Nutrition and breeding plans have been altered by producers in 2016, with the extremely dry season driving the change.
Des and Ben Campbell, Avoka stud, Gulgong, began joining 400 commercial ewes last November, only removing the ram recently.
"We just removed the ram to allow extra time for joining and because the season is the way it is, we have had to switch to feeding oats and a protein lick block to keep their condition up,” Des Campbell said.
In a perfect season, the Campbells sow oats for the sole purpose of supplying their nutrition plan with green oats and when harvested, the grain is stored to ensure supplement feed is on hand for a dry season.
“This is one of the worst seasons we have had; this is definitely not the year to just put them in a paddock and hope for the best,” he said.
"We continuously monitor the ewes nutrition naturally, if you notice they are attacking the lick block then it means they are lacking in an area,” he said.