PRODUCERS have been urged to consider a variety of silage options, while still taking a cautious approach to cutting new silage in light of the ongoing mice plague at a three-day course in Tamworth.
Hosted by NSW Local Land Services and Top Fodder, the benefits of creating silage from a number of options such as sorghum, oats and tropical pastures were discussed at the three-day course at the Tamworth Agriculture Institute this week.
In light of recent drought followed by productive harvests, the Top Fodder Successful Silage Course gave producers tips on a variety of topics, including when to cut silage, what pastures were most effective for their regions and how to try and prevent the ongoing mice plague from damaging newly-cut silage.
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Throughout the three-day course, producers got hands-on experience from local producers such as Wes Brown, Tamworth, and Luke Bowman, Barraba, on the benefits of creating effective silage, as well as the latest research from Top Fodder co-ordinator Neil Griffiths.
"We're looking at the basics to start with and making sure everyone understands the core of what we're on about such as having good-quality feed, sealing it tightly and all those basics that have been around forever," Mr Griffiths told The Land.
"Timeliness of when to do it is key as well, so that has been a key feature of what we have discussed because there are a lot of little things that can make a difference when creating silage.
"For example, a lot of the talk today [Thursday] has been about tropical pastures and we have been trying to look at tropical pastures for the past six or seven years but haven't been able to do it because of the drought, so we have taken the opportunity to really dive into that this week."
Making the trip to Tamworth for the course was Bigga producer Ben Allen who said having a variety of feed options was key to any operation.
"Given how the climate is changing, we are seeing more extremes so we need more feed options and to make the most of what you've got," Mr Allen said.
"We run about 15,000 sheep in our operation, so having different feed options is vital.
"Our area is a silage cutting area because we have the quality feed but you can't quite dry out hay quickly enough, so it does become a really good option and it is a good thing for your operation to be trying to make that silage go as far as it can while times are good."
North West Local Land Services mixed farming advisory officer George Truman said silage was becoming a key tool to help producers "future proof and drought proof" their operations, but the state's recent mice plague had set back producers silage plans.
"I think silage is a bit more prevalent and at the front of lot of peoples minds at the moment given how successful the season has been, but the mice have eaten away at a lot of that," Mr Truman said.
"If you do get dead mice in your silage, it can lead to issues for livestock in the future and so people have been a bit more cautious about doing it.
"It would have been a fantastic season for it if it hadn't been for the mice, but there has still been a lot of positives to come out of the course, particularly about tropical pastures given the enormous growth we've seen in recent years.
"Silage is a big thing for drought proofing because if you can cut it and store it when things are going well while limiting your feed costs down the track, it allows you to hopefully get through the next dry period, whenever that is, a bit easier."
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