Managing stock during dry periods

Following good seasons and coming into winter where you may have access to previously irrigated pastures, grazing crops or stocked resources from the autumn break and any remaining summer growth; it’s good to assess your current situation and consider forward planning and preparation if seasonal conditions become adverse.

Decisions

may involve looking at stock numbers on farm, feed availability, groundcover, and land condition to assess what you may need to do. Stock Management Areas (or Stock Containment Areas) have long been recognised as a management tool to enable retention and feeding of stock through dry periods in a confined area. They allow reduced stocking rate on broader paddocks across farm to maintain groundcover, assist in improving recovery rate and return of stock to paddocks following a break in seasonal conditions.

SMA’s also have other benefits and uses, including:

• Joining to improve bull/ ram contact with cows/ ewes and improve pregnancy rates

• Containment during or following events such as floods or bushfires

• Quarantine of new stock arriving on property

• Hospital paddock for treating sick/ injured stock.

When developing an SMA on farm, there are several factors to consider; including, design, location, size and intended frequency of use amongst others. NSW LLS and DPI have resources which can assist in the planning and implementation of SMA’s and the use of these facilities and considerations.

There are key differences in what is considered a Stock Containment Area and a Feedlot, with these differences impacting some of the planning and permission requirements around the establishment. Farmers need to be aware of what the requirements are, their intended use of the area being established and adhere to planning and permission requirements. Further information can be found in the NSW Government/ LLS ‘A guide to confinement feeding sheep and cattle in NSW’ which has recently been updated.

Murray Local Land Services (MLLS) will soon be conducting surveys relating to adoption, establishment, and use of Stock Management Areas across the region and conducting a cost benefit analysis of their impact. If you have implemented an SMA on farm and would be interested in participating in this survey, please contact Rebecca Stacey via email rebecca.stacey@lls.nsw.gov.au.