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For WA Sheep and Cattle Industries

Season and production information

For a one stop shop of dry season resources, visit the DPIRD Season 2024 webpage, updated with new resources frequently. 

The Livestock Feed website is also now live; connecting those looking for feed with those selling it, plus a Farmer's Forum and links to dry season resources.

The drought response hotline 1300 489 832 is available 24/7 to answer any questions around what information and support is available. 

Sheep producers

• Green pick germinating after the rain will not provide adequate nutrition, continue supplementary feeding after rain to avoid stock losing condition and allow for pasture establishment.  
• It is vital that pregnant ewes receive adequate nutrition in the last trimester of pregnancy and into lactation. Supplementary feeding requirements for pregnant and lactating ewes can be found here. 

Cattle producers

• Southern beef - dry season management resources.
• Aim to calve at condition score 3 (no less than 2.5 for mature cows).
• Aim to achieve a 60-65% mature body weight for mating of first time heifers. 
• Transition cattle onto grain and pellets slowly to avoid acidosis
• Monitor cattle condition and revisit feed budgets based on types of feed available. Utilise available supplementary feed calculators. 
• The smaller the animal, the higher the nutritional requirement will be. It is easiest to divide calves into groups based on weight and age for targeted supplementation.
• Manage breeder body condition in our Northern beef herds by weaning before cows start to lose condition. Set weaners up for success through targeted supplementation during the dry.

Pastures 

• Sowing forage cereal crops such as oats or triticale into existing pastures can increase early feed availability. Consider a starter of 5-10 kg/ha of nitrogen followed by 25-50 kg/ha of nitrogen (50-100 kg/ha urea) unless following a good pasture legume rotation.
• Defer grazing annual pastures until they reach a FOO of 800 kg DM/ha and control red-legged earth mite. On the south coast, kikuyu pastures can be grazed while deferring annual pastures.
• Consider grazing early sown cereal crops to defer pastures.
• Consider applying nitrogen fertiliser to grassy pastures to increase winter feed.

• If sowing new legume pastures, consider using post sowing pre emergent herbicides for control of grasses and broadleaf weeds. Inoculate legumes with dry granules if it is the first time sowing.

Alternative energy and protein sources

When considering any alternative/unusual feed sources for sheep and cattle, there are some key things to consider:

• Chemical residue, contamination and possible toxicities
• Feed tests are vital to determine nutritional value 
• Alternatives should never be a sole source of feed
• It is illegal to feed any meat products to ruminants
• High moisture content limits feed intake, nutritional value and can spoil quickly 
• Palatability needs to be considered, animals may not recognise it as feed
• Animals must always be transition onto any new ration slowly

Head to the Alternative energy and protein feed sources for sheep and cattle webpage to find out more.

Image source: Hugh Watts

Pasture management at the break of the season

Cereal forage crops can increase feed in autumn/winter

This year the winter feed gap could be prolonged; one solution is to sow cereal forage crops into pasture paddocks to increase biomass during this period. Last year at the Katanning Research Station the Feed365 team dry sowed a triticale/cereal rye mix into several of the pasture treatments. Prior to grazing in July, the plots with cereal forages had an average feed on offer (FOO) of 3540 kg DM/ha compared to only 1605 kg DM/ha in the control which consisted of a regenerating subclover/ryegrass pasture. While the dry sowing window has passed in some areas and the amount of additional feed will be lower, you can still improve winter feed by using cereal forage varieties with high growth rates in autumn and winter.

Consider sowing into paddocks with a low density of seedlings, for example, paddocks coming out of crop. Sow at 80 to 100 kg/ha. Use starter nitrogen (5–10 kg/ha) if soil nitrogen levels are known to be low. Follow up with 25-50 kg/ha of nitrogen unless following a good legume pasture. Protect crops from pests and aphids.

Grazing can commence once the plants are anchored, and FOO reaches 800 kg DM/ha. Expect winter growth rates of around 20 kg DM/ha and stock accordingly. For information on current FOO and pasture growth rates refer to Pastures from Space. Consider rotational grazing using electric fencing to split the paddock up or sow several paddocks which can make up a rotational system. Do not overlook the opportunity to include your grain crops in the rotation early on, which can help with deferring annual pastures. 

Deferred grazing

The benefits of deferred grazing of newly sown or regenerating annual pastures is well documented, particularly where there is a late break to the season and cold conditions. In research conducted in the 1970’s, newly sown pure swards of Wimmera ryegrass and subterranean clover were either grazed or spelled (deferred) for five weeks after emergence in autumn and then evaluated with young Merino wethers stocked at 10 sheep/ha. Sheep on deferred pastures had higher intakes and liveweight than on plots continuously grazed.

Spelling increased the availability of pasture for grazing due to a greater weight of herbage being offered and the more erect growth form. Under continuous grazing, animal productivity on clover was much lower than on ryegrass but following deferment, both species had similar productivity. The beneficial effects of spelling after emergence were manifest over the ensuing ten months by liveweight, fleeceweight and number of days of grazing. Spelling also increased pasture seed reserves at the end of summer and the number of plants re-establishing at the beginning of the next growing season.

