Tips and tools for hay and silage making this spring
21 October 2016
With high winter and spring rainfall falling over a wide area of southern Australia this year, producers are facing the challenge of making fodder from damp paddocks and then conserving it.
To help livestock producers assess fodder conservation needs now and in preparation for future droughts, here is a list of useful online tools.
Fundamentals
The MLA website contains an overview of supplementary feeding and fodder conservation.
Planning ahead
The MLA-funded EverGraze program developed numerous tools to help producers establish livestock feed demand, measure feed on offer and forecast feed growth.
While you may not need to supplementary feed in the short-term, having hay and silage on hand can be part of drought preparedness. MLA's More Beef from Pastures has a drought preparedness tool which links through to a range of calculators to help plan, estimate and track livestock feed needs.
MLA's Making More From Sheep also offers a range of tools and guidelines for maximising the benefits from pasture production.
In the paddock
NSW Department of Primary Industries has developed online manuals and guidelines for making good quality hay and silage.
