Packing protein despite the dry

Nonetheless, the lack of water has fast become a survival worry in many a paddock where tanks and dams are the only source of stock drinking supplies.

The extended dry continues to throw problems at graziers who are at the hand-feeding stage - and looking at what to do next.

Wellington rural merchant and grain buyer Michael White, of Michael White and Company, said by now most farmers would have selected core breeding stock and continued hand-feeding them.

"The dilemma there is that store and fat sales are not paying premiums for surplus stock at present," he said.

Mr White suggested, as an alternative, putting non-essential stock into a back paddock and cutting some scrub or feeding them a low diet to maintain nutrition.

"We have been selling grain with additives to boost an animal's protein level up to 16 per cent, which is essential for lambs to grow."

He said if weaners were not grown out, they would become "stunted and stay stunted for life".

"If you want to hang on to young stock, you must feed them high protein," he said.

Stubbles have been excellent sources of energy this summer as there hasn't been much rain to knock them about.

Mr White said farmers could buy urea and mineral-based blocks or molasses blocks and liquids to supplement.

"Those companies haven't run out as they've stored up so they have stock to sell," he said.

"These supplements increase appetites of animals on straw."

Geurie supplement agent Peter Braithwaite said molasses-based liquid products were readily available with his supplies guaranteed up to June.

Mr Braithwaite distributes Prolix liquid supplement, which is delivered on-farm with the provision of 500-litre tubs to place the product in.

Sheep and cattle pellets or nuts are an option, however Mr White said bigger mills were "flat out" and could be up to a month behind in production.

"It has been rumoured some may only be weeks away from their feed source drying up," he said.

Mr White is buying grain on a weekly basis now so he can off-sell via orders.

"Prices seem to continue to rise, so by ordering weekly, they will average out and if it does rain, I won't be caught with tonnes of feed grain I can't sell."

That's another dilemma for merchants - being left with grain no one wants after it rains.

Mr White said it was a balancing act.

Barley was getting dearer and cotton seed was in short supply or not procurable, but expensive in any case, at least $500-plus a tonne if you could find it, he said.

Buying lupins and faba beans and adding them to rations was good practice as they were high in protein, Mr White said.

"Or you can buy canola meal."

He was paying from $450 to $480 a tonnes for lupins a fortnight ago.

"There is plenty of grain in the south, but we've just got to be prepared to pay more for it," he said.

The biggest problem facing farmers now rather than feed and grain is water.

"There's up to a month or two delay on poly pipes at present," Mr White said.

"We have people from all over the place wanting to buy poly pipe.

"Water is a big issue out there and if this dry continues, will be more critical than feed scarcity."

MOLASSES-based supplements provide a reliable source of minerals and vitamins, says Geurie distributor, Peter Braithwaite.

His supplements business provides Prolix liquid molasses with a 500-litre heavy plastic tub, which is placed in paddocks near water where cattle are feeding.

"We use the animals' palate to control consumption," he said.

There are two tanks on the back of his truck, one full of sweet liquid, the other sour.

"Through this sweet and sour mix you can control consumption which makes the product cost effective."

In most areas on "better country" Mr Braithwaite recommended a ration of 100 millilitres per 100 kilograms of weight per day.

"So a 300kg steer should drink 300ml," he said.

However, on lighter country that should increase to 120ml/100kg of weight a day.

He said if cattle were drinking more than that calculation, the product would be wasted and uneconomical.

"To slow up consumption I just mix more sour, and to increase I add more sweet," he said.

"It's as simple as that."

The product doesn't interfere with feeding, it just enhances nutrition.