To optimise pasture production, we recommend managing grazing in each of the 3 distinct periods of pasture growth: establishment (autumn), vegetative growth (winter) and reproductive phase (spring).

• Autumn – defer grazing until FOO reaches 500–800 kg DM/ha
• Winter – graze to maintain FOO above 1000 kg DM/ha and below 1400 kg DM/ha
• Spring – reduce grazing pressure to allow seed production of the desirable pasture species.

Refer to Pastures from Space for current FOO levels.

Consider applying nitrogen fertiliser to grassy pastures to increase winter feed

Applying nitrogen fertiliser to pasture in winter can increase dry matter production and help reduce feed shortages in winter. If done properly, on average, an extra 17 kilograms per hectare of pasture dry matter can be grown for every kilogram of nitrogen applied. Possible management reasons for using fertiliser nitrogen are to: 

• Maintain stocking rates
• Meet the higher feed requirements of pregnant or lactating stock
• Allow the deferment of pastures on other parts of the farm or reduce the amount of supplement fed.
• Apply 40–50 kg N/ha as urea (100 kg provides 46 kg of N) or sulphate of ammonia (200 kg provides 42 kg of N) when pasture reaches a feed on offer of around 800 kg of dry matter per hectare.
• Defer grazing for about 1 week after application to allow pasture to grow and reduce the likelihood of nitrate poisoning.

Things to consider select a pasture that has a high grass content. Ensure there is adequate soil moisture and forecast rain to support growth and that there are no other constraints to plant growth, such as soil nutrient limitations and waterlogging.

Image source: Paul Sanford

Options for manipulating water quality due to high levels of salinity

If water quality available to livestock significantly declines it will result in production loss and may also lead to salt toxicity.

One of the options available when water quality becomes marginal due to salinity is to shandy the marginal water with fresh water.

If stock have been on fresh water, it is important to gradually introduce them to the saline water, over at least a week. Start with 80:20 mix fresh to salty water over 2-3 days, then increase to a 50:50 for another 2-3 days then finally 20:80 for another 2-3 days before placing stock in the full salty water.

A tank would be required with 2 inlets – one from the saline water source and another from a source of fresh water such as scheme or rainwater. A farm fire unit or IBC can also be used for this purpose (make sure previous IBC contents don’t present risk to stock and are rinsed well).

To maintain the required drinking levels for beef cattle then during and after blending it is important to test the water daily using an Electrical Conductivity (EC) meter. If the saline water source exceeds livestock tolerance limits, then livestock owners will have to continue blending water to avoid salt toxicity. Sheep and beef cattle on supplementary feed with no access to pasture can tolerate up to 4000 mg/mL Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) without adverse effects on production.

The blended water in the tank will stratify over time, where the salt water will sink to the bottom and the fresh water to the top. If water is sitting in a tank for a prolonged period, then agitation will be required to mix the water and ensure a dilution within tolerance levels is leaving the tank via the outlet.

The water quality for livestock webpage contains information on sampling, water testing and tolerance levels to salinity for different classes of livestock. The Saltland Genie website allows producers to enter an electrical conductivity (EC) reading they obtain from an EC meter and convert it to TDS (mg/L), then have the recommended upper levels for various classes of livestock.

Producers with access to an electrical conductivity meter can also easily convert their conductivity measurements into dissolved salts by multiplying the result in mS/m by 5.7. For example, a water salinity of 700 mS/m multiplied by 5.7 equals 3990 mg/L.

Handheld EC meters are commercially available. DPIRD staff in regional offices can advise cattle producers on water testing for salinity and pH for and help in the interpretation of the results. For further information on maintaining livestock water quality visit the DPIRD webpage.

Image source: Hugh Watts 

Cattle feed options in the dry

Senesced pasture will be below the energy and protein requirements for maintenance of all classes of cattle, and supplementary feed must be provided to maintain their condition score.

Where hay of suitable quantity and quality is not available, and for stock classes with higher nutritional requirements (growing, pregnant and lactating stock) grain or pellets should be considered.

Feeding just straw (regardless of volume) to any class of cattle will not meet maintenance requirements and stock will lose weight. 

Grain and pellets are effective supplements during the dry season to meet the maintenance requirements or production targets of cattle.

Transitioning cattle onto supplements must be done carefully to minimise the risk of grain poisoning. Acidosis is most likely to occur when stock are introduced to supplements which are low in fibre and have a high starch content, before the rumen has had time to adjust. 

View this page for suggested transition guidelines for mature cattle.

Principles include starting with a low volume of concentrate, increasing slowly to the full ration over 14-21 days. At least 30% of the ration should be roughage, however a higher proportion should be fed at the beginning of the transition, then decreased to 30% over the period of the transition.

