Opportunity and Drought Feedlots

Making it Work

Brett J Littler

SLSO (Livestock)

Mudgee

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

Paddock Feeding

Pen Feedlotting

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

Open Trough Systems

Laneway Access, single side feed

Open Trough Systems

Pen Access, double side feed

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

Self Feeder Systems

Fibre ad-lib or Total Mixed Ration

Self Feeder Systems

Fibre ad-lib or Total Mixed Ration

Grain and Roughage Separate

Advantages

Low cost

Reduced labour

Equipment generally on-farm

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

Hay

Grain

Dust

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