Summer sheep plans

Sheep producers at risk of soil erosionhave turned to confinement feeding over summer to protect their paddocks from land degradation and to optimise nutritional requirements.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has received increased inquiries about confinement feeding.

DPIRDveterinary officer Danny Roberts said intensive feeding in a confined area, where the majority of feed and water was supplied, to contain animals was a good option for producers with insufficient dry matter in paddocks.

“Confinement feeding is a useful strategy to prevent paddock erosion when the level of dry matter in paddocks has declined to less than 750kg per hectare or 50 per cent ground cover,” he said.

“It is important to select an appropriate site, mob size and stocking density and to develop a feeding strategy tailored to the needs of the sheep class.

A guaranteed supply of good-quality water is essential for confinement feeding, preferably supplied via troughs, rather than dams.

More information is available on DPIRD’sdry season webpages at agric.wa.gov. au.