle. Feed troughs also reduce soil intake and risk of various health issues such as coccidiosis and salmonellosis. With troughing it’s critical that sufficient trough space is provided for the number of animals being fed. Where sheep are able to access both sides, the minimum trough space is 15cm/hd. This figure doubles to 30cm/hd if sheep can only access one side. For adult cattle the recommendation is 60cm of trough space per animal for single side access and 30cm for double sided access.
Feed and water
Your ability to manage acidosis and ‘shy feeders’ will largely determine the success of a confinement feeding program. These issues can be minimised by:
- Ensuring grain or pellets are introduced slowly and stock are adjusted to grain/pellet based rations prior to confining them in a droughtlot or sacrifice paddock.
- Removing shy feeders prior to entry and whilst in the droughtlot/sacrifice paddock. Shy feeders can be easily drafted off if grain is being fed out in an adjoining pen. These animals can either be sold or managed as a separate group.
- Feeding roughage.
Providing additional sodium and calcium is important as the majority of feeds including cereal grains, pulse grains and high protein meals are low in these minerals. This can be addressed by coating grain with lime and salt, or providing a loose lick containing calcium carbonate (lime), salt and magnesium oxide (Causmag) at a ratio of 2/2/1.
In terms of water, flow rate and water quality are critical, with daily cleaning of water troughs recommended to maximise water quality and intake. Troughs should be positioned as far from feeders as possible (at least 10m) to minimise feed contamination. Troughs should also be sited so that they drain outside the yard when they are cleaned, or if a leak develops.
Further information
Geoff's presentation is available to download from the LLS website: Part 1 and Part 2:
Please note that the slides will only be available on our website for a limited time, so it would be worth saving a copy to your computer.
- Confinement feeding stock June 2019 NSW DPI
- Stock Containment Areas: More than a drought measure. October 2018 Agriculture Victoria
- Managing and preparing for drought 2018. Eighth Edition, NSWDPI.
Hay shed fire risk
Fiona Leech, Senior Agriculture Advisor
Drought years often see an increased number of hay shed fires. This can be due to a number of factors including:
- increased moisture and sugar content of hay at baling due to cutting of plants at earlier growth stages
- increased presence of dews during the hay making process
- uneven drying of plants across a paddock.
This year we have seen many crops baled instead of taken through to a grain harvest. Cutting of these crops in many cases has occurred with significant moisture still present in the stems. Depending on the hay making process and weather conditions at this time it can be difficult to dry down the stems and nodes of these plants.
Hay fires are more likely to occur when plant material in bales is still moist. The plant material continues to respire, breaking down sugars in the plant to produce carbon dioxide, water and heat. With increased moisture and plant sugar levels present in the hay, microbial activity can also be enhanced adding to further heat production. As these processes continue and if the heat cannot escape it will build up excessively, resulting in spontaneous combustion.
The temperature of a haystack can be monitored by driving a metal rod into the stack leaving it for several hours and then checking for warming. The metal rod can be reinserted into other parts of the haystack for ongoing monitoring. The NSW DPI Primefact 716, Hay Shed Fires contains useful information to help minimise the occurrence of such fires and contains a table detailing likely hay temperatures present when monitoring with a metal rod and an interpretation of what this means.
When storing hay made in drought years it is advisable to leave gaps between rows when stacking to help any generated heat escape. It is also advisable to spread hay across several sheds or outside stacks to lower your risk of losing the hay if a fire arises.