Planning key to successful stock feeding

As the drought continues, getting every ounce of benefit from feed is vitally important and having a solid feeding strategy is key.

Central Tablelands Local Land Services senior land services officer - livestock, Brett Littler said there is good feed available but producers need to make sure they are getting the best available for their dollar.

"While feed prices have dropped a bit because of the good hay production down south, farmers still need to make sure they are getting good dry matter per dollar," he said.

"We are seeing a number of different feeds available with lots of varying price points. Some of the feeds are unusual and I haven't had much to do with them since the millenium drought.

"The hays and the grains we have seen are testing up extremely well.

"Lots of the cereal hay is testing upwards of 10 megajoules per kilogram of dry matter and mid-teens for protein.

"While these numbers are positive, producers still need to make sure the feed they are buying is made right, check the moisture content and work out what they are actually paying per kilogram dry matter.

"Producers need to work out if the feed they are looking at is all that they need to feed their stock or if they need to add something.

"Some feeds we have tested have had high nitrate levels which can ultimately kill stock.

"Producers need to properly test any feed they are looking at buying and make sure they are getting good samples, not just grabbing a handful of feed.

"High nitrate hays can still be used as part of a total mixed ration to good effect."

To make sure stock are receiving the maximum benefits from feeding, Mr Littler suggests using the DPI's Drought Feed Calculator app and confinement feeding.

"With the correct amount of feed, we have seen between eight to 15 per cent increases in stock which are being confinement fed compared to those which aren't," he said.