Feeding and nutrition
How you feed your livestock through drought is a crucial decision. The amount and type of feeding required will depend on:
- quality of the feed - energy and protein levels
- size, type, condition, stage of pregnancy or lactation of livestock
- available facilities and equipment
- past feeding history of livestock
- the degree of impact that drought has on livestock.
There are many tools available to help you understand your options:
- Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator - develop feed rations for sheep and cattle during drought and dry seasons
- Feedlot calculator - estimate the profitability of feedlotting before committing labour-intensive resources
- Feed Cost Calculator - compare protein, energy and other components of different mixes of livestock feeds
- Crop Salvage Calculator - compare crop management options
- Farm Tracker App - track seasonal conditions on your property
Supplementary feeding
An effective supplementary feeding program supplies nutrients that are deficient in
pasture, in a cost-effective manner. It relies on:
- identifying the limiting pasture components, such as protein, energy, and minerals
- using supplements containing economical levels of those components
- matching the supplement with the class of stock being fed
- supplying appropriately to minimise disruption to the animals’ digestive system
- costing the whole program and considering alternative measures
- prioritising animals with the greatest needs
- monitoring animal health, feed consumption, liveweight, and fat scores.
The Managing Drought, Fire and Flood guide has information on supplementary feeding cattle and sheep.
Feed quality and testing
Understanding the nutritional analysis of different feed types will help you optimise the health and production of your livestock.
Our Feed Quality Service is available to help you with your animal management.
Stock water requirements
How much water cattle and sheep require on a daily basis during drought can vary. Understanding your livestock’s water requirements is important in considering how you are going to prepare for and manage through drought.
Fodder, feed and other things to keep in mind
- Entry requirements for fodder purchased from interstate
- Managing weeds and diseases
- Chemical residues in feed
Animal welfare
Animal welfare considerations are critical when managing stock during drought, when feed and water resources are in short supply.
Your livestock and other farm animals are your responsibility, and it is up to you to plan and prepare for their welfare. By being proactive and making decisions early, you will help ensure good animal welfare outcomes and compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.
- Assess: Understand your circumstances and the options available to you. Seek help and consider expert advice on seasonal conditions, feed, fodder and stock market prices.
- Act early: Early intervention ensures good animal welfare outcomes. Consider making plans for:
- Stock management
- Destocking and transport
- Feeding, fodder and pasture grazing
- Business goals, strategies and finances.
- Be aware: Ensure you're across the legal responsibilities for the welfare of your stock animals and pets.
- Seek help: The NSW Government is committed to working with you to ensure you get the right help and advice to manage stock during tough times and ensure good animal welfare outcomes.
Transporting and selling livestock during drought
Planning ahead will reduce the risk of animal welfare issues.
- Prepare livestock – spelling or resting livestock in yards following mustering and providing enough roughage and water.
- Check identification, declaration and movement requirements – ensuring livestock are correctly identified and movements recorded where required.
- Check that livestock are fit to load – conducting a welfare assessment of each animal prior to loading.
- Ensure the mode of transport is appropriate – checking vehicles are adequately ventilated and don’t pose a risk of injury to livestock.
- Transport and fit to unload safely – inspecting livestock regularly and ensuring suitable unloading facilities at the final destination.
Read our how to guide: transport and sell livestock (PDF, 410.76 KB) for more information.
Livestock welfare guides
Guidance on common animal welfare issues that may occur during drought:
- Beef cattle during drought (PDF, 47.69 KB) – a checklist for good beef cattle health and management in drought
- Pregnancy Toxaemia in beef cattle (PDF, 524.97 KB) and breeding ewes – learn the signs and how to manage
- Prussic acid poisoning in livestock (PDF, 105.22 KB) – the risk is higher during drought, learn the signs and treatment options
- Nitrate and nitrite poisoning in livestock (PDF, 149.37 KB) - the risk is higher during drought, learn the signs and treatment options
Destruction and disposal
This ensures that this destruction is conducted humanely, efficiently and safely. These guidelines (PDF, 472.4 KB) have been developed to assist.