Seasonal Advice for North Coast Livestock Producers

The North Coast has experienced substantial rainfall, with many areas receiving or exceeding their annual totals between January and July. The majority of this rainfall occurred from April to June. In light of this, the North Coast Local Land Services Sustainable Agriculture team offers insights for farmers to navigate the remainder of winter effectively.

Nikia Nolan, Livestock Offcer with North Coast Local Land Services, highlights the challenges posed by the heavy rainfall:

“The signifcant rainfall has led to waterlogging, adversely affecting tropical pastures. As a result, many pastures, including winter forages like ryegrass, were planted late or not at all by early July.”

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

Assessing Pastures

• Evaluate Quantity and Quality: Producers should assess both the quantity and quality of their pastures, given the signifcant feed gap between winter and spring.

• Consider Pasture Quality Factors: Assess digestibility, energy, and protein content, infuenced by plant species, growth stage, maturity, and legume content.

Monitoring Livestock

• Regular Body Condition Scoring: Monitor livestock closely to identify nutritional defciencies before they affect production, especially for young, growing, pregnant, or lactating animals.

• Supplementary Feeding: Introduce supplementary feed gradually to avoid risks like acidosis. This is crucial during periods when pastures are insuffcient.

Management Strategies

• Options for Limited Feed Availability: o Selling or Agisting Livestock: Consider these options if feed is scarce. o Early Weaning: Reduces the nutritional demands on lactating animals. o Purchasing Feed: Supplement with additional feed to meet nutritional needs. o Seeking Additional Grazing Land: Find alternative grazing areas. o Winter Forage Crops: Though late for winter sowing, consider this for future planning.

Tools and Resources

• DPI Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator: This free tool helps producers assess pastures and develop supplement plans or feed rations during nutritional shortfalls. It allows users to select from various supplements or input custom feed sources, considering feed costs and optimizing existing feed stocks.

• Feed Testing: Conduct feed tests to understand the nutritional quality of feed. Feed test kits are available from Local Land Services. When purchasing feed, request a current feed test from the supplier to ensure adequate nutrition and rumen function, particularly when using lower-quality hay or silage.

Contact Information For more information and resources, producers can contact the Sustainable Agriculture team at 1300 795 299 or visit North Coast Local Land Services. By staying informed and utilizing available resources, North Coast livestock producers can effectively manage their herds and pastures through the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the winter season.