Drought Feeding and Management of Beef Cattle: A Guide For Farmers and Land Managers 2015

DROUGHT FEEDING
AND MANAGEMENT
OF BEEF CATTLE
A GUIDE FOR FARMERS
AND LAND MANAGERS
2015
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Agriculture
Services and Biosecurity Operations Division, October 2015
© The State of Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Melbourne 2015.
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright Act 1968.
Authorised by the Victorian Government 1 Spring Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia
First edition 2002
Revised and reprinted March 2007
Revised and reprinted September 2015
ISBN 978-1-74199-055-3 (print)

ISBN 978-1-74199-035-5 (online)
For more information about Agriculture Services visit the website at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or call the
Customer Service Centre on 136 186
Disclaimer
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publica-
tion is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for
any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
Drought Feeding and Management of Beef Cattle 2015
CONTENTS
Key Messages 1
Acknowledgments 1
Glossary of abbreviations 1
Chapter 1 2
Preparing for drought 2
Developing an action plan 2
Courses of action 2
Chapter 2 4
Pasture management and utilisation in drought 4
Maximising winter production 4
Nitrogen fertiliser 4
Pasture as a component of drought rations 4
Chapter 3 6
Monitoring stock condition 6
Feeding cattle for controlled
weight loss 7
Chapter 4 9
Choosing a feed 9
A balanced ration and the nutritional value of different feeds 9
Energy 9
Protein 9
Fibre 10
Dry matter 10
Costing fodders on energy value 12
How to calculate the cost of feed on an energy basis 12
Other factors to consider when buying fodder 14
Drought feeding of stock – the risk of chemical residues 15
Chapter 5 16
Feeding cattle 16
Nutritional requirements of beef cattle 16
Energy and protein requirements of various classes of cattle 17
Minerals 22
Vitamins 22
Feeding straw and urea 22
Molasses 23
Chapter 6 24
Water during a drought 24
Will I have enough water? 24
Animal requirements 24
How to calculate how much water you have 24
Water quality 25
What options are available to reduce water requirements? 25
Actions to address a water shortage 26
Chapter 7 27
Feeding grain to cattle 27
Chapter 8 30
Animal health and welfare 30
Health and welfare problems in beef herds in a drought 30
Class of livestock affected 30
The effect of disease on drought- affected cattle 31
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Chapter 9 32
Feeding in stock containment areas 32
When to use a stock containment area 32
Animal health 34
Chapter 10 35
Early weaning of beef calves 35
Chapter 11 37
Creep feeding of beef calves 37
Chapter 12 39
Opportunity lotfeeding of beef cattle 39
Chapter 13 42
Stock and pasture management at the end of a drought 42
Feeding stock at the end of a drought 42
Pasture recovery after a drought 42
Chapter 14 45
The feed value of unusual feedstuffs 45
High moisture content feeds 45
Blending and levels of feeding 45
Types of feeds 46
By-product energy concentrates 46
By-product protein concentrates 48
By-product roughage 48
Chapter 15 52
Additional information 52
Feed quality assessment for beef cattle 52
Appendix I 54
Weight of hay and silage bales 54
Appendix II 55
Energy tables and calculations 55
Appendix III 56
Pearson’s Square Worksheet 56
List of tables 57
Key Messages
• Monitor stock condition more frequently and adjust supplementary ration accordingly (see chapter 3 for
more information)
• Cattle in forward condition can be carefully managed for controlled weight loss, resulting in reduced
feed costs (see chapter 3 for more information)
• When purchasing feeds, compare feed costs on a cents/MJME basis to ensure value for money (see
chapter 4 for more information)
• When supplementary feeding balance feeds for both energy and protein (see chapter 5 for more
information)
• The maintenance energy requirements for cattle can be calculated using the following calculation:
Maintenance MJME/day = (0.1 x liveweight) + 5 (see chapter 5 for more information)
• Most supplementary feeds are quite dry and supply little moisture to the animal, therefore clean water
of adequate quality and quantity is important (see chapter 6 for more information)
• When feeding grain ensure a fibre source is available to stock (see chapter 7 for more information)
• Introduce grain slowly into the diet of cattle to reduce the occurrence of acidosis (see chapter 7 for more
information)
• Early weaning of calves can significantly reduce herd energy and water requirements (see chapter 10 for
more information)
Acknowledgments
The Department of Economic Development thanks the following people and organisations for their
contribution to this publication:
Phil Franklin, Kate Sargeant, Dougal Purcell, Cheryl Graham, Ross Batten, Tim Hollier, Dr Karin Morgan, Dr
David Champness, Emma Weatherly, Fiona Baker, Meat & Livestock Australia
Glossary of abbreviations
kg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kilograms
g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . grams
mm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . millimetres
cm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . centimetres
l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . litres
m2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . square metres
MJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . megajoules
T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tonnes
ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . metabolisable energy (energy units)
ppm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . parts per million
DM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dry matter
CP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . crude protein
EC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . electrical conductivity
Key Messages, Acknowledgments, Glossary of abbreviations 1

CHAPTER 1
Only cattle strong enough to travel should be
Preparing for drought agisted. It is an advantage to have the agistment
area close to markets so cattle do not have to be
Developing an action plan brought home again.
Droughts are changing situations that require One form of agistment is to send cattle to a
continual reassessment of feed and financial commercial feedlot, particularly if finishing cattle
resources and the ability to take relief measures for a market.
quickly at minimum cost. For these reasons there
Agistment can often be hard to find during dry
is no standard recipe on how to best manage
times – particularly if the drought is widespread –
beef cattle in a drought. No two periods of feed
so other courses of action such as selling or feeding
shortage are the same and a choice of the least-
stock may need to be considered.
cost course of action will depend on such factors
as: Sell stock
• current saleyard prices for stock If you choose this course of action, the crucial
management decisions will be the timing of the
• amount of fodder on hand
sale and the type and number of cattle to be sold.
• funds available for purchase of fodder
Any drought inevitably triggers a period of intense
• availability and reliability of stock water selling with large saleyard yarding and resultant
depressed prices. As much as possible, plan to sell
Courses of action as early as possible to avoid the most depressed
prices and while the cattle are still in good
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1986)
condition.
and the Code of Accepted Farming Practice for
the Welfare of Cattle removes the option of ‘doing The best policy is to sell the less productive animals,
nothing’. Cattle must not be left to starve to death so that at the end of the drought a core of high-
or die of thirst. producing animals will remain.
The following courses of action are open to Generally the best cattle to retain through a
producers: drought are young breeders of good quality
because these will be difficult and expensive to
• agist stock
replace at the end of a prolonged drought. They will
• sell stock provide the basis for bringing a beef herd back into
production.
• feed stock.
The following example sets out the steps of a
• Agistment
selling policy to retain a breeding herd:
Sending cattle away on agistment can be a cheap
• pregnancy test and sell all empty, late- calving
solution to the feeding problem. Agisted animals
and low-producing cows; sell inferior bulls
may even fatten on good quality agistment and
any cattle left at home will have less competition • sell non-breeding cattle: weaners, yearling steers
for feed. and bullocks. Growing stock can be expensive to
feed because of their high energy and protein
Before agisting cattle inspect the agistment area
demands
to check for the following:
• sell aged cows, aged bulls and lightweight heifers
• secure fencing and cattle handling facilities
• wean calves over three months of age and sell or
• good quantity of quality feed
feed separately
• good water supply
• progressively reduce the breeding cow herd.
• stock should be supervised to minimise theft or Reassess the cow herd and sell the poorest
deaths performing cows and heifers. Young breeders
• stock MUST be identified with a National (2-5 years) are the most important to retain.
Livestock Identification System (NLIS) electronic Feed costs, saleyard prices and expected stock
identification tag and movements of the stock water supplies are key factors that need to be
must be recorded on the NLIS database assessed each time the number of stock to sell is
www.nlis.com.au considered.
It is important to obtain and provide vendor
declarations on all cattle sold or purchased, to
meet industry requirements. Vendor declarations
are available from Meat and Livestock Australia
and can be ordered online at www.mla.com.au
1. Preparing for drought 2

Feed Stock
Drought feeding of cattle is most efficient if the
stock are segregated into various classes so that
they can be fed according to their nutritional
requirements.
Suggested classes could be:
• early weaned calves (less than six months)
• weaners (6-13 months)
• yearlings (12-18 months)
• cows with calves at foot
• dry cows
• bulls
• steers and bullocks (over 18 months).
Stock requirements are discussed in chapter 5
Stock feeds vary in their feed value. Moisture
content, protein and energy level together
determine the relative value of one feed against
another. Choosing a feed is discussed in chapter 4.
Your own attitude to risk and the accuracy of your
feed budgeting will determine when you buy in
additional feed.
Developing feed budgets before and during a
drought is key to minimising the financial impact
on your enterprise. Accurate feed budgeting will
minimise costs and increase animal production in
the short and longer term.
1. Preparing for drought 3

CHAPTER 2
Pasture management and Pasture as a component of drought

rations
utilisation in drought The need for supplementary feeding and the
quantity required will depend on the availability
Maximising winter production and quality of the pasture. The following section
Pasture is the cheapest source of feed throughout provides a simple guide to help you estimate
the year. During a green drought however, where pasture quantity and quality to determine the
germination occurs but pasture growth is minimal contribution of the pasture as part of a ration.
due to a dry cold winter, additional feed will be Pasture availability
required.
The quantity of pasture in a paddock is called the
In green droughts use fodder supplements to pasture availability and is measured in kilograms
maximise pasture growth over autumn/winter, of dry matter per hectare (kg DM/ ha). Pasture
lengthen the grazing rotation and build up a bank availability, by definition, is the weight of pasture
of pasture or ‘feed wedge’ ahead of the herd. As from a hectare if it was cut right to ground level
well as helping pasture growth, this will also give and completely dried to remove all moisture.
some height to pasture so that it can respond to
nitrogen fertiliser. Green pasture availability is determined by
measuring the average height of the pasture in
Nitrogen fertiliser centimetres (using a stick or ruler) and calibrating
the height to kg DM/ha using Figure 1. When using
Nitrogen fertiliser can be used to: this method, the first 0.5cm should be excluded
• promote extra growth, and enable a bank of feed from the measurement. Non-digestible species
for fodder conservation such as onion weed should also be excluded from
the measurements.
• maximise autumn/winter growth at the end of a
drought.
Although there are costs involved and adequate
rainfall is still required, it may be an option for
some producers.
The cost of extra pasture produced from nitrogen
fertiliser can be around one third that of grain
(and one quarter that of hay), assuming average
responses from the fertiliser and good utilisation of
the extra pasture grown. A typical response time is
four to six weeks, so action needs to be taken early
to use this option. Note also that stock cannot
be grazed on treated pastures for 21 days after
application because of the risk of nitrate poisoning.
Nitrogen should be used on responsive paddocks.
They must have: Figure 1. The relationship between green pasture height
• a good level of nutrients and pasture availability
• adequate pasture height, 4cm or higher

• productive pasture species.
The response of pastures to nitrogen is also highly
dependent on soil temperature. Higher responses
will be seen in warmer soils.
2. Pasture management and utilisation in drought 4

Dry pasture, however, cannot be calibrated using Pasture quality

Figure 1 because it has a lower moisture content
Pasture quality is determined by the digestibility
to green pasture. For dry pasture use the following
of the green and dead herbage, clover content and
procedure (illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) to get an
the proportion of dead herbage present.
accurate estimate:
With dry herbage, protein content is also
• make a wire square 33 x 33 cm
important, as it can limit the performance of some
• take 15-20 33 x 33 cm pasture cuts (to the classes of stock. The protein level of dry pasture will
ground) from the paddock range from 5-8% of dry matter. The protein level of
green pasture ranges from 12- 30% of dry matter
• dry each sample in the microwave
(depending on the amount of clover present).
• weigh the pasture in grams using kitchen scales
Digestibility is the proportion of the pasture eaten
• multiply the average weight (g) of the samples by that is retained by the grazing animal. For example,
100 to get the kg DM/ha if green pasture has a digestibility of 70%, it means
that 70% of the pasture eaten will be used by the
animal and 30% will pass out as faeces or if the
animal eats 10kg of pasture, 7 kg will be utilized by
the animal and 3 kg excreted. A highly digestible
feed will be digested quicker allowing for greater
intake and hence greater animal production.
Pastures with high digestibility will also be high
in energy (Table 1). Other factors which influence
quality of pasture include:
Green versus dead
The quality of green pastures is higher than dead
herbage of the same species. Quality gradually
declines as pasture ages from the vegetative to
reproductive state.
Difference between pasture species
Figure 2. 1000kg dry matter, 50% digestibility
There is often little difference between annual
and perennial grasses early in the growing season.
Towards the end of the growing season, however,
annuals such as silver grass and barley grass quickly
decline in quality when they produce seed heads
and die. Perennial grasses maintain higher quality
longer and usually have some green material
present.
Legumes are particularly high in protein and usually
have roughly the same energy value as perennial
grasses. Animals gain weight faster when grazing
legume pastures compared to a grass pasture with
the same pasture availability.
Figure 3. 500kg dry matter, 50% digestibility
Table 1. Metabolisable energy (MJME/kgDM) supplied by pasture of different qualities

Pasture Description Dry, poor Dry, improved Going to seed Green, grassy Green, good
species species clover
Digestibility % 40% 50% 60% 70% 75%
Energy Value 4 6 8 11 12
MJME/kgDM
2. Pasture management and utilisation in drought 5

CHAPTER 3
Monitoring stock condition

The body fat reserves of beef cattle are important
at critical stages of the production cycle (growth,
reproduction and lactation) and need to be taken
into consideration when developing drought
feeding rations. By assessing the stock and
the amount of available pasture, the rate of
supplementary feeding can be calculated to enable
animals to reach desired production targets.
The weight of cattle varies with the breed, sex,
age and pregnancy status, so when feeding for
survival during a drought, fat score is used as the
standard. Fat scoring can be assessed manually
and visually.
The aim of fat scoring is to obtain a simple and Figure 5. The degree of fat cover over the short ribs is
reliable estimate of the body fat reserves of live assessed using the fingers and thumb
cattle.
The tail head
Hands-on technique
The degree of fat cover around the tail head is
Two areas of the animal’s body are palpated to assessed by using the fingers and thumb and
assess fat cover (see Figure 4). The two areas are: should be done at the same time as assessing the
• the short ribs short ribs. A score is given depending on the degree
to which palpable fat can be felt.
• around the tail head.
Fat score descriptions
Fat is the only tissue laid down at these sites which
makes them ideal for assessment. Other sites 1. Emaciated
on the body are harder to assess because of the 2. The individual short ribs are sharp to the touch;
difficulty of determining the difference between no tail head fat. The hip bones and ribs are
fat and muscle. prominent (0-2mm at p8 site).
3. The individual short ribs can easily be felt, but
feel rounded, rather than sharp.
4. There is some tissue cover around the tail head.
Individual ribs are no longer visually obvious (3-
6mm at p8 site).
5. The short ribs can only be felt with firm thumb
pressure. Areas either side of tail head have fat
cover which can be easily felt (7-12mm at p8
site).
6. The short ribs cannot be felt and fat cover
around the tail head is easily seen as slight
mounds, soft to touch. Folds of fat are
beginning to develop over ribs and thighs (13-
22mm at p8 site).
Figure 4. The two areas palpated to assess fat cover
7. The bone structure of the animal is no
The short ribs longer noticeable and the tail head is almost
The degree of fat deposition can be gauged by completely buried in fatty tissue (23-32mm at
placing the fingers flat over the short ribs and p8 site).
pressing the thumb into the end of the short ribs 8. Bone structure is hard to distinguish. Tail head
(see Figure 5). A fat score is given according to the buried in fat. All other sites show obvious soft
ease with which the individual short ribs can be felt fat deposits (33+mm at p8 site).
with the thumb.
The score can be varied half a score depending
upon the amount of tail head fat.
For example, if the short rib palpation (using the
thumb) gives score 2H but the tail head is a typical
3, the score would then be 3L (H = high, L = low).
3. Monitoring stock condition 6

Visual assessment Select a number of poorer animals in the mob to

monitor regularly and then assess their progress
Visual assessment is less accurate but will give a
towards the desired fat store every weeks to gauge
good idea with paddock inspections of cattle. The
the direction of the mob. If the animals’ progress
two main factors associated with cattle condition
is too quick or too slow, you can then adjust the
and finish are fat and muscle. These are assessed
ration to compensate.
visually at three main sites – the rear, brisket and
flank (Figure 6).
As cattle become fatter:
Table 2. Minimum and desired fat scores for
• the ribs become less visible different classes of stock
• the tail head softens with rounds of fat Minimum fat Fat score
increasing behind the tail score ideal for
• muscle seams on the hindquarters become less production
evident Dry cows 2 3
brisket, flank, cod and twist all fill out giving a Cows – point of 3L (autumn) 3H (autumn)
squarer appearance.There is no muscle in the tail calving
2H (spring) 3L (spring)
head, flank, brisket and cod. If these areas are filled
out, then they will be filled with fat which therefore Cows – joining 2H 3-3H
makes them ideal sites to assess fat cover. Cows – mid 2H 3
The same description of fat scores is used for lactation
manual and visual assessment. Weaners 2 2-3
Bulls at joining 3 3H
Feeding cattle for controlled

weight loss
When serious drought conditions develop, a
program of controlled weight loss should be
considered as a last resort.
What is controlled weight loss? Controlled
weight loss is weight loss at a rate and to a point
consistent with survival under the expected feeding
and environmental conditions.
The expected conditions will include adverse
weather during and at the end of the drought,
and management of associated health problems,
Figure 6. Reference points visual assessment including parasitism.
Muscling Cattle fed for survival require a greater degree of
Indicators of muscling in order of importance are: management skill, more frequent supervision and
protection from the elements to ensure that their
• thickness and roundness of the hindquarters welfare is not compromised.
• width through the stifle (lower hindquarter) There is virtually no productive output at this
• width across the back and the loin level of feeding. Pregnant cows should be fed
to allow them to calve without complications.
• stance – how wide apart the animal stands, that Early weaning should be considered so that the
is, the width between the hind legs and width cows can be treated as ‘dry’ adults that will have
between the forelegs. considerably lower nutritional requirements than
Fat cattle look ‘blocky’ and square, well- muscled lactating cows. The calves, however, will need high
cattle look rounded. Observe cattle from behind to protein, good quality feed.
assess thickness through the lower hindquarters Breeding stock fed only for survival are less likely
(stifle area). Heavily muscled stock are thickest to be fertile so much lower conception rates
here; they also stand with their legs further apart should be expected. This is a sacrifice that has
than lightly muscled stock. to be considered in the face of a serious drought.
Target fat scores In some instances, it will be worthwhile feeding
breeding stock to increase conception rates and
There will always be a range of fat scores within a minimize the long term impact of the drought.
mob of cattle. If the range is wide, splitting mobs
according to fat score is common practice and a
good idea. This will enable you to specifically match
rations for each class of animal to achieve target
fat scores.
3. Monitoring stock condition 7

