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AG News: 25/11/2009

This weeks column contains some quick facts for making good silage plus advice on helping sheep access water.

By Department of Primary Industries - 10th December 2009 - Back to News

SILAGE TOP TIPS

It’s silage time and, as always, attention to detail will be rewarded in the form of stores of good quality feed.

Some factors affecting silage quality are:

• The fermentation process needed to make silage uses energy, so it is important to start with high quality pasture that is at least 10 MJ ME/kg DM.
• Cut pasture after a few hours of sun when soluble sugars needed for fermentation are at their highest.
• Ensure a quick wilt by using the tedder and conditioner and keep fingers crossed for dry sunny days.
• Wilt to the dry matter best suited to the system you have, for example to 28 to 35 per cent for long chopped pasture going into a pit.
• Remove air and seal as soon as possible to get anaerobic fermentation started.
• Check the plastic regularly to check there are no holes.

For comprehensive information, visit the Department of Primary Industries at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or type ‘silage’ into search function or Australian Fodder Conservation at www.afia.org.au

IMPORTANCE OF TAKING SHEEP TO WATER

Water deprivation is sometimes found to be the cause of unusual or significant livestock deaths that are investigated by the DPI Animal Health Team.

Moving livestock, especially young sheep, into large unfamiliar paddocks in summer, particularly with stubble or long grass, can have fatal consequences if they are not taken to a water point.

While it may be a relief for the owners to know that they are not faced with a serious disease, the fact that the animals died of something as simple as water deprivation is distressing for all concerned.

Young sheep and lambs are particularly at risk and are less likely to stay together as a mob and search for water. This may result in some of the mob finding water, while others may perish as a result of not finding any.

In hot weather, death can result more quickly than in cooler conditions. Animals that have been off water for some time due to being yarded and or trucked may have urgent water needs.

Paddocks with heavy stubble and long grass are the greatest risk as lambs are unable to see their mates or the water source. A water source, even a dried up stream with no surface water, close to a boundary of an adjoining paddock, can be a trap for unfamiliar sheep.

Sheep can smell water, even when it is below the surface in a dried up creek and they may walk up and down a fence line trying to get to this water. If not rescued, some may perish on the fence line in a vain attempt to get to the nearby water rather than move away and search for it in their own paddock.

Producers new to livestock enterprises or busy with harvesting operations are more likely to encounter this problem. It is important to take sheep to a watering point when they are placed in to an unfamiliar paddock.

For animals arriving by transport, unloading them in the paddock close to the water point will be sufficient. Once sheep have had a drink they will know where to find the water source in the future. Mowing tracks radiating out from the watering source will further help vulnerable groups get to water.

For more information please contact your nearest DPI Animal Health Officer at DPI Ellinbank on (03) 5624 2222, DPI Maffra (03) 5147 0800, DPI Bairnsdale on (03) 5152 0400 or DPI Leongatha on (03) 5662 9900.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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