Resilience strategies for small landholders: Drought plans and maintenance feed requirements for cattle

This recorded webinar is focused on supporting small landholders during times of drought and the subsequent recovery processes.

In this recording, Roger Sneath (Senior Beef Extension Officer, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) discusses the development of drought plans and the concept of having a strategy in place when faced with the challenges of dry conditions.

At what point do you make important decisions about the animals in your care?

Roger will also expand on what cattle feed requirements (for maintenance) you should consider when making these decisions. The topics discussed include:

1. Rain and pasture websites
2. Review drought plans
3. Feed budgeting
4. Drought options and tools
5. Feeding cattle
6. Holding breeder condition
7. Protein and energy supplements
8. Costing nutrients

You can watch the full recording or use the playlist below to jump to the start of a particular section within the presentation.  33:00; published 18 May 2020 by FutureBeefAu.

Download a copy of the presentation – Dry season management (PDF, 2.53 MB)

Additional resources:

• a new website has been developed to support small landholders – ‘Animals in drought‘
• information on Dry season pasture budget: a guide for stocking rates (FutureBeef)
• information on Forage budgeting videos (FutureBeef)
• information on Beef business tools (FutureBeef)
• information on Dry season management of beef businesses (FutureBeef)
• information on Managing cattle in dry conditions and drought (FutureBeef)
• information on drought and climate adaptation visit the Long Paddock (FORAGE) website

Full recording

Playlist

1. Dry season management
2. Topics to be covered
3. Australia’s variable rainfall
4. Long paddock website and FORAGE
5. CliMate website
6. Drought decisions and review
7. Making a drought plan
8. Producer reflections on drought…
9. Annual cycles and critical trigger dates
10. Feed budgeting
11. Drought options and tools
12. Selling vs feeding
13. Managing for variability
14. Feeding cattle – how much do they drink?
15. How much do they eat?
16. Maintenance full hand feeding rates (as fed)
17. Weaning information
18. Estimated full feeding costs (425 kg breeder)
19. Holding breeder condition
20. Protein and energy supplements
21. Costing energy and protein
22. Fodder biosecurity (chemical, weeds, etc)
23. Summary and take home messages