Survival requirements
The rate of weight loss should be controlled to In an adult cow, one fat score is the equivalent of
ensure that cattle do not lose more than 0.5kg/day approximately 70kg. At a rate of 0.5kg weight loss
if older than 12 months. per day, it would therefore take around 140 days
for an animal to lose one fat score. Remember,
Cattle less than 12 months old should not be cattle should not be allowed to fall below a fat
allowed to lose weight. score of 2.
It is extremely important to monitor stock very Also it takes 55 MJME to put 1kg LW back on.
closely during a period of weight loss.
Failure to control rates of weight loss will make
To avoid greater rates of weight loss it may cattle prone to starvation ketosis, with heavily
be necessary to begin supplementary feeding pregnant, fat cattle being the most susceptible.
some time before the paddock feed supplies are
exhausted so that animals become familiar with The consequences of feeding for survival
the ration. The breeding pattern in a beef herd can be
As cattle lose weight energy is released back to the seriously disrupted if breeders are only fed survival
animal. For each kg lost, 28 MJME is returned to diets. The following points should be considered
the animal. If feeding for controlled weight loss of before allowing stock to lose weight:
0.5 kg/day you can use this information as follows: • heifers should be at least 300kg (British breeds)
A 500 kg dry cow requires 55 MJME/day to or 320kg (Euro breeds) to achieve cycling for
maintain her body weight. joining. They should gain a further 100kg during
pregnancy in order to calve without problems
If feeding a supplement that was providing 9
MJME/kgDM, she would require: • liveweight gain is almost impossible to achieve
when maintenance requirements are high –
55 MJME/day ÷ 9 MJME/kgDM = 6.1 kgDM/day such as when the animal is lactating. It is often
of that supplement to maintain her weight. cheaper to maintain cattle in good condition up
to the point of calving
But if you were to allow her to lose 0.5kgLW/
day, instead of the 55 MJME/day, she would only • cycling rate will be higher if the herd is on a rising
require: plain of nutrition.
55 MJME/day – 14 MJME (returned from the 0.5

kg weight loss) = 41 MJME/day
And therefore only require:
41 MJME/day ÷ 9 MJME/kgDM = 4.5 kgDM/day
of the above supplement.
4. Choosing a feed 8
CHAPTER 4
Choosing a feed Protein

Protein is measured as percentage of crude
protein. The protein requirements of cattle vary
A balanced ration and the nutritional according to the weight and type of animal, as well
value of different feeds as the level of production (growth, reproduction
It is important to provide stock with a ration and lactation). Crude protein values give a good
that will enable them to achieve a desired level indication of whether or not a particular foodstuff
of performance. Energy, protein and fibre are will satisfy the protein needs of an animal.
essential components of a balanced ration. Green pasture is high in protein (leafy pasture is 25-
Minerals and vitamins should also be taken into 30% protein). Short green pasture can go a long
consideration. way to lifting the level of protein in the diet. When
no green pasture is available, protein intake may
The following section outlines the nutritional be below requirements. Failing to meet protein
components of a range of foodstuffs fed to cattle. requirements will result in the energy in the diet not
The data presented should be considered as being completely used and may even result in stock
a guide only, hence it is advisable to have a using the breakdown of muscle to overcome the
sample analysed by a registered feed analysis shortfall of protein.
laboratory See Chapter 15 for a list of feed analysis Growing stock have high demands for protein.
companies. Steers and heifers weighing between 180kg and
400kg require 13% protein in their diet to grow
Energy 1kg/day. Early weaned calves have even higher
Knowing the metabolisable energy (ME) values of requirements of 16% protein.
different feeds is important for two main reasons: Some supplements, such as processed grain and
• the ability of the animal to maintain their weight pellets, are medium to high in protein and will
and production level (growth, reproduction and be useful if they are cost effective and practical.
lactation) is highly dependent on meeting specific Supplements that are likely to be low in protein
energy requirements. Calculation of the amount include cereal hays, straws, low- quality pasture
of feed required to meet production targets is hays and some cereal grains.
only possible when the energy value of the various Lupins are very high in protein and are often added
feeds that make up a ration is known to a cereal grain to increase the protein level of the
• deciding to buy feed should be based on the cost diet.
per unit of energy rather than the cost per tonne. Forms of non-protein nitrogen such as urea are
See later in this chapter for details on costing often used to increase the rate of digestion of
feeds on an energy basis. high-fibre feeds such as hay and straw. In general
A problem with feeding based on energy values is terms, at least two-thirds of an animal’s crude
getting the stock to physically eat enough. Feeds protein intake should be provided as true (natural)
high in fibre, such as mature pasture hay, cereal protein. That is, not more than one-third of the
hay and straw, cannot be eaten in large quantities crude protein should be represented by non-protein
to provide the required energy because they are nitrogen (NPN). These additives should not be
digested slowly and stock physically can’t fit included in levels above 2% of the diet.
enough in.
This shortfall in energy requirements results in the
animal using body fat to meet its needs. To avoid
this, do not use low energy feeds as a sole ration.
Mix high-fibre feeds with higher quality feeds,
such as pasture, silage, good quality hay, grain
or some other high energy- feed to meet overall
requirements. The higher the energy requirement,
the lower the amount of low-quality feed that can
be used in the diet.
If using low-fibre feeds, ensure there is adequate

fibre in the diet. Hay, straw, silage and pasture all
have a lot of fibre and can be used to keep fibre at
the desired level. Oats are the safest and highest
fibre grain with 29% NDF, compared with barley at
14% NDF and wheat at around11% NDF.
Too much fibre, however, limits the amount an
animal can eat and therefore their performance.
For example, if cows with young calves are grazing
poor pasture and fed a supplement of low-quality
hay, their energy intake would be too low. This
would result in cow weight loss and poor calf
growth. In these instances, a low- fibre, high-energy
supplement (such as grain or pellets) should be
provided.
Dry matter
Fibre It is important to have some idea of the dry matter
Generally, cattle eating pasture will get enough (DM) content of foodstuffs. All measurements of
fibre in their diet. Cattle need a certain amount energy and protein are made on a Dry Matter basis
of fibre in their diet to ensure that the rumen so feeds of different moisture contents can be
functions properly. compared.
Too little fibre can result in acidosis, as the feed is Silage has a high moisture content, around 45% dry
digested too quickly and the rumen isn’t able to matter. This means that 1 tonne of silage has only
function properly. 450kg of dry matter and 550kg of water. Grain has
a much lower moisture content, around 90% dry
Too much fibre will restrict intake and animal matter. This means that 1 tonne of grain has 900kg
performance because the feed is digested too of dry matter and only 100kg of water.
slowly.
Knowing the dry matter percentage enables you
Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is a measure of all to work out exactly how much to feed to provide a
the fibre (the digestible and indigestible parts) and certain amount of energy.
indicates how bulky the feed is. A high NDF will
mean lower intake. Conversely, lower NDF values Example 1: If silage has an energy level of 11 MJME/
lead to higher intakes. The minimum level of fibre in Kg DM, how much silage do I need to feed 50MJME
the diet is 30% NDF for all classes of cattle. of energy?
Low-fibre, high-starch diets (grains) cause the Silage required:
rumen to become acidic. These feeds include cereal 50 MJME ÷ 11 MJME/kgDM = 4.5 kgDM
grains, some by-products and certain vegetables
such as potatoes. These feeds need to be 4.5 kgDM ÷ 0.45 (silage 45% dry matter)
introduced into the diet slowly. See Chapter 7 for = 10 kg as fed
more detail on how to introduce cattle to grain.
Table 3. Energy and protein compositions of common livestock feeds (Pasture, hay, silage, straw)
Metabolisable
Approx dry energy Crude protein % dry matter
Feed matter
(DM) % (ME) (ME/kg DM)
(MJ/Kg DM)
Average Range Average Range
GRAZED PASTURES
Grass-dominant pasture 3-14 1-37
Young, immature 23 11 25
Mature 40 7 5
Clover-dominant pasture 4-12 1-35
Immature 15 11 30
Mature 30 4 7
Lucerne 4-13 3-41
Young, immature 17 11 30
Full bloom 24 8 15
GRAZED CEREAL CROPS
Barley/Oats 7-13 3-33
Early vegetative 19 9 20
Post-bloom 21 10 8
HAY
Pasture hay, grass dominant 5-11 1-30
Flowering 80 10 9
Two weeks after flowering 85 9 8
Pasture hay, subclover 80 9 7-11 13 8-26
dominant Flowering
Lucerne hay* 5-11 6-28
Pre-flowering 85 9 5-12 15
Flowering 90 8 14
Oaten/wheaten hay 5-11 1-16
Flowering 85 9 7
Milk stage 87 8 5
Ripe seed 90 8 3
Canola hay 70 11 8-13 17 4-27
SILAGES
Grass dominant 45 10 7-11 14 4-23
Legume dominant 44 10 8-12 15 8-28
Lucerne 51 10 7-11 19 11-27
Cereal 46 9 6-11 11 4-21
Canola 60 9 6-10 17 9-26
CEREAL STRAWS
Barley, oaten, wheaten 90 5 4-7 2 1-4
Table 4. Energy and protein compositions of common grains (whole and processed)
IMPORTANT Approx Metabolisable energy Crude protein
dry matter % dry matter
– Note the (ME)
(DM) %
difference in (MJ/Kg DM) (ME/kg DM)
energy levels When fed When fed rolled or
for whole and WHOLE to coarsely milled to cattle
processed grain cattle
Average Average Range Average Range
Wheat 90 9 13 12-15 12 8-23
Barley 90 8.4 13 11-13 11 6-17
Triticale 90 10.4 13 12-15 12 9-15
Oats 90 10 11 9-13 9 6-12
Lupins 90 11 13 12-14 30 26-40
Peas 90 11 13 10-13 23 18-29
Maize 90 13 13.5 12-14 9 8-13
Safflower seeds 90 13 7-12 25 20-37
Rice (dehulled) 90 12 11-14 7 7-9
Rye 90 14 11
Sorghum 90 10 13 11
Pellets 90 N/A 12 10-14 12 11-16
WARNING: As seen from the very large ranges for each feed type, feeds vary considerably in their
nutritional value depending on growing conditions, stage of harvesting and storage conditions. The only
way to be sure of the nutritional value of a particular batch of feed is to have it tested for energy, protein
and dry matter.
Costing fodders on energy value How to calculate the cost of feed on an

Fodders such as grain and hay are always bought energy basis
and sold on a price per tonne (or some other unit Example 2: Which feed is the best value on an
of weight or size) of feed. Feeds contain moisture, energy basis?
however, and therefore need to be converted to dry
matter figures before they can be compared. Dry Energy
Cost/
The most important basis for comparison of matter MJ/Kg/
tonne
feedstuffs is their energy content. Tables 3, 4, 17 % DM
and 18 list the energy and protein values of a range FEED A $195 85% 10MJ
of foodstuffs. It is important to realise that those
FEED B $230 90% 13MJ
values are all expressed on a dry matter (DM)
basis.
The following section aims to help producers
calculate which feed is the best value for money.
To make comparisons you must first look at the
energy and dry matter content of the feedstuff.
FEED A: Calculate the cost/MJ of

metabolisable energy FEED B: Calculate the cost/MJ of
Step 1 metabolisable energy
Calculate the price of the feed on a dry matter Step 1
basis @ 85% dry matter
Calculate the price of the feed on a dry matter
X 10 ÷ = basis @ 90% dry matter
$/tonne % dry cents/ X 10 ÷ =
as fed matter kgDM
$/tonne % dry cents/
195 X 10 ÷ 85 = 23 as fed matter kgDM
$/tonne % dry cents/ 230 X 10 ÷ 90 = 25.6
as fed matter kgDM
$/tonne % dry cents/
Step 2 as fed matter kgDM
Calculate the cost per MJ of Energy Step 2
÷ = Calculate the cost per MJ of Energy
cents/ MJME/ cents/ ÷ =
MJME
kgDM kgDM cents/ MJME/ cents/
MJME
23 ÷ 10 = 2.3 kgDM kgDM
cents/ MJME/ cents/ 25.6 ÷ 13 = 1.97
MJME
kgDM kgDM cents/ MJME/ cents/
MJME
kgDM kgDM
Therefore, Feed B is better value per unit of energy,
costing 1.97c/MJME, compared to 2.3c/MJME for
Feed A.
Table 5. Cents per megajoule of energy calculated from $/tonne and MJ/kg DM
$ / tonne
MJ/
Kg
Fodder DM 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500
Grain / 14.0 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0
pellets
12.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.7 3.9 4.2 4.4 4.6
(Assuming
10.0 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.2 4.4 4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6
90% DM)
8.0 1.7 2.1 2.4 2.8 3.1 3.5 3.8 4.2 4.5 4.9 5.2 5.6 5.9 6.3 6.6 6.9
Hay 10.0 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.9 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.1 4.4 4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.9
(Assuming 8.0 1.8 2.2 2.6 2.9 3.3 3.7 4.0 4.4 4.8 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.6 7.0 7.4
85% DM)
6.0 2.5 2.9 3.4 3.9 4.4 4.9 5.4 5.9 6.4 6.9 7.4 7.8 8.3 8.8 9.3 9.8
Silage 14.0 2.2 2.7 3.1 3.6 4.0 4.5 4.9 5.4 5.8 6.3 6.7 7.1 7.6 8.0 8.5 8.9
(Assuming 12.0 2.6 3.1 3.7 4.2 4.7 5.2 5.7 6.3 6.8 7.3 7.8 8.3 8.9 9.4 9.9 10.4
40% DM)
10.0 3.1 3.8 4.4 5.0 5.6 6.3 6.9 7.5 8.1 8.8 9.4 10.0 10.6 11.3 11.9 12.5
8.0 3.9 4.7 5.5 6.3 7.0 7.8 8.6 9.4 10.2 10.9 11.7 12.5 13.3 14.1 14.8 15.6
Straw 6.0 2.3 2.8 3.2 3.7 4.2 4.6 5.1 5.6 6.0 6.5 6.9 7.4 7.9 8.3 8.8 9.3
(Assuming 4.0 3.5 4.2 4.9 5.6 6.3 6.9 7.6 8.3 9.0 9.7 10.4 11.1 11.8 12.5 13.2 13.9
90% DM)
2.0 6.9 8.3 9.7 11.1 12.5 13.9 15.3 16.7 18.1 19.4 20.8 22.2 23.6 25.0 26.4 27.8
Example 3: Which is the best value for money – Cost of freight

wheat or oats?
The bulkiness and handling difficulties of some
Wheat: feedstuffs (for example, feeds high in moisture
$300/t, 90% DM, 12 MJ/kg DM such as carrot pulp) mean higher freight costs
compared to concentrated feeds such as grains.
Oats:
$275/t, 90% DM 10 MJ/kg DM Noxious weeds
Cost per unit of energy (Table 5): Wheat = Take care to buy fodder that is free of noxious
2.8 c/MJ, Oats = 3.1 c/MJ weeds. Weeds such as Paterson’s curse, Bathurst
burr, Variegated thistle, etc. can be a problem
Therefore, wheat is the cheapest feed in this
for years after a drought has ended if they are
example.
accidentally introduced onto a property. It is
Example 4: Which is the best value for money – important to inspect all samples for weed seeds,
silage or hay? however it is not always possible to detect a
potential problem or even to refuse delivered feed
Silage:
on these grounds.
$150/t, 40% DM, 12MJ/kg DM
One way to minimise potential weed problems
Hay:
is to restrict feeding out suspect fodder to a
$250/t, 85% DM, 8MJ/kg DM
limited number of paddocks. Stock must be boxed
Cost per unit of energy (Table 5): Silage = 3.1c/MJ, together in large mobs on stable soils. This can
Hay = 3.7c/MJ have the added advantage of preserving some
vegetation on de-stocked areas of the farm,
Therefore, silage is the cheapest feed in this
reducing the likelihood of severe erosion.
example.
Note: Hay and silage are often sold on a price per Tips for buying hay
bale. See Appendix 1 for a guide to the common Hay can be a good management option in some
weight of small and large hay and silage bales. situations, but it can be expensive and often hard
to find a quality supply.
Other factors to consider when buying An average dry cow requires 8.5kg DM/day of
fodder hay to maintain herself (which is almost half a
The cost of feeding cattle is not just the cost to buy small bale). If high rates of grain are fed, % of the
feed. Labour, freight, extra storage and handling diet will need to be good-quality hay to maintain
costs, and the likely amount of wastage should also adequate fibre levels.
be taken into account. If you are buying hay from other districts then
Grain processing transport costs will be higher. Only buy high quality
hay to avoid paying transport on low value feed.
Cattle only derive the full value from grains such Buying locally if possible has the advantage of low
as wheat, triticale and barley if the grain is rolled transport costs and knowing the quality of the hay.
or coarsely milled (Table 4). Processing equipment
can be expensive, but may be worth the investment When buying, find out the feed value, how long it
if used on a large enough scale. Otherwise feed has been stored, the amount of legume or clover
companies sell rolled or crushed grain, but at and whether there are any weeds present. Ask the
a higher price than whole grain. Remember to vendor if any has been sold to your district so that
calculate the cost c/MJME between the whole you can inspect hay from the same batch before
grain and the crushed grain if looking to purchase. buying.
Storage, handling, feeding out It is also a good idea to ask about the pasture
species, the type of shed where the hay is stored
Ask the feed company about storage requirements and the stage of maturity that the hay was baled.
of the feed you are looking at buying. Consider If the vendor has good knowledge of their hay then
what equipment and infrastructure you will need to they will be a genuine seller rather than a dealer
store and feed out purchased feed. If you are using in hay.
self feeders, ask how well the feed will flow through
them. If buying lucerne, be aware that first cut lucerne
is of lower quality, will have a lower nutritive value
Availability and a greater number of annual weed seeds. If you
There is little use in starting cattle on a feed that is do buy lucerne, make sure it has a fine stalk. It is
not readily available. also important to have a method of feeding that
will avoid the loss of leaf. The best method is to
Switching cattle too quickly from one feed to feed lucerne in a feeder, or to mill the hay and feed
another carries with it a high risk of serious in a feed trough. Dampening the lucerne hay the
digestive upsets. day before feeding will help to hold the leaf on the
stem and reduce losses.
When buying hay try to purchase by weight and There is a very real possibility that the meat
then calculate a price per tonne delivered to your from animals that are fed products containing
property. The hay seller may have a feed analysis chemical contaminants will themselves become
for the hay, which will give an accurate content contaminated with these chemicals. Producers
of the metabolisable energy MJME/kgDM, crude should be aware of the Export Slaughter Interval
protein and fibre content. If these figures are (ESI) and the Withholding Period (WHP).
available you can price your hay on a c/MJ ME
The ESI is the time that should elapse between
basis and compare the various feeds on offer. If you
administration of a agricultural or veterinary
prefer, have your own feed sample analysed.
chemical to animals and their slaughter for export.
Drought feeding of stock – the risk of The WHP is the minimum period that must lapse
chemical residues between last administration or application of
a agricultural or veterinary chemical, including
Many producers are tempted to try a variety treated feed and the slaughter of the animal
of alternate feedstuffs. All information on the for human consumption. WHPs are mandatory
feed value of unusual feedstuffs is contained for domestic slaughter and on the label of every
in Chapter 14. Alternative feedstuffs can range registered product.
from waste plant products and vegetable matter
from manufacturing processes, such as potatoes, Chemical-withholding periods must be observed
citrus pulp, cabbage leaves and carrots, to for any chemical used in a crop. In some instances
manufacturing by-products such as cotton waste chemical use earlier on in the season may preclude
and sawdust. the option of cutting for hay. It is essential that
withholding periods be observed.
Apart from their generally poor nutritional
value, these ‘unusual’ feedstuffs could also be For this reason, the best policy is not to feed
contaminated with high levels of chemical residue. unusual feedstuffs to stock without first
Potentially all supplementary feeds may contain establishing that the material is suitable.
chemical contaminants, but ‘unusual’ feedstuffs, Producers should ask the supplier of unusual
not normally used for feeding livestock, pose a feedstuffs to certify that the material they are
much greater risk. supplying is suitable for the purpose for which it
Agricultural chemicals used on fruit and vegetable will be used.
crops are typically designed to be eliminated from Where possible, producers should obtain a
the edible parts of the plant at harvesting. Some commodities vendor declaration on any feedstuffs
residues, however, may still be present in the waste they buy.
plant material after processing and problems can
occur when this is fed to stock.
Agricultural chemicals are not designed to be
ingested and little is known about either their
effect on livestock or the persistence of chemical
residues in animal tissue.
CHAPTER 5
Minimum ME concentration of diet
Feeding cattle
The minimum ME concentration of the diet is
calculated from the relevant values for maximum
Nutritional requirements of beef cattle daily dry matter intake and metabolisable energy
It is important to know the approximate weight requirement.
of each animal and the level of production (for To achieve the stated level of production, it is
example, growth rate or stage of reproduction) necessary to ensure that the cattle have available
that is expected from it. For example, a 300kg a diet which has an energy level at least as high as
steer to grow at 0.5kg per day; or a mature, dry the minimum value shown in the sixth column in
cow which is seven months pregnant. Tables 6-9.
Although the production of beef cattle can be As an example of how these values could be used,
affected by a whole range of dietary mineral and a 300kg steer requires a diet with a minimum ME
vitamin deficiencies (or excesses), by far the most concentration of 10 to grow at 1kg per day. This
important nutritional limitations to production, are is possible on young, growing green pasture (ME
energy and/or protein. value of 11), but not on mature, dry pasture (ME
This chapter tabulates the energy and protein value of 7). See Tables 3, 4 and 18 for the value of
requirements of various classes of cattle for a different feeds.
range of liveweights and growth rates.
Crude protein percentage of dietary dry matter
Explanation of the terms used in the Tables 6-9 show that the protein requirements of
following tables cattle vary according to the weight and type of
Liveweight, growth rate animal, as well as the expected level of production.
To precisely plan feeding management, you need Even when the ME concentration of the diet is
to have some idea of liveweights and growth rates adequate, if the protein percentage is inadequate,
of cattle. This can only be achieved by weighing then the desired level of production will not be
cattle. achieved.
Maximum intake If protein is the limiting nutrient in a diet, cattle

