Ongoing planning for your livestock

Producers and livestock owners will need to continue to assess their livestock as the effects of dry seasonal conditions continue to impact feed availability.

As a result of the dry conditions, a number of animals will be experiencing the effects of the shortfall of paddock feed.

To ensure livestock make it through this dry period, some timely decisions need to be made.

Producers should examine their options carefully and ask:

Have I got enough supplementary feed on hand? If not, will I be able to source it at a reasonable price? What other feeds can I source? What is the feed quality? Is agistment an option, what is the cost and how far will my stock have to travel?

Is a stock containment area an option? What other information do I need if I set up one? What are the preventive health issues I need to consider?

Do I need to sell some stock now to ensure I can maintain my core breeders?

What will the decisions I make now have on my long term viability as a producer and livestock owner?

A well-constructed plan is a valuable approach to assist livestock owners and managers with making decisions. Decisions need to be made carefully and promptly.

By using a time-line with details such as, ‘if it has not rained by X date I need to sell 100 wethers’ often eases the pressure on producers and their livestock.

Providing essential nutrition is the responsibility of the stock owner or livestock manager to livestock in their care.

Allowing livestock to starve, or not have access to water, is not an option and legislation exists which enables prosecution of those who allow this to happen.