Remember that not all supplementary feeds are interchangeable. If you change to another feed, there needs to be another transition period.

Be on the lookout for shy feeders who may not be eating their portion of the ration – they may need to be separated out and managed separately.

If acidosis occurs, do not increase the proportion of concentrate in the ration. Remove stock to good quality hay until clinical signs are resolved. Acidosis during the transition period is most common in dominant ‘greedy’ animals who eat a high volume of the concentrate.

Supplementary feeding with grain or pellets may be a risk for pulpy kidney disease . Prior to commencing supplementation, producers should provide a dose of a clostridial vaccine.

Weather damaged/mouldy hay

It is not recommended to feed weather damaged hay due to accelerated decomposition and the development of mould. 

Spoiled hay will have lower energy and protein levels, and palatability will be affected, reducing intake by the stock. There will be more wastage and producers may underfeed stock, presuming stock are not hungry due to the high levels of wastage. 

There are a range of moulds (mycotoxins) that can form on damaged hay or grain that will have a varied range of effects from chronic production loss, liver damage to death. There are no national standards or maximum limits readily available so interpretation of laboratory results to determine the safety of contaminated feeds is difficult.

To find out more, visit this page.

Feed additives

Feed additives are helpful adjuncts in developing a feed ration but are not a ‘magic bullet’ for fixing a ration if the underlying roughage and concentrate components are of poor quality.

The addition of urea, minerals, limestone and salt are all options to be considered, visit this page to find out more.

Image source: DPIRD

Ewe management in late pregnancy 

Pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia are significant health concerns in ewes, particularly during the late stages of gestation.

Pregnancy toxaemia typically affects ewes in the last month of pregnancy, especially those carrying multiple lambs. The ewe is either unable to consume enough or is not provided enough energy to meet the demands of her and her growing lambs, leading to an energy deficit. Ewes might appear lethargic, isolated, and exhibit signs of blindness and muscle tremors.

Providing a balanced diet rich in energy during the last trimester, especially for ewes carrying multiples, will reduce the incidence of pregnancy toxaemia. Pregnancy scanning, separating ewes and differentially feeding also allows for efficient feed use while resources are in short supply and high cost. Supplementary feed with high energy feeds like grains or pellets to meet their increased energy demands.

Unlike pregnancy toxaemia, hypocalcaemia is a result of a sudden drop in blood calcium levels, often occurring shortly before or after lambing. This can cause ewes to become weak, unable to stand, and display symptoms such as head tilting and convulsions.

Ensure ewes have access to a diet with adequate calcium levels. This may involve adding crushed limestone to grain supplementation (as grain is low in calcium), or supplementing with calcium-rich feeds or mineral licks, particularly in the weeks leading up to lambing.

DPIRD vets can provide more information about pregnancy toxaemia and hypocalcaemia of ewes, and can investigate stock deaths. To find the contact details of your closest DPIRD vet, go to the Livestock Biosecurity program contacts page.

Image source: DPIRD

Grazing Irrigated Pastures in Northern Australia

Turning leaf into beef? Direct grazing or ‘stand and graze’ of irrigated pastures in northern Australia can be highly productive. The combination of year-round warm temperatures, high solar radiation, plus water and nutrients is a recipe for very high pasture growth rates. However, the ‘sweet spot’ for high feed quality and good yield is narrow. Under-grazing and over-grazing cost on cattle growth rates and the bottom line. Management is key to successfully and profitably grazing irrigated pastures in northern Australia.

The Northern Beef Project has developed a series of videos to highlight to industry the best management practice for grazing irrigated pastures. These practices include understanding how cattle graze tropical pastures, developing a grazing plan, following good grazing practices, monitoring weight gain and addressing any issues.

The three videos highlight the views of former DPIRD staff member and livestock specialist Dr Kevin Bell (Innovations manager, Pardoo Wagyu) and Broome-based Development Officer Carla Milazzo who share their insights, experience and research results on how to successfully graze cattle on irrigated pastures in northern Australia.

Image source: DPIRD

genetically diverse industry sires and then collecting phenotypes of their progeny coupled with genomic sequencing of their DNA. 

This data, combined with genetic information collected by industry contributes to the development and accuracy of Australian Sheep Breeding Values and the benchmarking of key industry sires, benefitting industry through improved sheep breeding options and services.

More info on the Genetic Resource Flock here

Image source: DPIRD 

Latest n-ewes

• The Livestock Feed website now live 
• Cook Government launches drought response website and hotline
• Weather Matters video to help farmers manage dry season
• Tackling Tough Times Webinar recordings Part 1 and Part 2 
• $8.6 million Cook Government funding package to support farmers
• Aerial survey of groundwater reserves in the Great Southern 
• Dry season water information on DPIRD season 2024 pages
• 102 Issue of the Ovine Observer

Further information

WA Sheep and Cattle Industry news from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). If you have any questions, or require further information please email livestock@dpird.wa.gov.au

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Important disclaimer 
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2024.