may not be able to eat enough to satisfy their
Cattle have an upper limit to appetite. This can maintenance requirements. In some situations non-
be defined either in terms of a percentage of their protein nitrogen (NPN) supplements such as urea
liveweight or as a weight of feed. One of the most can significantly stimulate appetite. See later in the
common issues in a drought is that animals are chapter for further information on urea.
physically not able to consume enough supplement
to meet a required level of nutrition each day. When pasture dries off, there can be plenty of dry-
See Tables 6-9 for maximum intake for different standing feed of low quality. Feeding animals NPN
rations. stimulates rumen microbes and increases feed
intake, so that cattle consume more dry feed than
Metabolisable energy (ME) requirement they otherwise would.
The ME value of a foodstuff is the amount of Animals can be fed a NPN source such as urea in
energy that a ruminant animal (sheep or cattle) the form of blocks, licks or urea fortified molasses.
is able to use, per kilogram that it consumes. The Adequate dry-standing feed must be available,
units of ME are megajoules (MJ) per kilogram of however, or these supplements will simply be an
dry matter (DM) of the particular foodstuff. extremely expensive source of energy.
The ME requirement of an animal can be accurately
estimated, as long as its weight and level of
production (for example growth rate or stage of
reproduction) are specified.
5. Feeding cattle 16
Energy and protein requirements of various classes of cattle

Table 6. Steers and heifers (after weaning) (See Table 14 for early weaned, lighter calves)
Liveweight Growth Maximum daily dry Metabolisable Minimum ME Crude protein
(kg) rate matter(DM) energy (ME) concentration percentage
(kg/ intake requirement of diet of dietary dry
day) (MJME/day) (MJME/kg DM) matter
% of (kg)
liveweight
0 2.9 4.3 22 5.2* 8
150 0.5 2.9 4.3 37 8.7 12
1.0 2.9 4.3 48 11.2 13
0 2.8 5.5 26 4.8* 8
200 0.5 2.8 5.5 44 8.0 11
1.0 2.8 5.5 57 10.4 13
0 2.5 7.6 35 4.6* 8
300 0.5 2.5 7.6 56 7.4 10
1.0 2.5 7.6 73.5 9.7 13
0 2.4 9.4 45 4.8* 8
400 0.5 2.4 9.4 72 7.6 9
1.0 2.4 9.4 94.5 10 13
0 2.1 10.7 55 5.1* 7
500 0.5 2.1 10.7 82.5 7.7 10
1.0 2.1 10.7 110 10.2 12
* Cattle on these diets may not eat to full appetite because of the very poor quality (low ME values) of
these particular diets.
Table 7. Cows dry, pregnant mature*

(kg) rate (kg/ matter(DM) energy (ME) concentration of percentage
day) intake requirement diet of dietary dry
(MJME/day) (MJME/kg DM) matter
% of (kg)
liveweight
350 0 2.4 8.5 49-85 5.7-10 6
400 0 2.3 9.4 54-90 5.7-9.6 6
450 0 2.2 10.1 59-95 5.8-9.4 6
500 0 2.1 10.7 64-100 5.9-9.3 6
550 0 2.0 11.2 69-105 6.2-9.4 6
* Range of values for cows which are 6 months pregnant to point of calving, assuming a 40kg calf birthweight
Table 8. Cows with suckling calves 1 - 4 months old, assuming eventual calf weaning weight of 250kgLW
% of (kg)
liveweight
350* 0 2.4 8.5 90 - 117 10.6 10
0.5 2.4 8.5 114 - 141 13.4 11
400* 0 2.3 9.4 95 - 122 10.1 10
0.5 2.3 9.4 122 - 149 12.9 11
450 0 2.2 10.1 100 - 127 9.9 10
500 0 2.1 10.7 105 - 132 9.8 10
550 0 2.0 11.2 110 - 137 9.8 10
Young cows at these weights probably need to put on some weight after calving (for example, 0.5kg/day)
because they have not yet reached their adult weight and therefore need better feed than older cows.
Table 9. Bulls
% of (kg)
liveweight
400 1.0 2.4 9.4 94 10 13
500 0.5 2.1 10.7 88 8.2 11
1.0 2.1 10.7 115 10.7 12
0 2.0 11.7 65 5.5 10
600 0.5 2.0 11.7 97 8.3 11
1.0 2.0 11.7 130 11.1 12
800 0 1.8 14.4 85 5.9 10
0.5 1.8 14.4 127 8.8 10
See appendix II for calculations and equations used to derive the figures in tables 6-9
Note: These tables are a guide only. With natural variation between cattle, responses to feed levels will
differ. It is important to monitor stock condition regularly and adjust the diet accordingly. If stock are
losing condition, increase the energy on offer. Check they can eat enough of the diet on offer to satisfy
their maintenance needs.
Table 10. Quantities for full hand feeding (kg/hd/day) for common classes of stock
Energy Hay Grain:Hay Grain:Hay Hay:Grain Grass Grass
Required 50:50 70:30 70:30 Silage Silage
MJ/day
Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg Kg/
hay grain hay grain hay hay grain silage day
Adult dry 59 8.2 3.3 3.3 4.3 1.9 5 2.1 12.6 Nil
stock (450kg)
Pregnant 95 13.2* 5.3 5.3 6.7 3.1 7.9 3.5 20.3 Nil
cow point
of calving
(450kg)
Pregnant 106 14.7* 5.9 5.9 7.6* 3.4* 8.8 3.9 22.7* 0.5
heifer point
of calving
(400kg)
Lactating cow 127 17.6*# 7.1 7.1 9.1* 4* 10.6 4.6 27.2*# Nil
(450kg) plus
calf (4 mths)
Lactating 149 20.5* 8.3 8.3 10.7* 4.6* 12.3 5.5 31.8*# 0.5
heifer (400kg)
plus calf (4
mths)
Weaner steer/ 30 4.2 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.9 2.5 1.1 6.5 0
heifer (250kg) 51 7.1 #
2.8 2.8 3.7 1.6 4.3 1.9 10.9 #
0.5
66 9.2 *#
3.7#
3.7#
4.4 #
1.8 ##
5.6 *#
2.4 *#
14.2 #
1
Yearling steer/ 40 5.5 2.2 2.2 2.9 1.2 3.4 1.4 8.6 0
heifer (350kg) 64 8.9# 3.5 3.5 4.6 2 5.5 2.3 13.7 #
0.5
84 11.7 *#
4.7 #
4.7 #
6.1 #
2.6 #
7.1 *#
3 *#
18 #
1
• The figures in this table are ‘as fed’ rather than on a dry matter basis.
• Assumptions for this table: Grain 12 MJME/kgDM, 90% DM; Hay 8.5 MJME/kgDM, 85% DM; Grass
silage 10.4 MJME/kgDM, 45% DM. Heifers are assumed to be growing at 0.5 kg/day giving birth to a
30kg calf
# These rations will not meet the protein requirements to achieve the stated level of performance.
* Stock may not be able to physically consume this much feed in a day.
Balancing the diet

It is important to consider both the energy and protein levels of the feed on offer to stock. Buying in
feed that doesn’t meet the needs of the cattle or feeding at the wrong levels can quickly become a costly
mistake.
A method called Pearson’s Square allows two supplements being fed to be balanced in the diet in terms
of both energy and protein
Pearson’s Square – Balancing the diet for energy and protein
Example: 500 kg cows with 1 month old calves at foot.
From Table 8, we can see that these cow/calf units require 105 MJME/day in energy and 10% crude
protein and can eat a maximum 10.7 kgDM in a day.
The following feed is available:
Feed 1 Barley 13 MJME/kgDM 12% Crude Protein 85% dry matter

Feed 2 Hay 9 MJME/kgDM 9% Crude Protein 85% dry matter
Protein % in Protein % in
feed 1 (Barley) feed 2 (Hay)
12 9
Difference in protein
between feed 1 and
required protein level Required
gives us the parts Protein %
of feed 2 required in 10
the diet
Parts of feed 2 Parts of feed

(hay) required 1 (barley)
in diet required in diet
Total parts (E) = 2 + 1
2 1
=3
Proportion (%) of feed 1 (barley) in diet = (1 ÷ 3) x 100 = 33% or 0.33

Proportion (%) of feed 2 (hay) in diet = (2 ÷ 3) x 100 = 67% or 0.67
Amount of energy needed from feed 1 (barley)

Proportion of barley in diet Animal requirements MJME/day Amount of energy needed
from barley MJME/day
x =
0.33 105 35 MJME/day

KgDM required of feed 1 (barley)
Amount of energy Energy value of feed 1 (barley) Amount required of feed 1
(barley)
Needed from barley ÷ MJME/kgDM =
kgDM
MJME/day
35 13 2.7
Amount of feed required on an as fed basis (barley)
Amount required of feed 1 ÷ Dry matter of feed 1 (barley) = Kg as fed per head per day
(barley) of feed 1 (barley)
(expressed as a decimal ie 90%
kgDM = 0.9)
2.7 0.9 3.0
Amount of energy needed from feed 2 (hay)

Proportion of hay in diet Animal requirements MJME/day Amount of energy needed
from hay MJME/day
x =
0.67 105 70 MJME/day
KgDM required of feed 2 (hay)
Amount of energy Energy value of feed 2 (hay) Amount required of feed 2
(hay)
Needed from hay ÷ MJME/kgDM =
kgDM
MJME/day
70 9 7.8
Amount of feed required on an as fed basis (hay)
Amount required of feed 2 Dry matter of feed 2 (hay) Kg as fed per head per day
(hay) of feed 2 (hay)
÷ (expressed as a decimal ie 85% = =
kgDM 0.85)
7.8 0.85 9.2
It can be seen that each cow calf unit requires 3.0 kg barley as fed (2.7 kgDM) and 9.2 kg hay as fed (7.8
kgDM) to meet the energy requirements of 105 MJME/head/day and to supply the required protein level.
It is important to check to see if the calculated diet is able to be consumed by the cow calf unit. In this
case the cow calf unit can consume 10.7 kgDM and the formulated diet will be providing 10.5 kgDM (2.7
kgDM from the barley and 7.8 kgDM from the hay)
This diet is balanced for protein and energy and will allow the cow to maintain body condition and allow
for growth of the calf.
Note: With natural variation between cattle, responses to feed levels will differ. It is important to
monitor stock condition regularly and adjust the diet accordingly. If stock are losing condition, increase
the energy on offer. Check they can eat enough of the diet on offer to satisfy their requirements.
See Appendix III for a blank Pearson’s Square worksheet
Minerals Feeding straw and urea

When animals are removed from pasture and rely Straw is a generally cheap and available source of
solely on a drought ration mineral supplementation roughage (fibre) during a drought, however it is a
may be required. Calcium (agricultural lime) and poor quality feed for ruminants. Being very high in
sodium (salt) are the most commonly required fibre, low in energy and very low in protein, makes
mineral supplements. straw very slow to digest which means that the
animal physically can’t eat enough to satisfy even
Calcium its maintenance requirement.
Diets that have high grain percentages (greater
Treating straw with urea can lift the feed value
than 50%) are generally calcium deficient.
of the straw and, when fed in conjunction with
To prevent calcium deficiency, add ground low quantities of grain, can provide a low-cost
agricultural limestone to cereal grain at a ratio of maintenance diet for cattle.
1 part of limestone per 100 parts of grain (1%). If
Treating straw with urea provides the microbes
roughage represents 50% or more of the diet then
in the rumen with the nitrogen they need to grow
calcium is generally not required.
and multiply and break down the straw more
Sodium quickly.
Diets that contain high grain percentages may The result is that the straw is digested more
require sodium (salt) to be added to the ration to rapidly, thereby increasing appetite and allowing
prevent a sodium deficiency. the animal to eat more.
Add 0.5 parts of salt to 100 parts grain (0.5%). Like any new feed, animals will take between 3 and
7 days to adjust to eating the urea-treated straw
If stock water contains high levels of salt then
which will smell different to untreated straw.
additional supplementation may not be required.
Feed analysis results have shown that treating
Sodium bentonite straw with urea can increase protein levels from
As a precaution against grain poisoning (acidosis), 2-14%. The metabolisable energy value of the
sodium bentonite can be mixed with the grain. It straw however, is not improved by treatment with
should be mixed at a ratio of 2 parts of sodium urea. To provide the extra energy it is therefore
bentonite per 100 parts of grain (2%) for the first important to continue a low level of grain feeding.
30 days of grain feeding. See Chapter 7, Feeding
Grain to Cattle.
Vitamins
Vitamins A and E are the most common vitamin
deficiencies that develop when there is no green
feed. A single intramuscular injection of A, D & E
will protect against both deficiencies.
Vitamin A
Cattle that have not had access to green pasture,
green coloured hay or yellow maize for an extended
period (3 months) will be deficient in Vitamin A.
Note that cattle will develop a Vitamin A deficiency
in a shorter time off green feed than sheep. An
injection of A, D & E will correct a deficiency for
around 3 months. Urea-treated straw being fed out in hay racks
Vitamin E
The amount of Vitamin E in grain, hay and straw
can vary significantly. A deficiency may develop in
some drought rations. An injection of A, D & E will
correct any deficiency.
How to treat the straw Molasses

