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Drought Lot/feedlot the difference
• Drought Lot – Confinement feeding in drought
– Your own cattle, not brought in cattle
– No specific approval is required
– Protection of the Environment Operations Act.
Drought Lot/feedlot the difference
• Feedlot/Opportunity feedlot – SEPP30
– 50 head or more
– Check with your local government area
Production Feeding
• Check the sums • Work on the leaner sides
• Do not overestimate performance/price
• Get good advice
• Know your market specs
• Check the sums • Contracts
A Few Feeding Points.
• When buying in feeds, do so on an energy, protein & dry matter basis.
• Remember KISS
• Watch out for “we have the product for you!!!”
• If it sounds too good to be true then it’s usually B–”(/☻*)”T
Site Selection
Your site should take into account
Slope and Soil type
Water quality and supply
Distance to yards/storage etc Shelter and
Shade
Soil type
Medium clay loams are preferred
Heavy clays ‘pug’ in wet weather and dry slowly increasing odour and
welfare problems
Sandy and gravely soils have high infiltration rates and are prone to
erosion
Feedlot Design There is no ‘perfect’ feedlot design Feedlot design will depend on:
Area available Lambs/cattle/pen and Pen number Capital input Labour and equipment
Advantages • Cheap to construct • Total Mixed Rations can be fed easily Disadvantages • Twice daily feeding • May increase ‘shy’ feeder problems • Labour intensive • Equipment on-farm • Contamination
Open Troughs
Total Mixed Rations
Advantages
Complete rations
Cannot select against ration components
Can easily alter ration composition
Can utilize poor quality feeds
Disadvantages
May need specialised
equipment
Trough feeding increases labour input
Difficult to use in self feeders
Can cost more due to preparation time and/or if purchased off-farm
Advantages • Feed always available • Reduces labour • Greater intake, wt gain and FCE • Possibly reduce shy feeders Disadvantages • Difficulties changing grains or ration mix • Can be expensive • Issues feeding Total Mix Rations
Self Feeders
Disadvantages Can be costly to establish Cattle may substitute roughage for grain (lower growth rates) May increase acidosis risk Difficult to change ration quickly Issues with hay delivery (waste etc)
Water Quality and Quantity
Intakes increase if
•hot weather
•hot or salty rations
•high roughage rations
Water Quality and Quantity
Raise troughs
Position as far away from feed as practical
Correct if quality a problem (pH, salt)
Clean regularly
Designing a Feedlot Ration
• High energy for maximum weight gain.
• Balanced level of protein.
• Adequate roughage for satisfactory functioning of the rumen.
• Minerals, vitamins, salt, NPN, rumen modifiers
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