Drought and supplementary feed calculator App

Mr Casburn said the new App named the Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator (DASFC) incorporates the functionality of the Drought Feedlot Calculator with the addition of supplementary feeding to help develop rations in dry periods as periods leading into and out of drought.

This gives the DASFC a much greater functionality than the original Drought Feed Calculator, according to Mr Casburn.

"The Drought Feed Calculator which was released in October 2014 is well used, and from user feedback we have built the next generation calculator," he said.

"The DASFC is free, it's release coincides with an increase in need because there are a range of producers who are feeding stock."

Mr Casburn said the new calculator is also designed so producers can choose a range of functions.

"If people don't want to include pastures, for example, they don't have to, if they don't want to use the feed out part of the program they don't have to," he said.

"Obviously most of the state is still in drought and in prolonged droughts you go in and out of feeding.

Mr Casburn noted that feeding livestock through drought or dry periods is a bit like a roller coaster.

"The new App helps with that," he said.

"It is also designed for those periods when pastures alone are not really enough to meet the needs of livestock or meeting market specifications when you want to turn off animals by a certain time."

Mr Casburn noted there are many specific functions of the App which enable producers to determine the most appropriate response to providing supplementary feed to their stock.

"It can help you assess pasture to see if supplementary feeding is needed in the first instance," he said.

"And then you can compare different supplements to determine which is the most appropriate and also calculate the amount of feed required for different livestock classes."

Mr Casburn pointed out a further benefit is that the new App enables producers to develop rations for single and twin bearing ewes which is obviously of great value in a high fertility flock.

He advised livestock producers the new App will be available from the App store and Google Play next week.

During the 2019 Graham Centre Livestock Forum held in Wagga Wagga producers attended to be kept up to date about the latest research which could be of ultimate benefit to many.

Of tremendous interest was the development of the Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator App and addressed by NSW DPI livestock officer Geoff Casburn.

Mr Casburn noted the increased activity in feeding stock, particularly sheep through the current drought as the returns more than compensate the extra cost.

"With that in mind, we have updated the Drought Feed Calculator to assist producers make the most of the available feed and increase their returns," he said.

Among the new options available through the new App, Mr Casburn pointed to the ability to develop specific rations to meet livestock growth targets and to calculate the costs of the different feeding options available.

"By accessing the App, farmers can compare and develop mixed rations which could contain up to five feed types," he said.

"Another benefit is the ability to calculate quantities and the feeding schedules for different sized mobs of sheep or cattle."

Bearing in mind the current seasonal outlook with the potential in shortfall of grain, silage and hay production, Mr Casburn noted the new App has an inbuilt feed inventory function to allow farmers a quick and ready appraisal of their conserved fodder situation.

"The App can also record individual feed quality tests in the 'my feeds database'," he said.

The Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator has a web based capability for online users.