Treated straw is obtained by the addition of 5% Molasses has a good level of energy (11 MJ ME) but
weight to weight (w/w) of urea plus 80- 85% w/w is very low in protein.
water. To treat 1 tonne of straw, 50kg of urea
fertiliser needs to be dissolved in approximately Molasses can be added to the urea-water mixes
800-850 litres of water. The solution should be and sprayed on poor quality straw to improve both
mixed in a large container such as a drum or an palatability and protein levels when straw is the
old water tank and sprayed onto the straw using a main component of a diet.
pressure pump and hose. When molasses is added in quantities, up to 12%
A big square bale weighing 400kg will need 20kg of of total DM, the sugars in the molasses assist with
urea dissolved in 320-340 litres of water. the digestion of fibre.
After spraying, it is critical that the treated straw Molasses has a couple of other uses in cattle diets.
is contained in a reasonably airtight condition In feedlot rations it is added at levels up to 12-14%.
(for example, covered in polythene or old bunker This level of molasses increases the palatability,
tarpaulin) to facilitate the chemical reaction/ binds fine dust particles and assists with rumen
treatment process. The straw should be kept function.
covered for 7-10 days in the summer months or 2-3
weeks in winter after treatment. The energy value of cane molasses decreases
rapidly when it is added at levels above 30% of the
total ration. Too much molasses causes digestive
upsets and reduces animal performance.
Another use for molasses is as a carrier for feeding
urea. Urea-molasses products come in block or
liquid form and can be bought or home made.
The nitrogen in urea assists animals to digest very
fibrous feeds such as standing dry paddock feed.
The sugars in the molasses can also assist in
this digestion.
Economics of molasses feeding
In general, in Victoria, molasses is an expensive
form of energy. Animal performance would be
higher and achieved more economically if grain or
pellets were fed with poor quality roughage instead
Urea-treated straw covered with old bunker tarp of molasses.
for 7-10 days in summer
Urea-treated straw is non toxic
The urea on treated straw is non toxic. Urea is only
toxic to animals if they drink the urea solution or if
they consume a mouthful of urea granules.
When urea is diluted with water at the rates
recommended and sprayed over straw in the
method described here, the risks are eliminated.
Urea poisoning can occur with malfunctioning of
liquid urea feeders or with home-made urea blocks.
After rain or heavy dew the blocks may become
soft and stock are then able to eat them too
quickly and consume too much.
CHAPTER 6
Stock type Consumption
Water during a drought
L / day
Water is essential for animal survival and Sheep
performance. Poor water quality is a common
cause of under preforming animals. Cattle must Weaners Up to 4
be provided with access to good quality water Adult dry sheep Up to 6
(preferably from troughs) at all times.
Ewes with lambs Up to 10
Will I have enough water? Horses Up to 50
Knowing your property and how water supplies
perform in times of drought is essential How to calculate how much water
information for the planning phase. you have
Calculating the total water available and the total STEP 1
water required by stock over the drought period will Calculate the surface area of the dam
tell you how many stock and of what class you can
carry through. Multiply the length and width of the dam
To do a water budget for your property, list all the Example: 40m x 20m = 800 m²
dams by paddock and calculate the water available STEP 2
in each one. Add these quantities together to find
out the total water available on your farm. Calculate volume
Compare this figure with the total water required Use the following formula to calculate the volume
by stock to determine how many animals you can of the dam in cubic metres.
carry through. Volume (m³) = 0.4 x Surface area x Depth
Animal requirements 0.4 is a conversion factor that takes into

account the slope of the sides of the water
The amount of water an animal requires will
depend on a number of factors including: storage.
Example: Volume = 0.4 x 800m x 5m
• the class of animal (a lactating cow will require
significantly more water than a dry cow or = 1600m³
yearling steer)
STEP 3
• the temperature and season (cattle consume
significantly more water in summer and during Allow for evaporation and seepage
warmer temperatures) Evaporation will vary with dam shape and depth,
the time of year and dam location. In Victorian
• the feed on offer (grains are a dry feed, while
conditions, up to 25% can evaporate between
pasture contains some moisture)
October and April.
• the quality of the water (water with higher salt
Seepage into the water table may also need to be
levels will increase consumption).
taken into account. Variation between dams can be
Periods of high temperatures (> 38 degrees Celsius) significant. Regular monitoring or prior knowledge
will increase an animal’s water requirements of a dam’s capacity to hold water is necessary
beyond the Table 11 levels. to accurately estimate how long your dam water
will last. More depth may need to be taken off to
Table 11. Animal water requirements Litres account for this seepage.
per animal per day
Example: = 1600m³ less 25% after allowance for
Stock type Consumption evaporation and seepage
L / day = 1200m³
Cattle Calculate amount in litres
Weaner (250-300kg) Up to 55 Multiply volume in m³ by 1000 to get litres
Dry stock Up to 80 Example: 1200m³ x 1000 = 1 200 000L
Lactating first calf heifers Up to 90
(350-400kg)
Lactating cows (500kg) Up to 100
6. Water during a drought 24

STEP 4 Algal blooms

How much will stock drink? Algal blooms are common over summer months
when water temperatures rise as dams get shallow
Use Table 11 to calculate the daily requirements of
and the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the
all animals that rely on the dam for their water.
water build up.
Calculate the daily intake of the animals
Most algal blooms are not toxic. Some blue- green
Example: 200 spring-calving cows consuming 100 algae however, produce toxins which can have
litres a day will consume 20 000 litres per day. serious health implications for humans, animals
and birds drinking or coming in contact with the
Divide the total dam capacity by the daily water
water. It can kill animals within a few hours of
usage
ingestion.
Example: 1 200 000 litres / 20 000 litres = 60 days
Blue-green algae forms a scum which looks like
of water available.
green acrylic paint and leaves sky blue marks on
rocks or plants around the edge of the dam.
Water quality
If you suspect that you have a blue-green algal
Salt content bloom:
Evaporation concentrates the level of salt in a dam.
• isolate all stock from the dam or water supply
During a drought year, low water levels can result in
doubling of salt concentrations over the summer. • collect a sample for testing by a water laboratory
(use gloves, don’t allow the water to come in
Table 12 lists salt levels in drinking water that can
contact with skin)
be tolerated by various classes of stock. In general,
the salt content of water should not exceed 10,000 • contact a veterinarian if animals show symptoms
ppm and the magnesium level should not exceed of poisoning (loss of appetite, breathing
600 ppm. difficulties, muscle twitches, weakness, scours,
photosensitisation – any white areas of skin
Pollution become swollen and reddish)
During the 1982-1983 drought, many dams in
• Contact the Department of Economic
northern Victoria were severely polluted by manure
Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
and dried vegetation blowing from bare paddocks.
for further advice on controlling the algal bloom,
The water turned black and gave off a putrid smell.
and see www.agriculture.vic.gov.au for further
Stock stopped drinking.
information
After 3 or 4 days of considerable stress most
started drinking again. It is thought that for sheep What options are available to reduce
tender fleeces resulted in some cases. water requirements?
Retention of ground cover on paddocks adjacent to Reducing stock numbers
dams will avoid this problem developing.
What are your core stock numbers? How many do
you want to keep? How many do you need to keep?
How many can you afford to keep?
Can you agist some?
Table 12. Salt tolerance in drinking water for various classes of cattle presented as parts per million (ppm)
and units of electrical conductivity (EC units)
Water Classes of stock Total soluble Magnesium EC units
category salts (ppm) (ppm)
1. Suitable for cattle of all ages Less than 3200 Less than Less than
400 5000
2. Generally unsuitable for calves and 3200-6400 Less than 5000-10,000
weaner stock if unaccustomed. 600
Suitable for dry, mature cattle
3. Caution needed with cattle if 6400-9600 Less than 10,000-
unaccustomed 600
15,000
4. Generally unsuitable for all cattle More than 9600 Any level More than
15,000
5. Generally unsuitable for all cattle More than 9600 More than Any level
600

Relocating stock Actions to address a water shortage

Perhaps stock could be confined in a relatively small Carting water
and safe area with water and feed delivered to
them rather than having to expend energy walking Carting water is a labour intensive operation.
to it. There are advantages of soil protection with Check the quality of the water supply available for
this approach. carting. Many streams and bores are quite salty.
Minimising evaporation Seepage and evaporation means it is not feasible
To conserve water and maintain good water to put carted water into an earthen dam – use
quality, one large deep dam is better than tanks and reticulate to troughs.
numerous shallow dams. Sinking bores
It may be advantageous to pump the contents of Investigate likely water yields and likely quality
a number of smaller dams into a single dam to before drilling emergency bores.
minimise evaporative loss and save water.
Digging new dams
Reticulating from dams rather than allowing
Do not bother when soil moisture is low. Only
animals direct access build earth dams when soil is moist enough for
Reticulating from dams avoids pugging and maximum compaction.
bogging problems and allows a more efficient use
of the water. Reticulation systems however, must When seasonal conditions improve
be simple, reliable and have sufficient capacity to Build up a contingency plan for the next dry period.
meet peak demands. Drought proof your property and its enterprises. Do
not get caught by the next dry period.
Site troughs, tanks and pipes to suit future needs.
Protecting dams from wind-born
contamination
Keep adequate ground cover on the paddock to
prevent material blowing into the dam.
If ground cover is already low, fencing can be used
to trap blowing material before it reaches the
water. A closed-wired fence on the windward side
is a worthwhile investment.
Once material is in the dam, aeration of the water
is necessary to improve its condition and make
it more acceptable to stock. This is best done by
pumping to a tank and reticulating to a trough.
If aerated water is returned to the dam then the
organisms growing on the organic material will
quickly remove all the air again.

CHAPTER 7
Feeding grain to cattle Frequency of feeding

Feed cattle daily during the build-up of grain
Grain is a common supplementary feed for cattle rations. As soon as cattle are on a full ration and
during a drought. In comparison to hay, higher accustomed to eating grain, feed every second day
energy and protein levels make it an attractive (ensuring that twice the daily quantity is fed every
supplement for animals that have higher second day).
nutritional requirements, such as young growing
Experience has shown that feeding every two days
stock or cows and calves.
is about the longest feeding interval feasible.
Although there are some risks when feeding grain
Early weaned animals in poor condition or animals
to cattle, in general, the benefits far outweigh
being fed for weight gain should be fed daily.
the risks, which are generally minimised by careful
management. How to feed – trough or on the ground?
Introducing cattle to grain It is best to feed grain in troughs to prevent
wastage and minimise intake of soil. Various forms
Take care when introducing cattle to a grain ration
of troughs can be improvised. For example, two
to avoid potential grain sickness (acidosis).
rows of logs placed on the ground about 450-
Grain contains high carbohydrate levels and should 600mm apart joined with old corrugated iron as
be introduced gradually into a diet so that the flooring. Other options include 200-litre drums split
bacteria in the animal’s rumen have time to adapt down the middle or tractor tyres cut in half.
to the new feed. Shy feeders and younger animals
If the grain is fed out on the ground, this is best
may need to be separated from more dominant
done by placing the grain in heaps rather than
animals to reduce uneven consumption.
trailing it out.
Cattle should be accustomed to being fed with hay
Feeding processed grain (rolled or crushed) on the
before grain is introduced to the ration.
ground is not recommended, as too much is likely to
The hay can then be reduced over 2-3 weeks, as be wasted.
the amount of grain in the ration is increased.
Importantly, roughage (hay, straw or dry pasture) Changing a ration
should always make up 30% of the ration. Particular care should be taken when changing
batches (or sources) of grain. The new batch should
Where there is some roughage left in the paddock,
be introduced by ‘shandying’ with the old batch for
the amount of hay in the ration can be reduced
about a week. If this is not possible, the amount of
accordingly. Once paddock roughage is depleted
grain fed from the new batch should be halved and
however, some hay will have to be fed.
gradually increased by 0.5kg per head per day.
Introduce grain by feeding 0.5kg per head per day.
Maintain this amount until all cattle are consuming Grain sickness
some grain (1-3 days). During the initial feeding, Grain sickness, also known as grain poisoning or
place the grain on top of the hay to ensure animals acidosis, is the main problem associated with
consume some roughage. feeding grain to cattle.
Increase the amount of grain in the diet by 0.5kg Grain sickness occurs when the sugars and starch
per head every second day until the desired amount in a feed cause a rapid accumulation of acid in the
in the ration is reached. rumen and/or hindgut. If the acid accumulates
faster than the body can handle there will be
Observe cattle closely for sickness and other health
reduced rumen function and potentially a loss of
problems when feeding grain, particularly during
important rumen bacteria.
the introductory phase.
Severe acidosis will result in death, while
Cattle scouring or going off their feed are signs of
mild acidosis will cause sickness and a loss of
grain sickness (acidosis). Badly affected animals
production.
should be removed and fed a hay-only diet until
they appear healthy. These animals should be The type and treatment of grain will influence its
re-introduced to grain using the same principles potential to cause grain sickness. Whole grain is
applied during the initial introduction. less likely to cause grain sickness than processed
(crushed or rolled grain) of the same type, such as
Seek veterinary treatment if cattle show signs of
barley. Coarsely crushed grain is less likely to cause
acute grain poisoning.
grain sickness than finely crushed grain. Fibrous
grains, such as oats, are safer to feed than grains
with little fibre, such as wheat. A feed analysis will
indicate the level of fibre a ration or feed contains.
7. Feeding grain to cattle 27

Precautions against grain sickness Table 13. Digestibility of whole vs processed grain
A number of measures can be taken in addition to Increased
the controlled introduction of grain into a ration to digestibility
minimise the threat of grain sickness. Whole Processed
from
Buffers processing
Buffers are chemicals that counter the acidity of Wheat, 63 86 36%

grain and help to prevent grain sickness. Triticale
Barley 53 85 60%
To reduce the risk of grain sickness during the
introductory period, add 2% (2kg per 100kg of Oats 77 81 5%
grain) of either sodium bicarbonate or sodium Lupins, 76 86 13%
bentonite to the grain being fed out with roughage. Peas
After one month of feeding grain, the amount of
buffer can be reduced to 1%.
Table 13 demonstrates that by processing wheat
Roughage the digestibility is increased by 36%. This in turn
Roughage (dry paddock feed, hay, straw, etc.) is increases the metabolisable energy (ME) levels
a key ingredient in drought rations for both rumen from 9 for whole wheat to 13 for processed wheat.
function and to minimise grain sickness. At least Deciding whether or not to process grain for cattle
30% (or a minium of 0.5kg/animal/ day) of a depends on several factors:
ration should consist of roughage to enable desired
performance. • the grain used. Processing markedly increases
the digestibility of wheat and barley, whereas
When grain is the source of energy and protein in a the digestibility of oats and lupins is only slightly
diet, roughage need not be of a high quality. Often increased
straw and low quality hay will suffice. Around 30%
neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is an ideal amount • the availability of equipment to process grain and
of fibre in a diet. The NDF level of a ration can be at what cost. The coarse crush achieved with a
determined from a feed analysis. roller mill is superior to the dusty result from a
hammermill
Other grain additives • ease of feeding. Whole grain can be fed on the
Where grain contributes to the majority of an ground, crushed grain should be fed in troughs
animal’s daily ration, 1% (1kg per 100kg of grain) of
• grain sickness. Where grain is fed separately
ground agricultural limestone should be added to
from roughage, whole grain is considerably safer
the ration. This makes up for a shortage of calcium
to feed than crushed grain. When grain is mixed
in the grain.
with chopped roughage however, crushed grain
For lactating or young animals on grain rations, 1% can be fed more safely.
(1kg per 100kg of grain) of common salt (sodium
chloride) should be added to correct a potential
sodium deficiency.
Processing of grain
Feeding processed (cracked or rolled) grain to
cattle has significant benefits compared to whole
grain. Table 13 illustrates the impact of processing
on the digestibility of wheat, barley, maize and
sorghum.
A kilogram of processed grain will provide more
energy to an animal than a kilogram of whole grain.

Grain feeding problems Calcium deficiency – Grain feeding over a

prolonged period can result in calcium deficiency
Some of the more common problems which can
due to low calcium and high phosphorus levels in
occur are listed below
grain. This is overcome by the addition of ground
Grain poisoning – the build up of high levels of limestone to the feed (up to 1.5% of the ration by
lactic acid in the animal can result from: weight.)
• introducing cattle too quickly to high levels of Vitamin A deficiency can occur after a prolonged
grain, or feeding too much grain too soon shortage of green feed. This is unusual in Southern
• insufficient trough space or feed area resulting in Australia as the liver has the capacity to store
aggressive cows overeating sufficient Vitamin A to satisfy animal requirements
for at least six months. A Vitamin A, D and E
• changing from a lower energy grain to one of injection can be given to prevent this problem.
higher energy (for example, changing from oats
at 10ME to wheat at 13ME, is a 30% increase in Urolithiasis (bladder and urinary stones) can be
carbohydrate). Sometimes different batches of a problem in steers fed grain for long periods.
the same type of feed will cause problems Addition of ground limestone balances the
excessive phosphorous levels likely to predispose
• feeding grain based pellets. Grain based pellets cattle to this condition. Adding 1% salt to the ration
are usually 90% processed grain, and the same will encourage higher water consumption thus
precautions should be taken when introducing reducing the risk of urolithiasis problems.
them to cattle
Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) occurs due to an
• insufficient roughage fed with grain induced deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1). It
• accidents – storage areas are not sealed to can occur in feedlot cattle and cattle on high-
prevent stock access. concentrate diets, especially when minimal
roughage is available. Typical signs include
Treatment for grain poisoning depends on the blindness, aimless wandering and a ‘star gazing’
severity of the symptoms shown: appearance. Producers should seek veterinary
• mild lactic acidosis – still eating, mild bloat, with attention for diagnosis and treatment.
or without porridgy faeces
• moderate to severe lactic acidosis – not eating,
porridgy scours, obviously sick with dehydration
evident
• severe lactic acidosis – down and unable to rise,
dehydration, watery scour.
Treatment of grain poisoning may involve range of
treatments:
• mild lactic acidosis may simply require removal
of grain feeding, a drench with 120g of sodium
bicarbonate orally and hay feeding only
• severe acidosis will require intensive veterinary
attention. In these cases contact your local
veterinarian
• as with many animal health issues, prevention
is better than cure. By adding a buffer such as
sodium bentonite to a grain- based ration, the
potential to get grain poisoning is reduced.

