Reminder to ensure sufficient feed after late start to winter
Despite good recent rainfall in some areas, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is reminding producers to review supplementary feed programs to make sure animals are adequately fed and there are no animal welfare risks.
It is important to continually assess and review feeding, fodder and pasture grazing plans and take early action if necessary.
Part of this assessment includes condition scoring sheep and cattle to ensure welfare risks are managed.
There are increased animal welfare risks when livestock are maintained in body condition score lower than two.
There is a risk of starvation, but also greater chance of succumbing to metabolic diseases and bad weather events, and an inability to withstand normal challenges such as birth and transport.
Stocking rates need to be considered carefully to ensure there is at least 600 kilograms of dry matter per hectare always left on pasture paddocks.
Options to achieve this include feeding stock in confined paddocks or in feedlots and agisting or selling stock before animals and paddocks deteriorate too far.
Performing a cost analysis of feed budgets versus destocking is a real part of planning to keep animals through the aftermath of a dry season.
A good stock management plan should include clear triggers that will determine when the above options should be actioned.
The responsibility for providing sufficient feed ultimately rests with the person in charge of the animal and it is not acceptable to keep stock in a condition which does not meet their basic needs for health and welfare.
Making decisions on what to do can be difficult and stressful, but a good management plan will help to remove some of the uncertainty that can come with making these kinds of decisions.
DPIRD’s website has useful information on supplementary feeding and feed budgeting of sheep and making welfare decisions for sheep.
A video on condition scoring sheep is also a useful reference, while the Future Beef website has information on condition scoring cattle.
For more information contact Rick Bryant, Client Engagement Leader, South Perth on +61 (0)8 9368 3346.