Urea supplements are successful in the right conditions

Summary

The best results obtained from feeding urea supplements to sheep come from low quality feed bush run areas or when rationing dry summer feed. This was the conclusion from this Producer Research Support project conducted by Resource Consulting Services in Tasmania on behalf of its producer group, Tasmanian Executive Link. Dry seasons and discussion of trial results from work conducted on two members properties encouraged group members to try urea supplements in bush runs through winter, where there was poor quality feed carried over from the spring and years of selective grazing. According to Andrew Beattie of RCS, Hobart, the results were "visually significant" in terms of feed utilisation and stock condition.

One group member, John Fowler, commented, "Usually I have to nearly carry a large number of wethers out of the runs at the end of winter. This year, after feeding urea, the wethers were fit and held their condition, despite a tough year. They ate more of the feed available. Now we just have to see if it pays!"