CHAPTER 8
It is a good management practice when pregnancy
Animal health and welfare testing, to request your veterinarian to identify
cows expected to be early and late calvers (this will
If you have any concerns about the health and
require testing to be done from approximately 6
welfare of your stock during a drought, please
weeks after the end of joining).
contact your local veterinarian or a Department
Veterinary Officer. In times of drought, early calvers have higher
conception rates in the following joining, than
Health and welfare problems in beef do late calvers. If the late calvers are identified,
herds in a drought it is possible to preferentially feed them to
improve their body condition score at calving and
Droughts, by definition, inevitably result in less than consequently increase their conception rates, or sell
adequate amounts of paddock feed. The effects them.
of this shortfall on health will depend on the class
of livestock (for example, steers versus pregnant Similarly, bull fertility is related to body condition.
cattle), the body condition of the cattle as they Semen quality is determined approximately 2
enter a period of drought and the length of time months before joining, so it is essential to maintain
over which the shortfall occurs. bulls in good body condition well before mating
starts.
Class of livestock affected Dry stock
Breeding stock Dry stock have the lowest feed requirement and
Inadequate nutrition can have its greatest effect should not be overfed at the expense of breeding
on breeding stock. Cows in late pregnancy should stock.
receive priority in feeding programs as the growing Grain feeding problems
foetus greatly increases the cow’s food energy
requirements. The cow will give the foetus priority There are many advantages in using grain to feed
and two distinctly different problems can occur. cattle in drought, however there are also some
potential animal health problems, these are listed
Also a breeding cow’s energy needs continue to rise in Chapter 7.
after calving and peak at 6 weeks into lactation.
Poisoning and chemical residues
The fat pregnant cow, encountering an energy
deficiency, will use its own body fat to supply this Poisoning can be a problem as hungry animals
energy. This will work for a short time, but if the will eat plants they would not normally eat, for
energy shortfall continues, the cow will suffer with example bracken fern and find other poisons, such
pregnancy toxaemia or ketosis. A sudden decrease as arsenic and lead, in their pursuit of feed.
in energy in a heavily pregnant cow can lead to Care should be taken with garden trimmings,
pregnancy toxaemia, whereas a more gradual or which are often poisonous, and lawn clippings
chronic decrease in energy can predispose the cow with organochlorine (for example, heptachlor,
to ketosis. chlordane), as these may result in unacceptable
In both conditions the liver becomes blocked by residues in meat at slaughter. Refer to Chapter 4
the mobilised fat and the cow becomes sick due for information on chemical residues.
to liver failure and the effect of the breakdown Hungry stock, including transported or yarded
products of the fat. Cows become staggery and cattle, should be fed some hay prior to release onto
go down, are unable to rise, refuse to eat or drink a fresh paddock or ‘failed’ crop to minimise the risk
and eventually die. Prevention by supplementary of some poisonings and photosensitisation.
feeding is preferable to treatment, which is often
unsuccessful. Urea poisoning
The light-conditioned pregnant cow, encountering Urea is a useful supply of non-protein nitrogen for
a drought, will continue to lose condition, become the rumen microbes but care must be taken when
weak and go down. supplementary feeding. Poisoning occurs when
excess urea is consumed for example:
Compared to the cow affected with pregnancy
toxaemia, this cow is not sick, but just physically • as a result of inadequate mixing of feed or roller
lacks the strength to rise. Attention should be paid drum mixes
to feeding cows in early to mid-pregnancy, this • when lick blocks crumble or develop a dish from
type of cow will become a real problem with this licking which can hold rain water and dissolve
condition if the drought extends to their last three urea.
months of pregnancy.
The two most important factors affecting
pregnancy rates in cows are body fat score at
calving and the level of nutrition after calving.
8. Animal health and welfare 30

Signs of toxicity include abdominal pain, shivering, Cattle under 2-3 years old are most susceptible
salivation, bloat and death. to pulpy kidney. Generally, the best conditioned,
fastest growing stock are the ones most likely
Treatment is oral vinegar – 4 litres for an adult
to develop pulpy kidney. There is no practical
beast.
treatment, and most affected stock will die.
The effect of disease on drought- The disease can be prevented by vaccination.
affected cattle Previously vaccinated stock should be given a pulpy
kidney or 5 in 1or 7 in 1 booster two weeks before
Conditions which afflict normal cattle have more the start of hand feeding, or before a major change
serious effect on cattle in poor body condition. in feed type. Unvaccinated stock requires two
Internal parasites (worms and fluke) doses – six weeks and two weeks before starting to
feed. Pregnant cows should have a booster about
Those classes of cattle which may not normally be two weeks before calving is expected to start. This
treated, for example mature cows which are not will protect the calf for six to eight weeks. Calves
normally worm drenched, may need treatment need two vaccinations – one at marking, and the
during feed shortages. An increase in the rate of second about four weeks later.
pick up of larvae and the reduced nutrition of the
stock can increase susceptibility to the effects of a In high-risk circumstances, vaccine protection may
parasite burden. only last for three months, so repeated vaccination
should be considered.
By the time the normal symptoms of scouring
are visible, severe damage to the animal gut has Pneumonia and calf diphtheria Nutritionally
already occurred, adding to the problems of an stressed stock and early weaned calves are more
animal already under nutritional stress. susceptible to respiratory diseases including
pneumonia and calf diphtheria. These diseases can
Severe parasite burdens will reduce the be exacerbated when stock congregate around
effectiveness of an expensive feeding program feed troughs. Veterinary attention should be
during drought times. The basis for an appropriate sought if you suspect any disease.
program during dry times is monitoring for worm
burdens and effective drenching as required. See Pinkeye
your local animal health adviser for more advice. Pinkeye can be a greater problem in drought, with
Lice increased dust and stock congregating around feed
troughs.
Cattle lice seem to have a worse effect on cattle
when they are in poor condition. The amount of Welfare considerations of drought
damage to hides, trees, fences, gates and troughs The welfare of animals is always of the utmost
is proportional to the number of lice. Cattle lice importance.
numbers build up in the cooler months reaching a
peak toward the end of winter. Stock owners and managers have an obligation
to, at all times, provide proper and sufficient food,
Bottlejaw water and shelter for stock under their care. Failure
Bottlejaw, which is normally associated with liver to do so contravenes the Prevention of Cruelty to
fluke, can also occur in worm-infested stock and Animals Act and may result in severe fines or even
stock in poor condition (due to low blood protein). imprisonment.
Coccidiosis Where sufficient food and/or water requirements

cannot be met, cattle should be moved or agisted
Coccidiosis is another disease that can occur in to a place where feed and water is sufficient or
cattle under stress and congregating to be hand they should be sold or humanely slaughtered.
fed. Severe scouring of blood-stained faeces will
occur. This condition is normally seen in younger Producers should act early while stock are fit and
classes of stock. strong, as delays usually reduce the number of
choices available. Any decisions must be humane
Pulpy kidney (Enterotoxaemia) and reasonable.
Pulpy kidney is an acute toxaemia caused by
Clostridial bacteria in the intestine. A change of
diet and thus a slowing down of the movement
of food through the gut, such as grain feeding, lot
feeding, periods of time off feed when yarding and
transporting, provides the ideal environment for
pulpy kidney to occur.
8. Animal health and welfare 31

CHAPTER 9
Feeding in stock containment

areas
Stock containment areas are yarded locations
where stock are lot fed for survival or maintenance
on a full ration. Stock containment areas enable
cattle to be removed from susceptible paddocks.
Placing cattle in stock confinement areas reduces
erosion and gives pastures a chance of surviving
the drought.
Stock containment areas are similar to feedlots
except that they require less infrastructure and are
deemed more short term. Lot feeding is a separate
issue and is covered in Chapter 12.
80% ground cover
When to use a stock containment area
During a drought there is a high risk of losing
valuable soil as pasture cover reduces. If pasture
cover is reduced below about 70%, wind will start
to blow away soil particles, causing erosion and loss
of valuable nutrients and topsoil. Bare areas will
also be more prone to washing, when rain
does come.
Once stock have been removed, ground cover
is likely to decrease further as a result of wind
erosion, particularly in pastures dominated by
annual species. It is important, therefore, to
remove stock while around 70% ground cover
still remains.
Before deciding when to remove stock from
pastures, you should consider a number of factors 70% ground cover. Remove stock before this point.
which will affect potential pasture loss and erosion, At 70%, the bare patches are quite large and are
such as slope and soil type. starting to join up, creating opportunities for soil
movement
Improved pastures are also very vulnerable
to overgrazing. Pastures established after
considerable investment of money and time are
easily lost if continuously overgrazed.
Improved pastures should be among the first
paddocks you consider de-stocking.
A paddock that has been grazed below 70% ground

cover. A light wind removes considerable topsoil.
Do not let this happen to your paddocks!
9. Feeding in stock containment areas 32

Feeding in stock-containment areas should be If you are considering containing more than one
considered : group, you will need good subdivisional fencing as
well as boundary fencing. Consider a separate
• to protect vegetative cover on pastures or failed yard for the grain feeding troughs as this will allow
crops, and to allow pastures to recover rapidly you to mix feeds and additives before stock start
after the break to eat.
• where weeds in purchased feed are a concern One feeding yard (with separate holding yards) can
• to protect areas vulnerable to erosion be used for the different classes of stock if they
can be fed at different times. This can reduce the
• where stock are losing weight on full drought
need for extra feeding troughs. You will also need
rations in paddocks
to consider access of vehicles, ease of filling feed
• to facilitate stock feeding, watering, monitoring troughs, water and ease of cleaning. Monitoring
and handling. stock is extremely important and you may also
consider ways of weighing or monitoring a group
The location of the site is important. The site
fortnightly.
should have:
If there are trees in the area you propose to
• a moderate slope and well-drained, stable soil
use, protect these with guards or they will be
such as a clay or clay loam
ringbarked.
• easily monitored
Water
• no important remnant vegetation
A good reliable water supply is extremely important
• shade, shelter and good drainage in stock containment areas. Generally stock will
be fed diets very low in water content and must
• access to good quality water and clean facilities
therefore be supplied with water at all times.
• minimal problems with noise and smell that will
Maximum desirable salt and magnesium levels for
cause concern to you or your neighbours.
stock water are given in Table 12.
Consider water quality in terms of runoff. The
Bore water should also be tested for toxic minerals
stock containment area should be set back from
such as magnesium.
watercourses and water storages by 500 metres,
if no other management methods are used. A When budgeting on a water allowance, plan for
nutrient filter (below) should be established on the a daily consumption of 55L/head/day for weaners
down slope side of the site to prevent runoff. and up to 100L/hd/day for lactating cows. Trough
space is less important than flow rate. Water
trough allowance does not need to be more than
required in a paddock – cattle will adjust and take
turns to drink at the trough. A good rule of thumb
is that the flow rate should pump enough water for
the mob in 2 or 3 hours.
Troughs need to be checked daily and cleaned
regularly.
Feed
Allow 400-600 mm of trough space per animal.
Feed troughs can be bought or made cheaply from
materials like tractor tyres cut in half or 200L
drums split down the middle. Two rows of logs can
be placed on the ground about 450- 600mm apart
Nutrient filter to prevent contamination of and joined with old corrugated iron as the flooring.
watercourses or storages Quantities for full hand feeding (kg/hd/day) for
common classes of stock are provided in Table 10.
Space requirements
As stock will not have access to any pasture,
Adult cows, yearlings and early weaned calves
inclusion of roughage is important. Ideally, 30%
should all be yarded and fed separately because of
hay should be included but, as hay can be very
their different feed requirements. Allow 10-15m2
expensive and often simply not available during
per head. Stocking heavier rather than lighter has
drought, the proportion can be reduced to an
the advantage of increasing soil compaction in the
absolute minimum of 20%. Hay in the diet will
containment area to reduce dust, particularly on
reduce the risk of grain poisoning, especially with
lighter soils.
grains of low fibre content such as wheat and
barley. Oats has about 29% Neutral Detergent
Fibre (NDF), compared to barley at 14% NDF and
wheat at only 11% NDF.

Hay is also the safest way to increase energy Animal health

quickly in cold or wet conditions.
Health issues during droughts are outlined in
As outlined in Chapter 7, the deficiencies likely to Chapter 7. Experiences with stock containment
occur with high grain diets during drought or lot areas have shown that grain poisoning is the most
feeding are sodium, calcium, fibre and Vitamin common cause of death. For more information on
A. Adding 2% feed-grade sodium bicarbonate or how to prevent grain poisoning refer to Chapters 7
sodium bentonite for the first month and 1% after & 8.
that will lessen the risk of acidosis. In addition, 1%
feed-grade limestone to provide calcium and 0.5% Problems have been experienced with changes in
salt to provide sodium will be required. batches of processed feeds and with new sources
of grain. Some caution should be taken, therefore,
It is better to start cattle on grain in the paddock when changing to a new load of feed, such as
before introducing them to a feedlot situation (two mixing the new and old over a number of feeds.
weeks). If you cannot do this, make sure that most This is often not very practical. When a new batch
of the diet in the first two weeks is hay and then of grain is being introduced, cut back the quantity
increase the grain ration gradually. Start at 0.5kg/ and gradually increase to enable the animals to get
head/day of grain and make up the rest of the used to it.
ration with hay. Increase the amount of grain by
0.5kg/hd/day every 2 days until the desired level of Cattle should receive a booster vaccination against
grain is reached. Feed your best hay first and feed clostridial diseases such as enterotoxaemia (pulpy
hay before grain. Feed daily. For more detail, see kidney) at least 3 weeks before entering the
Chapter 7 Feeding Grain to Cattle. containment area.
It may take a while to get the ration right and, as Vaccines such as 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 can be used. Talk
the cost of feed is especially high during a drought, to your vet about the most appropriate vaccine for
consider weighing 20 or so cattle regularly. Over your district. Remember, cattle that have not been
and under feeding is costly. Aim to keep older stock vaccinated before require two vaccinations four
at a minimum fat score 2. weeks apart to provide protection, then an annual
booster. They should be drenched into the area and
There will always be a number of cattle that do ideally drenched before being released.
not take to a lot feeding situation and these should
be identified early, removed and fed hay or sold. Stock need to be monitored daily and sick animals
removed. Avoiding stress such as boggy ground,
Stressful weather conditions overcrowding, dust and irregular feeding will
Cold windy weather will increases the cattle’s help reduce diseases such as Salmonellosis,
need for energy-giving feed that will maintain the Coccidiosis, pinkeye and respiratory diseases such
animals. Under such conditions drought rations as pneumonia. Regular cleaning of feed and water
should be increased by about 20%. The increase troughs will also prevent diseases.
should be made up with roughage (hay) if possible. General
Replace with new feed any feed wasted as a result
of rain damage. Farmers who fed in containment areas in previous
droughts reported that it was a very worthwhile
Releasing cattle exercise and have now made it part of their future
When the drought does break, the change in drought management strategies. Managing
feed from grain and hay to short green grass can a stock containment area however, involves a
be quite sudden and is likely to cause digestive transition from a broad-acre manager to an
problems. If the break is accompanied by cold, wet intensive manager. Because all the feed and water
windy weather then this may reduce an animal’s is supplied by you, constant vigilance and good
inclination to graze thus reducing intake further. management is required.
Release cattle from the containment area when It also means you can have better control over
they have a full stomach and then continue to feed weight loss and gain and come out of a drought
for a few weeks, gradually reducing the quantity with valuable land assets and stock numbers
of feed. intact.
Remember, ruminants do best when their diets Further information is available at
are changed gradually. A sudden change from a www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought
grain diet to short green feed will result in digestive
upsets and weight loss as their rumen adjusts to
the new feed. Cows below fat score 3 with young
calves have high feed requirements and may need
feeding (both hay and grain) to continue until there
is adequate pasture available to meet their needs.
Pastures are likely to recover faster and provide
more winter feed if they are allowed to produce
some leaf area before the first grazing. See
Chapter 13 for information on pasture recovery
after a drought.

CHAPTER 10
Early weaning of beef calves Age of weaning

In most cases it is preferable to wait and wean
Early weaning is a strategy worth considering to calves at 12 weeks old or around 120 kg, because
deal with a feed and water shortage. they will then require less protein and be easier to
feed.
If feeding grain to early weaned calves, you should
review the information in Chapter 7. However, calves can be weaned onto high quality
dry rations at five weeks of age or around 50kg.
Key reasons for early weaning
If cow survival is of concern, calves can be weaned
Maintain herd fertility earlier than this, but a milk replacer will be required
Early weaning helps beef producers to maintain if calves aren’t going to be sold as bobby calves.
cow fat score and therefore fertility of their
In a drought, all calves older than five to six months
breeding herd during and after a drought. For
should certainly be weaned and fed separately.
example, by weaning Spring calving herds before
cows fall below fat score of 3 will mean they only Deciding when to wean
need maintaining to calving for acceptable post-
Cow condition is a major consideration when
calving return (interval) to oestrus and conception
deciding when to wean. Wean early in order to
rates. Cows down in condition are more likely to
maintain cow herd productivity.
cycle and conceive sooner after calving, if the calves
are weaned prior to joining. The appearance of calves should also be
considered. Calves with dry, coarse coats (woody
Save your pasture
calves) are almost certainly not receiving adequate
It is more efficient to convert feed directly into calf milk from their mothers. Early weaning is the best
weight than milk for a cow and calf pair. Weaning policy in this situation. Calves with glossy coats are
early will reduce the dry sheep equivalent demand receiving an adequate diet and early weaning can
on your property. When combined with feeding be delayed.
appropriate quality and quantity of feed to dry
cows and weaned calves, rather than cows with Pre-weaning
calves at foot, significant feeding cost reductions Expose calves to the post-weaning supplement
can result. while they are still on the cow. For example, if
Cows that have had their calves weaned early calves are going to be given silage post- weaning,
can be shifted to more marginal country so only feed silage to the cow-calf mobs a few times.
‘growing’ stock is run in the best paddocks. Rumen microbial populations can require up to 14
Cows will need less feeding later on because they days to completely adapt to a new diet. Consider
will have lower weight loss once calves are weaned. introducing calves to post-weaning supplements
slowly via creep-feeding two weeks before
Better utilise supplementary feed weaning.
Buying supplementary feed during a drought is a Weaning
costly experience. Early weaning will enable you to
better allocate supplements to different classes of Avoid combining stressful procedures like
animals. By weaning the calf off the cow early, the castration and dehorning with early weaning.
cow returns to maintenance requirement energy If yard weaning, where possible keep the yards
levels. This separation can provide a 30% savings damp to minimise pink-eye. Fly traps and backline
in energy across the farm. insecticides will also reduce flies, a vector for the
High energy and protein feeds can be fed to young disease. Eye ointments and patches of heavy
growing stock, and lower quality feeds (that is, material will provide relief for affected calves and
poorer quality hay) to the dry cows. This will reduce prevent fly access.
the overall cost of supplements during the drought. When penning calves allow 4 square metres per
Save water calf as a minimum, increasing to 6-8 square metres
for larger calves approaching 150kg.
Early weaning can reduce water requirements of
cows by up to 60%. Lactating cows require up to Provide high quality hay, such as lucerne hay, and
100 litres per day. Although a calf’s water intake clean water troughs.
approximately doubles when it is weaned and no The high quality ration required by early weaned
longer getting liquid via its mother’s milk, there is a calves will increase their risk of developing pulpy
significant net saving in water from early weaning. kidney so vaccination for clostridial diseases is
Sell cull females earlier important.
Early weaning will enable earlier pregnancy testing
and mouthing and the sale of non- productive, cull
or aged animals.
10. Early weaning of beef calves 35
Post-weaning nutrition based diet at the rate of 1½ parts per 100 (that is
1.5%) by weight of the grain in the diet.
Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition!!! The younger the
weaning age of the calf, the higher the energy and Although good quality roughage (lucerne or clover
protein levels need to be. hay) provides a reasonable supply of Vitamin A,
some supplementary Vitamin A is usually necessary
The energy and protein requirements of calves at
for early weaned calves if they only have access
various growth rates are presented in Table 14.
to a dry ration, and have not had access to green
Some possible diets for early weaned calves are
pasture for some time, for example 3 months.
shown in Table 15.
This can be included in the feed, given orally, or by
Unless the feed has adequate energy density, feed injection.
intake and animal performance may be restricted
Alternatively, complete rations in the form of
by small rumen capacity. Much of the pasture hay
pellets are available from commercial suppliers.
and silage made in Australia is by itself unsuitable
for early-weaned calves. Post-weaning management
Introduce any concentrate, for example grains, Rather than letting calves roam barren paddocks,
slowly. Introduce initially to calves at 300g per head consider weaning into containment areas where
per day and increase the amount by 100g per head they will tend to rest and feed, conserving energy
per day with access to hay. Supplement the mix and minimising damage to paddocks. If calves are
with a buffer to prevent acidosis. contained tightly the urine and manure keeps the
Insufficient protein in the ration of early weaned dust at bay, which will reduce the incidence of
calves will result in short, dumpy cattle. Likely pink-eye.
sources of protein to use are lupin grain, peas, Six weeks after weaning, draft off tail-enders
linseed meal, canola meal and soybean meal. into a separate management group. Repeat this
Ideally, roughage should be chopped and mixed process four months after weaning.
with the other components of the calves’ diet, Post-weaning health program
before feeding. Palatability is important to get
Administer a booster 5 in 1 or 7-in-1 vaccination.
calves to eat sufficient fibre. Consider adding a
Young calves are vulnerable to worms and so
sweetener such as molasses or grape mark to a
a worm management program is particularly
mixed ration for young calves.
important.
Calcium is the mineral most likely to be needed in a
diet for calves. Generally, calcium carbonate (such
as ground limestone) should be added to a grain-
Table 14. Energy and protein requirements of calves of various liveweights

