Managing the summer-autumn feed gap can be a challenge – especially given the dry season so far – but a little bit of research can save you a lot of money and hassle.
Plus, it will not only help minimize feed wastage and maintain stock at the right condition, but also conserve ground cover to protect the soil.
To assist our local farmers this season the NACC NRM’s Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator Team have compiled a number of articles which may provide some useful tips.
- Grazing benefits stubble-retention cropping systems as well as livestock: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/ground-cover-supplements/groundcover-issue-135-stubble/grazing-benefits-stubble-retention-cropping-systems
- Confinement Feeding https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/feeding-finishing-nutrition/drought-feeding/confinement-feeding/
- Focus on the Feed Gap – Strategies to deal with times when feed is short http://www.grainandgraze3.com.au/resources/317_FocusontheFeedGap.pdf
- On Farm Options – Feed budgeting and tactical management https://www.evergraze.com.au/library-content/feed-budgeting-and-tactical-management/
- Strategies and tactics for sheep producers in a poor season (note – this article has a lot of good general advice, although some points are specific to 2017 conditions) https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/dry-seasons-and-drought/strategies-and-tactics-sheep-producers-poor-season
Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitator Annabelle Garratt said that the key message is to plan ahead.
“It is worth taking some time to think about what you can do now to reduce summer-feed pressures in future years. A great option in the Northern Agricultural Region is to create a living haystack with perennial pastures and/or fodder shrubs.”
For more information or advice on perennial grazing systems, please contact our NACC NRM Regional Agricultural Landcare Facilitators: Lizzie King (E) [email protected] (P) 0447 361335 or Annabelle Garratt (E) [email protected] (P) 0448 986 879