L.PDS.1901 - Increasing production using containment areas

Summary

This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS), conducted in the Barossa Region, was developed in response to challenging climatic conditions, producers in the Barossa region adopted containment feeding of ewes as an alternative to de-stocking or supplementary feeding in dry paddocks. Throughout three consecutive seasons, three ‘major’ sites and eight ‘minor’ sites containment fed ewes and were monitored to determine the success and any cost or risk associated with the practice. Producers were wanting to maintain their stocking rate over the variable seasons rather than selling and buying stock back in. Removing a large proportion of ewes from the paddocks enabled improved ground cover and extra feed on offer to be available in lambing paddocks.

Over the course of the project, lamb marking percentage on the major sites improved by 12% compared to their long-term average prior to containment. This was associated with some improved feed on offer in the lambing paddocks but also improved ewe management while ewes were in containment. Ewe mortality increased on some sites at times, however with precise management ended up being similar to mortality averages on paddock run ewes.

Objectives

By April 2022, in the Barossa and Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges region of SA:
1. Demonstrate and assess the use of on-farm ‘containment areas’ on 15 properties to:
a. maintain annual enterprise stocking rate
b. maintain ground cover at 70% on 90% of any single property
c. increase the reproductive rate (measured by pregnancy scanning) of ewes by 10%, and
d. maintain condition score of the ewe (CS 2.5 singles/ CS 3.0 twins) through mid and late pregnancy to increase lambing marking percentage by 10% and maintain wool cut (measured in Kg/head).
2. Conduct a cost benefit analysis on 15 properties to determine the economic performance of the use of containment compared to non-containment areas and associated management practices.
3. Upskill at least 15 core producers to increase their confidence in the use of electronic identification, condition scoring, ground cover monitoring and feed budgeting to implement ewe management best practice.
4. Conduct extension activities including an annual field day, a bus tour, webinar series and video to highlight the results and encourage adoption of key practices by 400 producers.
5. Increase the number of producers adopting on-farm containment areas by 15.

Key findings

- Better management of ewes and being fed in containment pens was associated with a marking percentage increase of an average of 12% compared to the pre-containment average on the three major sites.
- Ewes kept in containment (for a short period during pregnancy) vs paddock run ewes on a similar property had an average marking % increase of 8% over the three years.
- Ewe mortality varied considerably across the years and sites. Many health issues were overcome as the knowledge and skill of containment feeding improved over the project. The ewe mortality in the final year of the project was equivalent to paddock run ewes at an average of 1.8%.
- Feed on offer was an average of 560kg DM/ha higher across the year on the properties that contained all of their ewes compared to other properties within the region.
- The economic analysis showed an advantage of between $5.30 and $8 per ewe associated with the more precise management and containment feeding of ewes.

Benefits to industry

Over the course of this Producer Demonstration Site project, core producers in the Barossa region have had a significant improvement in confidence and knowledge in correctly feeding ewes in containment. This knowledge has been extended to a significant number of producers throughout South Australia and Victoria who have attended our events. Some health issues arose as we were feeding ewes which were overcome throughout the project by improving nutritional balance or making other changes to the containment methodology.

MLA action

MLA continues to deliver the Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program, supporting livestock producers working in peer-to-peer groups to pursue new skills, knowledge and management practices applicable to their own commercial livestock production system.

Future research

During the gross margin calculations on the benefit of containment there was no quantifiable data on the dollar value associated with maintaining very high levels of ground cover and feed on offer – especially in unimprovable hills grazing. Future research in this space would be an advantage.
Some of the health problems associated with containment, especially hypocalcaemia risk and appropriate supplementation and the risk of prolapse require more research to identify the cause and solutions.

Sharing of knowledge across consultants involved in containment feeding ewes and some consistency in containment feeding advice and extension material available would be an advantage for the industry. A simple ration formulation tool, specific to containment feeding would also allow producers to easily do their own balanced, correct rations and feed budgets.