Liveweight Growth Maximum Dry Metabolisable Minimum ME Crude protein
(kg) rate daily matter energy (ME) concentration percentage of
(kg/day) % of intake requirement of diet dietary dry matter
liveweight (kg) (MJ/day) (MJ/jg DM)
0 3.2 1.6 14 8.8 12
50 0.5 3.2 1.6 23 14.4 18
0 3.0 3.0 18 6.0 10
100 0.5 3.0 3.0 29 9.7 16
0 2.9 4.3 22 5.2* 8
150 0.5 2.9 4.3 37 8.7 12
1.0 2.8 4.3 48 11.2 13
0 2.8 5.5 26 4.8* 8
200 0.5 2.8 5.5 44 8.0 11
1.0 2.8 5.5 57 10.4 13
* Calves on these diets may not eat to full appetite because of the very poor quality (low ME values) of
those particular diets
Table 15. Some diets for early weaned calves

Diet A per cent Diet B per cent
Barley* 55 Wheat* 65
Lupins 25 Linseed meal 15
Hay 20 Lucerne hay 20
* Plus calcium and a ‘buffer’
10. Early weaning of beef calves 36

CHAPTER 11
Creep feeding of beef calves Usually creep feeding enclosures are most easily
For producers wishing to finish spring-born vealers constructed in the corner of a paddock using old
in a late autumn/early winter feed shortage, or gates or steel posts.
facing a severe feed shortage with young autumn- Whether the creep feeding allows calves into an
born calves in winter, creep feeding of calves is a enclosure or through into an adjacent paddock, the
management option. critical factor is the width of the creep openings
Creep feeding is a very useful management that allow the calves, but not the cows, to pass
practice that enables beef vealers to be finished for through. The spacings of the openings should be
market while still suckling on their mothers. In some 400-450 mm. Ideally, these vertical spacings
seasons, for some types of cattle, creep feeding should be adjustable, and there should be a number
makes the difference between having vealers of them.
prime, or having them unfinished and in only store A gate frame about one metre high, with several
condition at weaning. adjustable openings, is the most practical
Creep feeding allows unweaned calves to be fed arrangement as it can be used either as the
a nutritious supplement (usually grain and some entrance to a creep enclosure, or in the gateway
hay), but the supplement is not accessible to the that allows calves access to more nutritious grazing.
cows. Hence the calves get the best of both worlds
– milk from their mothers and extra nutrition from
the creep feed.
The aim of creep feeding is to improve liveweight,
condition score and the appearance of calves at
the time of weaning.
When to consider creep feeding
The best conditions for profitable creep feeding
occur when:
• pastures have dried off, or there is not enough
feed for the cows and calves in late spring or
early summer
• calves are not doing well at four to five months
old because their mothers are not milking well
Figure 7. Semi-permanent creep in a paddock
• there is incentive to sell the weaner calves in corner for supplementary feeding of calves
prime rather than store condition. Feeders
When not to consider creep feeding A wide range of self-feeders are available for the
feeding of grain, pellets or hay.
Do not creep feed when:
Alternatively, the feed in the creep can be fed out
• calves are not going to be sold at weaning – such
in troughs. Feeding on the ground will result in
as replacement heifer calves – as they will lose
considerable wastage.
the bloom from creep feeding soon after it is
stopped. There is little point in feeding calves to The best self-feeders are covered and protect
be prime at weaning unless they will be sold the feed from rain. Self-feeders that have an
adjustment on the opening between the hopper
• the pasture season is good. Extra feeding may be
and the feeding tray also have advantages.
a wasted expense when calves are doing well.
This adjustment enables some control over daily
The creep enclosure or creep gateway rates of consumption, which can be particularly
Creep feeding simply involves a barrier that blocks important in the introductory feeding period. Be
cows (or adult cattle), but allows calves (up to 10 aware, however, that these block up regularly and
months old) to pass through and gain access to will need daily scraping to keep the feed flowing.
better nutrition than is available from grazing on
the other side of the barrier.
The better nutrition can be in the form of grain or
pellets and some hay available in troughs or self-
feeders. Alternatively, the creep may allow calves
access to better quality grazing, such as a lucerne
stand or irrigated pasture.
11. Creep feeding of beef calves 37

Then start feeding concentrates (grain or pellets)

at a level of 250g per calf per day. When most of
the calves are feeding in the creep, increase the
level of concentrate by 250g every second or third
day. The upper level of feeding will depend on
paddock conditions and the weight of the calves
but it should be around 2kg per calf per day.
Alternatively, cows and calves can be fed small
quantities of grain or pellets in the paddock.
In this way the mothers will train their calves to eat
the grain. After a couple of weeks the creep system
can be put in place and the cows excluded.
When to start
Start creep feeding unweaned beef calves when
Figure 8. A permanent calf creep is useful where a the cows’ milk production falls, usually after six to
concentrate ration is fed to calves. The trough seven months. If calves have not grown enough by
should be covered to prevent feed waste from rain normal weaning time, feeding can be continued in a
feedlot. This might be appropriate in a bad spring,
The type and level of feed or it could be used to improve calves from heifers
Deciding which feed to use should be based on which are not milking well.
price, availability and convenience. The choices
include oats, barley, wheat, triticale, maize, lupins, Will it be profitable?
peas, pellets or a combination of some of these. Like any proposed management practice, it
is important to do a budget looking at the
Pellets are probably the most convenient and
profitability before commencing.
flexible concentrate to feed and are available with
a range of protein levels to suit the particular The financial outcome of creep feeding will be
animals being fed and the pasture available at the determined by:
time. Calves have high protein requirements.
• the total cost of the ration
Oats are the safest cereal grain to feed. With
• the extra value achieved through feeding
the exception of oats, all other grains should
be coarsely rolled before feeding to improve • that is, the difference between the market value
their digestibility. of calves at the end of feeding and an estimate
of their value at that time if they had not been
To get the calves used to entering the creep, feed
creep fed.
hay only for the first few days – up to a week if
need be. Make sure that all the calves are using
the creep.
11. Creep feeding of beef calves 38

CHAPTER 12
Opportunity lotfeeding of
beef cattle
An opportunity feedlot is a feedlot that does not
operate all year. It is generally used to fatten stock
during periods when store prices are low and fat
prices are high.
Will it be profitable?
Lotfeeding of beef cattle can make or lose money.
It is vital to carefully budget the lotfeeding exercise
before starting, to be certain that it will be
profitable.
Important factors in the budget are the:
• value of cattle at the start of lotfeeding
• value of cattle at the end of lotfeeding
• cost of feed eaten during lotfeeding
• health costs (drench, vaccine, growth implant,
etc.)
• feeding costs (labour, equipment, depreciation).
As a guide, consider the following figures:
• lotfed cattle eat about 2.6-2.8% of their
bodyweight daily as feed (a 200kg animal eats
5kg; a 300kg animal eats 7.5kg etc.)
• with careful lotfeeding cattle gain from 1.2- 1.5kg
a day or better
• cattle require 60-100 days to fatten in a feedlot,
depending on their initial condition and the end
Figure 9. Two designs of feed troughs, situated
market specifications. outside the feedlot. Cattle eat by reaching through
In round figures, a 250kg steer fed for 100 days an opening in the fence
might gain 120-150kg liveweight and eat about
800kg of feed. It is a good idea to make the ‘neck’ cable or board
above the trough adjustable to cater for different
Obviously there needs to be a big margin between classes and sizes of cattle. You can do this by
the value of the cattle at the start and finish of boring holes at various heights in the posts to
the lotfeeding. Furthermore, some type of forward thread the cable through, or by using a clamp on
selling system will help guarantee profitability. each post to raise or lower the cable.
Site, facilities, equipment The cost of lotfeeding makes liveweight scales
The main factors to consider in siting the essential to ensure that cattle gain weight at the
opportunity feedlot include access for moving expected rate.
cattle in and out of the feedlot, and also for the For feed preparation, the ideal equipment has the
daily feeding of the cattle. capacity to roll grain, chop roughage, mix these
The site should be well drained and sheltered from ingredients and some minerals together, and then
prevailing winds. Shade can be an advantage. A feed the mixture out to the cattle.
reliable supply of good quality water is essential. Various machines are available that do some or all
The feedlot should be securely enclosed with of these jobs.
good fencing or rails. The feed troughs should be
positioned outside the enclosure so that the cattle
eat by reaching through an opening in the fence
(see Figure 9). There needs to be 400-600mm of
trough space per animal.
12. Opportunity lotfeeding of beef cattle 39

Feeds and feeding In some cases, mixtures of barley and lucerne hay
can cause cattle to bloat, so that combination
Any feedlot ration should contain roughage (hay or
should be avoided.
silage), grain and minerals.
Poor quality roughage, such as straw, can provide up
The usual procedure is to start the cattle on
to half of the roughage component of the ration.
roughage only for two days. The proportion of
grain in the ration is then gradually increased over Commercial mineral/vitamin premixes are available
a number of days. The percentage of grain fed can for adding to feedlot rations. These may contain
be increased by 5% every two days. calcium, urea, sulphur, salt and various trace
minerals and vitamins (or just the trace minerals
Common practice is to increase the grain level to
and vitamins) and are usually included at 1-5% of
about 40 or 50% of the ration, and hold at that
the total ration.
level for a few weeks. Then increase the grain again
to 70 or 80% for the finishing phase. To achieve satisfactory growth rates, the ration
should have an overall level of 13% crude protein.
It is important to observe the cattle closely as the
If the roughage and/or grain used is low in protein
grain level is increased. If there are any signs of
(say the roughage has less than 8% and the grain
digestive problems, the grain level should be held
less than 11% crude protein), then some natural
constant or even decreased.
protein should be included in the ration. Lupins,
Severely affected cattle should be taken to a peas, sunflower meal, safflower meal, linseed meal,
separate area and fed roughage only. and soybean meal can be used, probably at about
Barley is the best grain for lotfeeding cattle, but 5% of the total ration.
wheat, triticale, sorghum, maize, lupins and oats The value of processing and mixing feeds
can also be used. Oats on their own are not an
ideal grain for fattening cattle, but they can be It is possible to successfully fatten cattle simply
used with any of the other grains. Hay or silage by feeding them un-chopped (long) hay and
can be used as the roughage source. Silage is ideal unprocessed (whole) grain. The results, however,
because it improves the palatability of the ration. If are usually not very satisfactory.
hay and grain are used, the addition of some water If possible, roughage should be chopped and
can reduce the dustiness of feed and improve the grain coarsely rolled. Rolling improves the
overall palatability. Probably 5% water (5 litres of digestibility of barley, wheat, sorghum and triticale
water per 100kg of feed), sprayed in when mixing, by 25% and oats by 5%.
will be enough. A dry matter content of 80% for
For best results, the feed should be well mixed,
the feed lot ration is ideal.
palatable and balanced for the important minerals
as well as protein.

Table 16. Examples of feedlot rations

Use this ration if protein content of Use this ration if protein content of
hay/ roughage is adequate hay/ roughage is inadequate
(%) (%)
Intermediate ration
Grain 50 45
Roughage 45 45
Protein concentrate - 5
Minerals/vitamins* 5 5
Total 100 100
Finishing ration
Grain 75 70
Roughage 20 20
Protein concentrate - 5
Minerals/vitamins* 5 5
Total 100 100
Minerals/vitamins to be
used in rations
% of ration
Limestone 1
Urea 2
Salt 0.5
Gypsum 0.5
Commercial trace 1
minerals and vitamins
Total 5

CHAPTER 13
pick’ during this period to enable their digestive
Stock and pasture management systems to readjust to the green feed.
at the end of a drought Stressful conditions associated with drought-
breaking rains increase the maintenance
Feeding stock at the end of a drought requirements of the stock, so the rations fed over
the two to three week period should be increased
In previous droughts, some of the worst stock by about 20% above drought rations.
losses have occurred immediately after the
drought has broken. It is important, therefore, that If no conserved roughage is available and the
the feeding management of sheep and cattle is drought-fed stock have been fed all-grain rations,
carefully planned and supervised over the weeks they should be gradually weaned off grain over
following the end of the drought. about two weeks.
The problem Restrict the stock to fairly small paddocks during
this procedure, but make sure there is some green
Following drought-breaking rain, it is natural that feed present to replace the grain that is gradually
stock will look for, and eat, the ‘green pick’ that being eliminated from their diet.
quickly appears in the paddocks. There are two
problems associated with this behaviour: Other practical considerations
• the arrival of drought-breaking winds can be If there are substantial drought-breaking rains, it
accompanied by cold and windy weather. These is possible that hand feeding stock might become
conditions place added stress on stock that very difficult over the two to three- week post-
are already suffering from a lengthy drought. drought period. Paddocks could well become too
Stock will spend a lot of energy roaming around boggy for vehicles. Stock may use up valuable
paddocks chasing the short ‘green pick’. Although energy reserves chasing feed in such conditions.
the ‘green pick’ is highly nutritious, the quantity Hence, the planning and organisation of feeding
that stock can eat soon after germination is not management during the immediate post-drought
great and may be far less than their maintenance period is critical.
requirements Most droughts end in autumn or winter and this
• just as stock need time to adapt to grain feeding, corresponds to a nutritionally demanding time for
they also need time to adapt from grain feeding most breeding sheep and cattle.
to eating pasture. It takes from two to three Lambing and calving occur during autumn or
weeks for the population of digestive organisms winter on many Victorian farms and the nutritional
in the rumen of sheep and cattle, to readjust demands of breeding stock in late pregnancy and
from digesting grain to digesting pasture. Very early lactation are substantial. This is another
sudden changes from high grain rations to green reason why the post-drought feeding management
pasture can cause digestive disturbances. This of livestock is extremely important.
warning applies particularly where the pasture
contains phalaris. Hungry stock that are allowed It is also vital that all stock are treated for internal
unrestricted access to phalaris paddocks are at and external parasites and clostridial diseases
risk from phalaris poisoning for some time after before the onset of cold and wet conditions.
a break. Ryegrass staggers may also occur (if any
perennial ryegrass has survived the drought). Pasture recovery after a drought
There may be stock problems if the pasture is The effect of drought on a pasture will depend, to
dominated by particular weeds. Nitrate poisoning a large degree, on the management and grazing
is common in pastures dominated by capeweed pressure to which it is subjected, relative to the
and clover early in the season. If there is any doubt rainfall received during the drought. Experience
about the toxicity of a pasture it is wise to graze gained during previous droughts and the experience
it with a small mob of sheep for 1-2 weeks before of pasture specialists throughout the state
introducing a large number of animals. suggests that there are significant differences
between species in their ability to withstand the
Feeding management usually combined effects of heavy grazing pressure
Hand feeding should be continued for two or three and reduced rainfall.
weeks beyond the end of the drought. If available, The extent to which pastures recover after a
roughage, such as bailed hay or even straw, is the drought depends largely on when the drought-
most appropriate fodder at this stage. breaking rains are received. If the drought breaks
The stock should be restricted to small areas for with a ‘normal’ autumn break, that is, germinating
the first two or three weeks, to allow most of the rains in March-April, the pasture should recover
farm’s pastures to ‘get-away’. quickly – providing there are adequate numbers of
viable seeds to germinate or there are drought-
Stock should be given some access to some ‘green-
13. Stock and pasture management at the end of a drought 42

tolerant perennial species present. Sufficient set seed in spring, the dormant bud can be fully
follow-up rains are needed to keep pastures developed, enhancing the chances of survival. Care
growing vigorously. A delayed break, or lower-than- should be taken, however, when grazing phalaris
average rainfall in the autumn, would progressively pastures soon after the autumn break. Short
impair pasture recovery rate. The effect of drought phalaris pastures can produce a toxin, causing
on irrigated pastures will depend on the availability phalaris staggers and death. The risk can be
and frequency of watering. minimised by allowing plants to establish 3 leaves
before grazing, and feeding the animals hay before
Annual species they are introduced to phalaris shortly after the
Because annual grasses, such as annual ryegrass, break.
will have reduced seed set during a drought, fewer
Paspalum is relatively drought tolerant and will
are found in pastures in the year after a drought
increase its dominance in under-irrigated pastures.
than before or during.
Lucerne has a deep taproot and can survive
Low seed set, combined with heavy grazing drought provided it is given regular spells from
through spring and summer, means less seed grazing to allow it to recover. White clover survival
is produced and subsequently available for is likely to be severely affected, particularly in
regeneration. The effect is likely to be similar to marginal areas (which includes ‘irrigated’ areas
that of cutting annual grasses for hay. where the watering has been stopped).
Lack of competition from favourable species, Feed supply
however, may allow undesirable annual grasses
Given a ‘normal’ autumn break after the drought,
such as silver grass and barley grass to come
there should be adequate paddock feed within
back strongly even if there is less seed available
six to eight weeks, despite the botanical changes.
for germination. This can be controlled with
Reduced stock numbers in some grazing areas will
grazing management and spray programs that
favour the feed supply situation.
favour perennial species if they have come back in
sufficient numbers. Opportunity to improve pastures
Sub clover or medic should have sufficient residual For many farmers there are a number of
hard seed in the soil to produce a good sward disincentives to re-sowing pastures after a
after drought unless the clover or medic content drought:
has been poor for some years before. Bare soil
• finance for sowing pastures is likely to be limited
conditions and an early break will favour their
germination and it is not uncommon for these • with reduced stocking rates, in some grazing
annual legumes to return to a similar or greater areas there will be no urgency to increase pasture
percentage of the sward than prior to the drought. productivity immediately
Overgrazing during summer and autumn, however,
• availability of locally produced pasture seed may
can result in a significant decline in seed reserves,
be limited. However there should be adequate
resulting in lower clover and medic plant densities,
seed available from other states or overseas. The
and favouring broadleaf weeds.
price of seed is likely to rise and supply/demand
Annual weedy species such as capeweed, erodium, is likely to force prices higher for some time after
Patterson’s curse and thistles will be more the drought.
prominent after a drought. These free-seeding
A good weed control program in the year before
broadleaf weeds tend to grow bigger with less
sowing should precede all pasture establishment
competition. If capeweed is dominant, however,
methods – droughts are no exception. Although
there is a possibility of nitrate poisoning of stock.
there may be less annual grass seed than usual,
This can be prevented by not introducing hungry
it is likely there will still be enough to restrict the
stock to capeweed-dominant pastures. Like sub
germination of a new pasture. Broadleaf weeds
clover, these species are favoured by bare ground
are also likely to be a problem in newly germinated
at germination and reduced competition from
pastures unless they are controlled.
other species. They also cope better with ‘false’
breaks than other species. Pasture productivity will not necessarily fall
drastically after a drought, even though some
Perennial species species will have declined. A ‘wait and see policy’
Most perennial grass species are likely to suffer for up to two years after the drought will allow
considerable reductions in plant numbers during a sufficient time to gauge the actual effects and
drought. This effect will be more severe, the longer allow some species, for example perennial ryegrass,
the dry conditions last. Perennial ryegrass is the to thicken up from seed produced in the post-
least tolerant of drought, followed by cocksfoot drought year.
and tall fescue. Phalaris is the outstanding grass
in surviving drought, providing valuable feed Opportunity to control weeds
and minimising soil erosion. A dormant bud in ‘Weeds’ may form a substantial proportion of a
the phalaris plant is its mechanism for survival, post-drought pasture. Any decision to control them
supplying the plant with water and nutrients should be carefully considered, because they can
throughout the dry period. By allowing phalaris to

