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Livestock and Fodder Management

Livestock and Fodder Management

The resources on this page are of relevance to SA farmers and regional communities. They assist in decision making and potential practice change to build drought preparedness and resilience. Further information on livestock and fodder management is available through the SA Drought Hub team, including the Livestock Adoption Officers and Knowledge Broker.

Dry season information

The following resources have been collated to assist in sharing knowledge for the current season with hub partners, grower groups and individuals. Further information can be found in project pages, through our Hub partners directly, or through the national Hub network.

If your group would like support to upskill on any of these topics, contact your local Node Coordinator for sponsorship support.

 

Title Source
Containment feeding to boost business performance and resilience SA Drought Hub supported project
Tools for pasture forecasting SA Drought Hub supported project
Mixed species pastures demonstration sites SA Drought Hub supported project
Early weaning lambs in a tough season AWI Extension SA
Feeding sheep despite the late rain AWI Extension SA
Setting up ewe containment feeding area AWI Extension SA
Ewe containment nutrition AWI Extension SA
Kondinin Drought Reports and the droughtinfo.com.au initiative Kondinin Group
Managing breeding ewes in containment areas MLA
Feedbase planning and budgeting tool MLA
Forage crops MLA
Using soil moisture to make strategic decisions Agriculture Victoria
ProGraze, Segment 7: Feed Budgeting NSW DPI
A guide to confinement feeding sheep and cattle in NSW NSW LLS
Reducing the winter feed gap NSW LLS
Options for quick feed this Winter Barenbrug
Fill the winter feed gap EverGraze
Dry season fact sheets for sheep AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA)
Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator NSW DPI
Winning With Weaners – feed budget tables for merino weaners Australian Wool Innovation
Early weaning of beef calves Agriculture Victoria
The Future Drought Fund’s My Climate View (formerly Climate Services for Agriculture)

The Future Drought Fund’s My Climate View (formerly Climate Services for Agriculture) tool provides users with location-specific information on seasonal and monthly rainfall outlooks, and medium and longer term climate projections for rainfall and temperature.

The tool can be accessed at: myclimateview.com.au

Livestock management – Limestone Coast Landscape Board

Livestock Management resources from Limestone Coast Landscape Board, a SA Drought Hub partner. These resources include up to date factsheets and guides, apps and calculators and the latest industry resources including:

  • Grazing management information from SheepConnect SA
  • Drought Management information from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

Landscape South Australia – Limestone Coast | Livestock Management

Australian Feedbase Monitor

The Australian Feedbase Monitor is a world-first tool to help producers improve grazing management, forage budgeting and ground cover.

Note: The Australian Feedbase Monitor is FREE for MLA members.

Australian Feedbase Monitor | Meat & Livestock Australia (mla.com.au)

Improving the productivity and climate resilience of the South Australian Sheep Flock

View the videos on:

  • Project introduction by University of Adelaide Project Lead, Dr William Van Wettere
  • “Heat stress in ewes/rams” with Dr Jamee Daly

Improving the climate resilience of the Australian sheep industry

Virtual fencing for improved drought resilience on South Australian farms

View the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board’s videos on:

  • The virtual fencing trial at Wintinna Station 
  • Wintinna Station Virtual Field Day, which includes discussion on how the trial was implemented, the time taken to induct cattle and factors that affected results. The recording also shows where the virtual fencing was used and where cattle moved as a result.

Virtual fencing for improved drought resilience on South Australian farms

Kondinin Drought Reports and the droughtinfo.com.au initiative

Comprehensive brochures on livestock, pastures, ground cover, water management etc, through drought from Kondinin Group (publishers of FarmingAhead.)

These reports are published through the droughtinfo.com.au initiative, funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

The initiative’s key aims are to:

  • Grow the self-reliance and performance (productivity, profitability and sustainability) of the agricultural sector
  • Improve the natural capital of agriculture for better environmental outcomes
  • Strengthen the wellbeing and social resilience of rural, regional and remote agricultural-dependent communities.

View and download the Kondinin Drought Reports

Managing sheep in droughtlots: a best practice guide – Australian Wool Innovation

This publication highlights the purpose, benefits and experiences of sheep producers managing sheep in confined areas during
drought. ‘Droughtlot’ refers to the maintenance feeding of sheep in confined areas, primarily in order to minimise pasture and related environmental degradation.

Download Managing sheep in droughtlots: a best practice guide

VIDEO: Methods of feeding ewes in containment pens (Barossa Improved Grazing Group)

There are many different ways to set up feeding systems for containment ewe areas. Presented by Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock, this video hears from five Barossa Valley farmers who are using a range of systems including:

  • Silaged-based containment feeding
  • Self feeders and hay in containment pens
  • Communal trough in central feeding pen
  • Trough feeding in the  containment pen
  • Total mixed ration in troughs.

Silage and total mixed rations with feed mixers. These farmers discuss the positives and negatives of each system.

Watch the video

LIVESTOCK SA WEBINAR: Containment feeding – Optimising sheep health

Livestock SA webinar on containment feeding for optimal sheep health, presented by Dr Colin Trengrove of ProAg Consulting.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Improving the productivity and climate resilience of the South Australian Sheep Flock (Heat Stress)

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on improving the productivity and climate resilience of the South Australian sheep flock (heat stress), presented by Will Van Wettere from the University of Adelaide.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Heat stress in ewes/rams

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on Heat stress in ewes/rams presented by Dr Jamee Daly from the University of Adelaide.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Feeding sheep despite the late rain

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on Feeding sheep despite late rain presented by Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Early Weaning Lambs in a tough season

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on Early Weaning Lambs in a tough season presented by Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Setting up ewe containment feeding area

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on Setting up ewe containment feeding area presented by Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock.

View the webinar

AWI Extension SA WEBINAR: Ewe containment nutrition

AWI Extension SA (formerly Sheep Connect SA) webinar on Ewe Containment Nutrition presented by Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock.

View the webinar

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