THANKS to such an impressive autumn, Cowra grazier Danny Chalker, "Avonmore", won't be supplementary feeding his stock during winter but he will be stripping his oats for feed later in the year to store supplies for 2015.
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Mr Chalker recently purchased black baldy weaner steers, which he planned to finish in the coming months on about 120 hectares of forage oats, which have responded well to the season.
"We had a very hot and dry summer, but the stock were healthy," he said.
"Once we got that autumn break, the feed jumped out of the ground."
Mr Chalker, who farms with wife Peita and children Adam, 16, Nikki, 9, and Josh, 7, said he normally does supplementary feeding if he has the grain available, but he has used it all, and given a dramatic seasonal turnaround doesn't think he will need to feed this year.
"Our clover paddocks have come up well and the oats are looking good," he said.
He said he planned to strip some of his oats in July and August, however, for feed next year.
All up, Mr Chalker runs about 1200 first-cross ewes, 100 steers and 60 cows on the 730ha property.