make a very valuable contribution to the available circumstances of reduced stock numbers and tight
feed provided they are edible and not harmful to finances, it is quite sensible for many farmers to
stock. defer or reduce fertilisers for the year.
For any weed control program to be successful, Nitrogen fertilisers can be used early after the
it must include a method for replacing the weeds autumn break to boost autumn/winter feed
with more desirable species. Such methods may availability. Note that nitrogen fertiliser is best
include chemical control followed by re-sowing used on improved plant species and may be
and/or grazing management programs. Grazing wasted if pasture composition has been seriously
management combined with chemical control can compromised by the drought.
be successful if the desirable species makes up 20%
or more of the pasture composition. Fodder crops
Fodder crops can be sown on badly eroded annual
The following spray programs may be considered
grass paddocks where pasture seed reserves have
(but please read the label of the chemical and
blown away. In some circumstances, it is useful to
adhere to withholding periods, safety directions
grow a winter fodder crop to boost feed supplies
and correct rates):
after the drought, but in most cases there is no
• spray grazing for broadleaf weeds. Conducted need to do so, particularly if there is a good early
in autumn or early winter after the break. Spray break and stock numbers are down, or if water is
with a broadleaf herbicide such as MCPA, wait available to irrigate the pasture.
two weeks and graze off the pasture
Crops of grazing varieties of barley, oats, triticale,
• winter cleaning for annual grasses (particularly annual or Italian ryegrass, Persian or Balansa
silver grass). Conducted in late winter. Spray with clover, or mixtures of these, are suitable fodder
simazine, which prevents the annual grasses from crops. Areas best suited to fodder crops are
seeding those damaged by drought to the extent that the
pasture cannot produce sufficient feed to meet
• spray-topping for annual grasses such as barley
stock requirements.
grass. Conducted in mid-spring (when plants are
in the ‘milky dough’ stage). Spray with sub-lethal Fodder crops will help control weeds prior to
dose of glyphosate and graze off the pasture re-sowing pasture in the following year, and can
provide feed more rapidly than a newly sown
• pre-sowing knock down spray. Spray with a lethal
pasture.
dose of glyphosate before sowing a new pasture
or fodder crop. If feed is needed urgently following the drought,
re-sowing permanent pasture can be deferred and
Grazing strategy a dense fodder crop sown.
When the drought breaks, there will be very little
paddock feed remaining and the stock will graze Estimated pasture survival
every bit of new green feed as it appears. Heavy It is an advantage to determine how far a pasture
grazing at this time can greatly reduce subsequent has deteriorated, and what recovery might be
pasture production. It is recommended that expected when rain falls so that early action can }
farmers continue to hand feed their stock on a be taken.
limited area of the farm for up to a month after
Examination of paddocks may give an indication
the break (autumn deferment) to allow the pasture
of the amount of seed left and the density of
to develop to the point where it can grow strongly
living (versus dead) perennial plants. A simple
and better withstand stock grazing pressure.
procedure to confirm these observations is to
Control of insect pests during this time is most water (with a watering can) a square metre in
desirable. The pests most likely to cause damage several places within the paddock and see what
are cockchafers and red-legged earth mites. grows. In previous droughts the results of this
procedure have shown a close relationship to what
Need for fertiliser subsequently germinates.
The amounts and types of nutrients required for
If stock are in the paddock, it may be necessary to
pasture growth in the post-drought period should
use a fence to protect the watered areas.
not be different from a normal season. There
may be a larger than usual residual effect from To stop runoff, build a bank about 10cm high
fertiliser applied at the start of the drought as around the area to be watered. Apply the water in
a consequence of reduced leaching of nutrients March if the autumn break has not occurred, but
because of the dry conditions. do not water in the summer months because the
normal summer dormancy of seeds and plants,
Areas that have been used for intensive feeding
such as phalaris, may not have broken.
may have increased in fertility due to the nutrients
supplied by the feed and recycled through the
animal. The granules that can sometimes still
be seen on the ground during a drought from
top dressing are calcium sulphate (gypsum) and
they are unlikely to contain any phosphorus. In

CHAPTER 14
Ideally, unusual feedstuffs should be tested
The feed value of unusual for chemical contamination by an accredited
feedstuffs testing laboratory before being used as drought
feed. However, this in itself may not provide a
A wide range of unusual feedstuffs can be fed to satisfactory guarantee of suitability, as analytical
livestock safely and effectively. tests typically only screen for a narrow range of
chemicals. Note also that the chemical content of
Although such feedstuffs are commonly available unusual feedstuffs may vary from batch to batch.
in a fairly regular supply, enquiries about their value
for feeding to livestock increase when feed for The composition of many feedstuffs varies widely
grazing livestock is short, such as during droughts. because of differences in climate, soil conditions,
maturity, variety, management and processing
Apart from unusual feedstuffs generally being factors. The data presented in this chapter,
of poor nutritional value, they can also contain therefore, should be considered as a guide rather
chemical residues that can cause contamination than a precise statement of nutrient composition.
of meat and animal products when used as Before finalising plans to feed any by-product or
livestock feed. unusual feedstuff to livestock, it is advisable to
Potentially all supplementary feeds may contain have a sample analysed by an accredited feed
chemical residues, but unusual feedstuffs, not analysis service. See Chapter 15 for further details.
normally used for feeding livestock, pose a much Most by-products and unusual feedstuffs should
greater risk as residue transfer assessments are be used with caution and introduced into rations
unlikely to have been undertaken. The same applies gradually, even when low prices favour their use.
to imported feedstuffs, which may have high feed Factors to consider about unusual feedstuffs are
value to stock, but where the history of chemical their nutritive value, palatability, possible toxicity or
usage is unknown. contamination with pesticides or heavy metals and
Agricultural chemicals used on fruit and vegetable the effects upon digestion and utilisation of the
crops are typically designed to be eliminated from total ration. The use of by-product stockfeed needs
the edible parts of the plant at harvesting, however to be declared when completing National Vendor
some residues may still be present, and in some Declaration (NVD) forms.
cases concentrated, in the waste plant material SAFEMEAT, a partnership between the red meat
after processing. It is when this waste plant and livestock industries and Commonwealth
material is fed to stock that problems can occur. and State Governments has conducted risk
Residues can result from the capacity of stock to assessments on the use of unusual feedstuffs.
eat a greater quantity of the fruit/vegetable Producers can obtain copies of these risk
than humans. assessments from the SAFEMEAT website at
http://safemeat.com.au/key-issues/chemical-
Agricultural chemicals are not designed to be residues.htm
ingested by livestock. Unless animal residue studies
have been conducted, little is known about the
effect of these chemicals on stock and about the
High moisture content feeds
persistence of residues of these chemicals in Stock can eat up to 3.5% of their liveweight per
animal tissue. day when the feed is in a dry form, such as hay or
grain, but they cannot eat as much dry matter if
There is a very real possibility that the meat and the feed has a high moisture content.
animal products from stock fed unusual feedstuffs
containing chemical contaminants will themselves Fresh, high-moisture feeds are often quite
become contaminated with the chemicals. This can palatable to livestock but most such feeds will
impact severely on trade and market access as well ferment and sour quickly unless they are dried
as animal and human health. or ensiled.
For this reason, the best policy is to not feed
unusual feedstuffs to stock without first
Blending and levels of feeding
establishing that the material is suitable. Many unusual feedstuffs are a reasonable source
of energy for the livestock – but quality can vary.
Producers should ask the supplier of unusual It is very important that any new feedstuff is
feedstuffs to certify that the material they are gradually introduced to livestock over a period of
supplying is suitable for the purpose for which it will about two weeks.
be used. A by-product vendor declaration should
also be requested to verify this information. This As a ‘rule of thumb’, most unusual feedstuffs can
will allow the producer to see the full chemical-use be effectively incorporated into the rations of
history of the potential feed. livestock to a maximum of about 30% of the total
ration without any significant influence on the
health of livestock.
14. The feed value of unusual feedstuffs 45

Types of feeds propionate and reduce ruminal acetate production.

This is desirable for feedlot livestock being fattened
Stock feed is usually categorised as either for market.
concentrates (high in energy) or roughage (higher
in fibre, but lower in energy). Up to about 10% can be included in feedlot rations
when supplies and economics are favourable.
Concentrates can be high in either energy or Supplies should be fed quickly.
protein content. Protein concentrates generally
contain more than 20% crude protein. Brewer’s grains
Brewer’s grains have 20-25% crude protein (on a
By-product energy concentrates dry matter basis), making them a good protein
Almond hulls source in addition to their energy value.
Almond hull products vary considerably due to The brewing process makes this protein less
varietal differences and harvesting procedures. soluble than that from many protein supplements.
Soft almond hulls have about 85% of the energy This could be valuable in rations, such as silage
value of barley grain. Some supplies of almond supplement with non-protein nitrogen, which
hulls, however, are contaminated with sticks, dirt, contain large amounts of soluble protein.
hard shells and other foreign materials at harvest
Brewer’s grains are fed both wet and dried.
time. This greatly reduces their feeding value and
acceptability by livestock. In the dry form they have about 80% of the energy
value of barley grain (the energy value varies
Almond hulls can be used as a partial roughage
depending on the brewery and additives used in
replacement when roughage supplies are short and
the brewing process). They are not as palatable in
forage prices are high.
the dried form as the original grain and are usually
When mixed with other ingredients in commercial included as 25% or less of a dairy concentrate mix,
concentrate mixes, almond hulls usually are and 1-20% in feedlot rations.
restricted to 20% or less, in order to maintain high
nutrient levels and palatability of the concentrate Citrus pulp
mix. In complete feedlot rations, almond hulls are Citrus pulp is classified as a concentrate but is
limited to about 30% or less. also valuable as a partial roughage replacement
because of its high level of digestible fibre.
Apple pomace
It commonly contains about 15% crude fibre in the
Apple pomace is the by-product of apples used
dry matter. Its energy value is about 94% of the
for cider or vinegar production. It can be fed fresh,
value of barley grain. It has only about 7% crude
ensiled or dried.
protein in the dry matter.
Two problems have hampered feeding of apple
Citrus pulp is usually fed dehydrated. It must be
pomace in recent years. Pesticide contamination
introduced gradually into a ration to let stock get
has been a problem in some areas, making the
accustomed to its distinctive smell and taste.
pomace unacceptable in dairy and (occasionally)
Levels of up to 15-20% are acceptable in
sheep and beef rations. A second difficulty is that
feedlot rations.
urea or other non- protein nitrogen compounds
should not be fed with apple pomace because of Citrus pulp can also be fed fresh or as silage. Both
the possibility of abortions and/or abnormalities of are very acceptable to stock but pulp and peels
offspring. The reason for this is unknown. from lemons are somewhat more acceptable than
those from oranges and grapefruit. Transportation
Apple pomace is a highly palatable feed, medium
costs preclude the wet pulp from being fed very far
in energy but very low in protein. When properly
from processing plants.
supplemented, it can replace up to about one-
third of the concentrates in rations and 15-20% in Citrus pulp is high in calcium and low in
complete feedlot rations. phosphorus, and can aggravate the high calcium-
to-phosphorus ratio in a ration when fed with
Bakery waste legumes such as lucerne. Unless counter-
Large amounts of unsold bread, doughnuts, cakes balanced by other feeds low in calcium and high
and other pastries are available in some areas and in phosphorus, citrus pulp can result in higher
are excellent energy sources for ruminant rations. incidences of milk fever in cattle at, or soon
Bakery waste however, may potentially contain after, parturition.
meat or other animal protein and should therefore
be used with caution and in accordance with Fat
ruminant feed ban legislation. Fats and oils have energy values of about 2.25
times that of carbohydrates. Fats are also used
Bakery waste is usually high in fat and low in crude
to settle the dust and as a lubricant for feed
fibre. Protein levels (on a dry-matter basis) in the
processing. From 2-5% fat is an acceptable level in
range of 10-12% are typical. The low fibre content
commercial feedlot rations. Care must be taken,
of the baked material and the baking process itself
however, to ensure the fats and
result in a feed which tends to stimulate ruminal

oils are not contaminated with extraneous Rice bran

chemicals during collection, storage and use.
Rice bran results from the processing of rice grain
Tallow and used cooking oil may only be used in
for human consumption. Besides the bran itself, it
accordance with Ruminant Feed Ban Regulations.
contains the germ from the grain and fragments of
Grain screenings the hull not removed in milling.
Grain screenings result from the cleaning of Levels of up to 15% have been fed successfully to
small grains before they are milled for human livestock. At these levels, it is roughly equivalent to
consumption. The best grade of screenings consists wheat brain in nutritional value.
primarily of broken and shrunken kernels of grain, Wheat bran and other wheat by-products Wheat
wild oats and other palatable weed seeds. When bran consists of the coarse outer coatings of wheat
ground, good screenings approach grain in feeding kernels. It is a bulky feed which is relatively high in
value and have been used as 25% or more of protein and phosphorus. It is highly palatable to
concentrate mixed and 15-20% in feed rations. livestock and is utilised efficiently when up to 25%
Light, chaffy screenings, however, are much higher is included in the concentrate mix. From 10-20%
in fibre and resemble straw more than grain in of wheat bran and other wheat by-products can
feeding value. Such screenings should be restricted be used in feedlot diets. The bulky nature of wheat
to 10%. bran and its high phosphorus content make it a
Grape pomace or marc popular by-product feed for livestock.
Grape pomace or marc is the refuse in the Whey
production of grape juice and wine. It consists Whey is the residue from cheese production
mainly of some combination of grape seeds, stems and consists primarily of lactose, minerals and
and skins. It has little feeding value, being very water. It can be fed dry or liquid. Pollution control
variable in both energy and protein and highly regulations and the high cost of drying have
variable in dry matter. resulted in increasing amounts being used as feed
When included in a concentrate mix, it can be liquid in recent years.
considered only as a filler to reduce the price of the Dried whey is a major component of many dry milk
mix. With new harvesting and winery techniques, replacers fed to calves. It is usually too expensive
grape pomace containing few or no stems can to be included in rations for older animals but it is
be produced. This waste feed has been fed sometimes included at low levels in pelleted feeds
successfully at up to 15-20% of complete feedlot because of its binding characteristics as well as its
rations. nutrients.
Grape marc has been found to be extremely Liquid whey contains only 6-7% solids and must
palatable to sheep and lambs in pen trials where be fed quickly or it will spoil. In cool climates it can
they consumed 350g/head/day when fed with be stored for 3-4 days before feeding. In warm
straw. This diet was effective in reducing weight climates it should be fed the same day that it is
loss only. delivered.
Studies have found partitioning of oil-soluble Liquid whey is frequently available for only the
chemicals in grape seeds at violative levels, which hauling costs, making it an inexpensive source of
would readily transfer to animal fat upon ingestion. nutrients for animals located near cheese plants.
There are also concerns about residual levels Supplies are often variable, however, and storage
of copper, which can be toxic to stock, used in of whey attracts fly problems.
fungicides on grapes.
Tomato pomace
Onions
The feeding value of tomato pomace on a dry basis
Onions have been fed successfully to cattle is comparable to good-quality hay.
and sheep and they eat them readily. They can,
however, cause anaemia in sheep so introducing Variability (especially moisture content) is one of
onions over a period of time is recommended and the main problems associated with the use of this
only up to 50% of the total ration. by-product feed. In one study, dry matter varied
from a high of 27.5% to a low of 11.9%. Pesticide
contamination can also be a problem with
tomato pomace.

By-product protein concentrates Rendered Products

Many crops grown for oil production also produce The Ruminant Feed Ban also rendered products
by-products high in protein. These by-products such as blood meal, meat meal, meat and bone
are the primary source of supplemental protein in meal, fish meal, poultry meal, feather meal, and
livestock rations. compounded feeds made from these products.
These include coconut meal, corn gluten meal, Safflower meal
cottonseed meal, linseed meal, safflower meal, Safflower meal has increased in availability and
soybean meal and sunflower meal. Some of these importance as a protein supplement in recent years
have high fat levels and should therefore not be fed because of the popularity of safflower oil in human
as the whole diet. diets. Safflower meal from unhulled seeds, has
Additionally, such by-products as distiller’s grains about 20% protein, is high in fibre and is relatively
are used extensively as protein supplements low in energy. Meal made from well-hulled seeds
in livestock rations. Brewer’s grains, previously has about 40% protein and is much higher in
discussed as an energy feed, are also relatively high energy.
in protein content. Safflower meal from either source, however, is
Coconut meal/copra not as palatable to livestock as the more common
protein supplements and is usually restricted to
Coconut meal, popularly known as copra, is one of 20% or less of concentrate mix.
the most palatable feeds available for livestock. It
is high in energy and contains about 20% protein. Soybean meal
Rancidity can be a problem during storage if the Soybean meal contains from 40-50% protein, is
meal is high in fat but high-fat copra contains high in energy and is highly palatable to livestock.
considerably more energy than copra produced by
the solvent process. Sunflower meal
Cottonseed meal Protein levels vary from 20-25%, depending on the
processing method and whether the seed is hulled
Cottonseed meal is a by-product of the production or not. It is roughly equivalent to cottonseed meal
of cotton lint and cottonseed oil. It contains about as a protein supplement for livestock.
40% protein and is well liked by livestock. The
amount of oil left in the meal will affect its energy
value (amounts vary according to the method of
By-product roughage
processing). Energy levels, however, are somewhat Canola hay and silage
lower than those found in some other protein Canola hay and silage are likely to be available as
supplements such as coconut meal, soybean meal a fodder source in droughts where frost damage
and linseed meal. has occurred. In this situations it is likely that
Linseed meal lengthy withholding periods will apply (15 weeks in
some situations eg. pre-emergent uses). Vendor
Linseed meal, the by-product of the extraction of declarations must be sought from feed suppliers in
linseed oil from flaxseed, is an excellent protein these situations to manage the risks.
supplement for livestock. Protein content varies
from about 30-38% depending on the source of Both hay and silage can be of good quality
processing method. When reasonably priced, it can but this can vary and there are some livestock
be used as the only protein supplement in livestock considerations. Table 17 is a summary of results in
rations because it is very palatable. Victoria on canola hay and silage samples analysed
during 2006-2007.
Poultry litter and manure
Canola hay that has not been aggressively
Poultry waste (litter and/or manure) has been conditioned may have sharp stalk ends and
included in the diets of sheep and cattle in previous these can pose a problem to animals by piercing
droughts but is now prohibited under the Ruminant the rumen. There have been reported instances
Feed Ban, which includes rendered products of nitrate poisoning from canola products. It
such as blood meal, meat meal, meat and bone is recommended that canola hay or silage is
meal, fish meal, poultry meal, feather meal, and introduced slowly, and that it is not fed as a sole
compounded feeds made from these products. ration or to starving animals.

Table 17. Mean and range of canola hay and silage samples from the 2006-2007 season
(Source FEEDTEST® 1 Aug 06 – 10 Jan 07)
Description Crude protein Dry matter Metabolisable Neutral detergent
digestibility energy fibre
CP
DMD ME NDF
(%)
(%) (MJ/kg DM) (%)
Hay, canola 16.2 67.1 9.9 40.6
(508 samples) 4.0-27.2 33.0-85.3 4.1-13.1 25.4-66.9
Silage, canola 17.6 66.3 10.1 41.5
(141 samples) 9.7-26.3 45.6-81.7 7.3-12.4 25.6-57.4
Rice hay Sawdust has also been successfully used as a

diluent for adapting cattle to a concentrated
Rice hay is generally a good, palatable roughage
diet. The inclusion of 5-15% sawdust in maize-
of equivalent feed value to cereal hays. Rice hay,
based diets for cattle was found to maintain
however, is known to contain significant levels
better rumen function as evidenced by fewer
of silica and oxalate, both of which may cause
cases of bloat and liver lesions and less ruminal
problems to livestock. High dietary silica levels can
perakeratosis.
predispose animals to urinary calculi.
Coarse sawdust was better than fine sawdust in
If rice hay is fed as the roughage in a hay and
maintaining rumen function.
grain diet, it is suggested that 1.5% limestone and
0.5% salt is fed to correct the calcium: phosphorus Sawdust from treated timber should not be used.
balance in the ration. Rice hay can contain a range
of weeds such as umbrella sedge, barnyard grass, Seaweed
starfruit and wild millet. Kelp represents the most common type of seaweed
that might be available for feeding. The dry matter
Rice hulls of kelp contains about 30% minerals (compared to
Rice hulls have practically no feed value but can be 5-6% in hay, pasture, etc). Kelp contains 0.15-0.2%
useful as bedding material for livestock. iodine. Seaweed is sometimes used as a mineral
source for livestock.
They are very high in crude fibre and silica and the
fibre is largely indigestible. Up to 15% of unground Kelp can be fed quite satisfactorily at up to about
rice hulls, however, can be included as a roughage 25% of the diet of livestock. The composition of
source in drought rations being fed to livestock. dried kelp is dry matter 91%, crude protein 6%,
minerals (ash content) 30%. ME value of kelp is
Sawdust about 5MJ per kg DM.
Sawdust has virtually no feed value for sheep or
The rich mineral content of seaweed, especially
cattle because of its high level of lignification. It has
salt, can make the material quite palatable to
been shown to be useful, however, when feeding
livestock.
high concentrate diets to sheep or cattle during
droughts. Sheep survival rates in drought have Waste paper
been shown to be better when 15-20% sawdust
Has a poor feed value and there is the risk of the
(hoop pine and spotted gum) was included in the
paper containing contaminants such as lead,
wheat rations.
cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls and other toxic
substances. The feeding of waste paper to sheep or
cattle is not recommended.

Table 18. Energy and protein compositions of unusual feedstuffs

(If known, ranges in feed values are given in brackets. It is likely that most of these feedstuffs will vary and
values are a guide only.)
Feed Approx. dry Metabolisable Crude protein %

matter (DM) energy (ME) dry matter
% (MJ/kg DM)
Acorns 70 7 5
Almond hulls, 15% CF 90 8 2
Almond hulls and shells, 20% CF 90 7 2
Apple pomace, dried 89 10 5
Apple pulp silage 21 11 8
Apples 17 10 3
Apricots, dried 90 12 6
Bakery waste, dried 92 13 11
Banana skins, dried, ground 88 9 8
Bananas 24 13 4
Bread, dried 92 13 13
Brewers dried grains 92 9 22
Brewers dried grains, 25% protein 92 10 25
Brewers grains, wet (range) 28 (14-61) 11 (8-14) 22 (10-29)
Broccoli 11 10 33
Brussel sprouts 15 11 33
Buckwheat 87 11 12
Cabbage 9 13 25
Cabbage leaves 15 10 14
Canola meal (range) 91 12 (10-16) 38 (27-42)
Carrot pulp (range) 10 (8-16) 13 (9-14) 10 (6-15)
Carrots 13 12 10
Cauliflower 9 10 30
Citrus pulp (range) 14 (11-17) 13 (10-15) 9 (6-12)
Copra (coconut) meal 90 11 21
Corn cobs, ground 90 7 3
Cottonseed meal, 41% protein mech-extd 93 3 44
Cottonseed meal, 41% protein, solv-extd 91 11 46
Cottonseed, whole 92 14 23
Grape marc or pomace (range) 55 (20-94) 6 (2-12) 12 (5-17)
Grape/pear/apple pomace, dried 92 6 7
Grapefruit 14 13 8
Kelp, dried 91 5 7
Lemon pulp, dried 93 12 7
Lettuce 5 8 22
Linseed meal, 36% protein, solv- extd 90 12 38
Linseed meal, 37% protein, mech- extd 91 12 38
Melons 4 11 11
Milk, cattle, skim, dried 94 13 36
Milk, cattle, whole, dried 94 15 27
Milk, colostrum 25 15 46
Molasses, cane 75 11 6

Table 18. Energy and protein compositions of unusual feedstuffs continued

Feed Approx. dry matter Metabolisable Crude protein %
(DM) energy (ME) dry matter
% (MJ/kg DM)
Oat hulls 93 5 4
Oat straw 92 7 4
Oats, sprouted 5 days 13 10 18
Onions 11 13 10
Orange pulp, dried 88 12 8
Orange pulp, wet 25 12 9
Oranges 13 12 7
Palm kernal meal 88 11 17
Pea hay 88 9 14
Peaches 10 12 9
Peanut meal, mech-extd 93 12 52
Peanut meal, solv-extd 92 12 52
Peanut skins 94 10 17
Pears 17 13 6
Pineapples 15 12 3
Potato meal, dried 91 12 11
Potatoes 23 12 9
Pumpkins 9 13 16
Raisin pulp, dried 89 8 11
Raisins, cull 85 7 4
Rice bran 90 14 (9-15) 16 (13-20)
Soyabean meal 85 (12-94) 15 (13-16) 44 (30-54)
Sunflower meal 91 10 (8-14) 34 (20-39)
Whey 8 (2-27) 14 (12-14) 30 (20-40)
It is important to assess the risk of these feedstuffs and take appropriate precautions to ensure that the
quality and integrity of the meat or other end product is not jeopardised.

CHAPTER 15
Additional information Sampling pasture

Walk through the paddock at random, and cut a
sample, to ground level with hand shears, from
Feed quality assessment for beef cattle near the toe of your right boot, every ten steps.
Guesswork is no longer good enough when it comes Ensure that the same sized area is cut every time
to judging the quality of hay, grain, silage and (about 30 square centimetres), and that you
other feedstuffs. Objective assessment, based on sample from at least 15 locations in the paddock.
factors that affect animal performance, is being Combine these samples into one and thoroughly
increasingly used to describe feed quality, which mix to obtain an amount not exceeding 500g. Treat
can vary widely. This variation is often very difficult, the sample exactly as for silage. Be careful not to
if not impossible, to detect visually. contaminate the sample with soil or faeces.
The ME of pasture hay can vary from 6.5 Sampling grains and pellets
megajoules per kilogram (MJME/kgDM) of dry
Select several sub-samples from different
matter for very poor, mature grass hay to 9.5
‘locations’ or bags, which make up the complete
MJME/kgDM for top quality clover-dominant hay.
lot. Thoroughly mix the sub-samples and send 300-
Protein can range from 6-19% in hay. Silage can
400g of this mix for testing.
show similar variation, and in the case of cereal
grains, protein can vary from 5-16% and ME from One envelope should be used for each sample,
9-13 MJ/kg. and flimsy freezer bags should NOT be used – they
burst in transit! The sample analysis company’s
The only reliable way to know the value or
sample information sheet must also be filled out,
otherwise of the feed you are using or looking at
giving details of the feed and its intended use.
buying, is to have a sample tested.
Samples should be posted as soon as possible after
Sampling and sample submission collection, and perishable samples, for example
silage, should be sent early in the week so that
Always remember that the analysis is only as good
processing is not delayed by a weekend.
as the sample, which must adequately represent
the feed being tested. Hay and silage in particular, The feed analysis report
are quite variable, so great care is needed when
Each feed analysis report will include the following
sampling them.
tests:
Sampling hay • moisture – the amount of water in the feed,
Use a coring device, made from 32mm steel tubing varying from about 10% for grains to over 80%
about 450mm long, and attached to an electric for fresh pasture
drill or hand brace. The cutting edge should be
• dry matter (DM) – refers to the amount of feed
slightly scalloped and must be kept sharp. Each
remaining after the water has been removed.
sample should consist of cores taken at random
Because the water content of feeds can vary
from 15-20 bales, with each core taken from the
considerably, all analyses are expressed on a dry
‘butt’ end of a bale.
matter basis
Take separate samples to represent different
• crude protein (CP) – the amount of true protein
paddocks, cutting times, clover content, weather
(composed of amino acids) and non-protein
damage etc.
nitrogen in the feed. While it is desirable to have
Hay and silage can be sampled by hand as a high CP, it can be misleading to use it as the
described in the silage section. This method, sole measure of feed quality
however, is much less accurate.
• digestible dry matter (DDM) – the percentage of
Sampling silage the feed dry matter actually digested by animals.
It is estimated using a laboratory method, which
Sample by hand from 10-20 spots across a freshly
is standardised against DDM values from feeding
cut face of the stack, mix thoroughly and sub-
trials. High quality feeds have a DDM of over
sample, to yield a total amount not exceeding
65%, while feeds below 55% DDM, are of poor
500g. Alternatively, use a hay corer if feasible.
quality and will not maintain liveweight even if
Seal the sample in a strong airtight plastic bag
stock have free access to them
(NOT a freezer bag) before placing in a sample
envelope. Send the sample immediately. If a delay • metabolisable energy (ME) – is the feed energy
is unavoidable, refrigerate or freeze the sample actually used by the animal, calculated from DDM
until it is sent, especially in hot weather. and expressed as megajoules per kilogram of dry
matter (MJ/kgDM). ME is the most important
figure on the report. It is used to calculate
whether stock are receiving adequate energy for
maintenance or production.
15. Additional information 52

It should be noted that feed analyses are

expressed on a dry matter basis. However, in the
paddock you will need to calculate the amount of
feed supplement to use on an ‘as fed’ basis. For
example, if a sample of oats has an ME of 11 MJ/kg
DM, a CP content of 9% (on a DM basis) and a DM
content of 90%, the ‘as fed’ values will be:
ME = 11 x 90% = 10 MJ/kg DM CP = 9 x 90% =
8% CP
Further information
Sample bags are available from the feed analysis
companies.
Feed analysis companies include:
FEEDTEST®,
PO Box 728
Werribee Vic 3030Ph: 1300 655 474
Email: [email protected]
Livestock Logic
60 Portland Rd
Hamilton Vic 3300
Ph: 03 5572 1419
Email: [email protected]
Feed Central
38 New Dookie Road
Shepparton VIC 3630
Ph. 03 5823 0000
15. Additional information 53

APPENDIX I
Weight of hay and silage bales
Bale type Wet weight Dry matter Dry weight
(kg) (%) (kg)
Hay Small square 23 85 20

4 x 4 round 250 85 215
5 x 4 round
350 85 300
(15 small bale equivalents)
5 x 6 round
500 85 425
(20 small bale equivalents)
8 x 3 x 3 square 300 85 255
8 x 4 x 3 square 600 85 510
8 x 4 x 4 square 750 85 640
Silage 4 x 4 round 700 35 245
1 cubic metre (wilted) 580 30 175
1 cubic metre (direct cut) 830 18 115
1 cubic metre maize silage 500 35 175
Appendices 54
APPENDIX II
Energy tables and calculations
Calculation for maintenance:
Maintenance MJME = (0.1 x liveweight) + 5
Calculations for daily energy requirements of growing cattle:
< 300 kg LW 0.5 kg/day MJME = 1.7 x maintenance
1.0 kg/day MJME = 2.2 x maintenance
300 – 500 0.5 kg/day MJME = 1.6 x maintenance

kgLW
500 + kgLW 0.5 kg/day MJME = 1.5 x maintenance

Lookup tables for daily energy requirements of pregnant and lactating cattle:
Requirements for Pregnancy – add to maintenance of cow
Expected Calf Weeks before calving
birth weight
(kg) - 12 -8 -4 0
MJME/cow/day
30 6 11 20 34
40 9 15 26 45
50 11 18 32 55
Requirements for Lactation – add to maintenance of cow

Normal Calf Months after calving
Weaning +1 +3 +5 +7
weight (kg)
MJME/cow/day
150 35 45 55 55
200 40 55 65 75
250 50 70 85 95
300 60 80 100 115
Appendices 55
APPENDIX III
Pearson’s Square Worksheet
Protein % in Protein % in
feed 1 feed 2
Difference in protein A B
between feed 1 and
required protein level Required
gives us the parts Protein %
of feed 2 required in 10
the diet
Parts of feed 2 Parts of feed 1

required in diet required in diet
Total parts (E) = C + D D
C
=
=
Proportion (%) of feed 1 in diet = (D ÷ E) Feed 1 = ____ ÷ ____ = _____

Proportion (%) of feed 2 in diet = (C ÷ E) Feed 2 = ____ ÷ ____ =
Amount of energy needed from feed 1

Proportion of feed 1 in diet Animal requirements MJME/ Energy needed from feed 1
day MJME/day
x =
KgDM required of feed 1

Energy needed from feed 1 Energy value of feed 1 Amount required of feed 1
MJME/day MJME/kgDM kgDM
÷ =
Amount of feed required on an as fed basis

Amount required of feed 1 ÷ Dry matter of feed 1 = Kg as fed per head per day
kgDM (expressed as a decimal ie 90% = 0.9) of feed 1
Amount of energy needed from feed 2

Proportion of feed 2 in diet Animal requirements MJME/ Energy needed from feed 2
day MJME/day
x =
KgDM required of feed 1 (oats)

Energy needed from feed 2 Energy value of feed 2 Amount required of feed 2
MJME/day MJME/kgDM kgDM
÷ =
Amount of feed required on an as fed basis (oats)

Amount required of feed 2 ÷ Dry matter of feed 2 = Kg as fed per head per day
kgDM (expressed as a decimal ie 90% = 0.9) of feed 2

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Metabolisable energy (MJ/hd/day) supplied by pasture of different quality and availability 5
Table 2. Minimum and desired fat scores for different classes of stock 7
Table 3. Energy and protein compositions of common livestock feeds 11
Table 4. Energy and protein compositions of common grains 12
Table 5. Cents per megajoule of energy calculated from $/tonne and MJ/kg DM 13
Table 6. Steers and heifers (after weaning) 17
Table 7. Cows dry, pregnant mature 17
Table 8. Cows with suckling calves up to four months old 18
Table 9. Bulls 18
Table 10. Quantities for full hand feeding (kg/hd/day) for common classes of stock 19
Table 11. Animal water requirements Litres per animal per day 24
Table 12. Salt tolerance in drinking water for various classes of cattle 25
Table 13. Digestibility of whole vs processed grain 28
Table 14. Energy and protein requirements of calves of various liveweights 36
Table 15. Some diets for early weaned calves 36
Table 16. Examples of feedlot rations 41
Table 17. Mean and range of canola hay and silage samples from the 2006-2007 season 49
Table 18. Energy and protein compositions of unusual feedstuffs 50
List of Tables 57

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DROUGHT FEEDING

ISBN 978-1-74199-055-3 (print)

Key Messages, Acknowledgments, Glossary of abbreviations 1

1. Preparing for drought 2

1. Preparing for drought 3

Pasture management and Pasture as a component of drought

• adequate pasture height, 4cm or higher

2. Pasture management and utilisation in drought 4

Dry pasture, however, cannot be calibrated using Pasture quality

Figure 3. 500kg dry matter, 50% digestibility

Table 1. Metabolisable energy (MJME/kgDM) supplied by pasture of different qualities

2. Pasture management and utilisation in drought 5

Monitoring stock condition

3. Monitoring stock condition 6

Visual assessment Select a number of poorer animals in the mob to

Feeding cattle for controlled

3. Monitoring stock condition 7

55 MJME/day – 14 MJME (returned from the 0.5

Choosing a feed Protein

If using low-fibre feeds, ensure there is adequate

Costing fodders on energy value How to calculate the cost of feed on an

FEED A: Calculate the cost/MJ of

Example 3: Which is the best value for money – Cost of freight

Maximum intake If protein is the limiting nutrient in a diet, cattle

Energy and protein requirements of various classes of cattle

Table 7. Cows dry, pregnant mature*

Balancing the diet

Feed 1 Barley 13 MJME/kgDM 12% Crude Protein 85% dry matter

Parts of feed 2 Parts of feed

Proportion (%) of feed 1 (barley) in diet = (1 ÷ 3) x 100 = 33% or 0.33

Amount of energy needed from feed 1 (barley)

0.33 105 35 MJME/day

Amount of energy needed from feed 2 (hay)

Minerals Feeding straw and urea

How to treat the straw Molasses

Animal requirements 0.4 is a conversion factor that takes into

6. Water during a drought 24

STEP 4 Algal blooms

6. Water during a drought 25

Relocating stock Actions to address a water shortage

6. Water during a drought 26

Feeding grain to cattle Frequency of feeding

7. Feeding grain to cattle 27

Buffers are chemicals that counter the acidity of Wheat, 63 86 36%

7. Feeding grain to cattle 28

Grain feeding problems Calcium deficiency – Grain feeding over a

7. Feeding grain to cattle 29

8. Animal health and welfare 30

Coccidiosis Where sufficient food and/or water requirements

8. Animal health and welfare 31

Feeding in stock containment

A paddock that has been grazed below 70% ground

9. Feeding in stock containment areas 32

9. Feeding in stock containment areas 33

Hay is also the safest way to increase energy Animal health

9. Feeding in stock containment areas 34

Early weaning of beef calves Age of weaning

Table 14. Energy and protein requirements of calves of various liveweights

Table 15. Some diets for early weaned calves

Proportion (%) of feed 1 in diet = (D ÷ E) Feed 1 = ÷ = _