Producer Elliot Shannon on his Bugaldie property
Things didn't go exactly as planned for Elliot Shannon when he participated in the recent 'Grain on grass' Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) – but that turned out to be exactly what he needed.
Elliot joined the PDS to explore the merit of supplementary feeding cattle. The PDS set out to demonstrate the optimal conditions and times to supplement feed, as well as the best rations, so producers could utilise what would otherwise be dormant feeding infrastructure.
Elliot is based at Bugaldie on NSW's Western Plains, where dry conditions meant he had to adjust how the PDS would be delivered on his property.
"The control mob was supposed to be in a paddock without supplements, while the PDS mob had similar pastures with oats being supplement fed," Elliot said.
"Because the feed tests came back low, it wasn't ethical to withhold supplements from the control mob – the cattle would have gone backwards in condition."
Elliot and the PDS facilitators determined he would supplement feed the control mob to maintain condition by trail feeding (1kg/head/day), while the PDS mob were being fed 5–6kg/head/day in self-feeders.
The feed tests helped determine the ration of good quality oats, which Elliot already had available on-farm from a previous crop. He would introduce the oats slowly to avoid health risks from a new feed source
Big changes, few differences
After six weeks, Elliot found that while he was happy with the gain in live weight, both mobs had performed similarly. The trial mob gained around 0.78kg/head/day, less than 100g more than the control mob.
He attributes the similar performance – despite significant differences in supplement amount – to the behaviour of his cattle around the self-feeder.
"The trial cattle hadn't been grain fed prior to this. While there was plenty of room for all the cattle to get to the feeders, the shy feeders only fed when they are not being bullied," Elliot said
"Even then, they followed the rest of the mob to the dam, rather than taking the opportunity to feed on the supplement."
The cattle being trail-fed didn't seem to have the same challenges, and all had equal access to the supplement.
"The growth was still satisfactory, particularly when the paddock nutrition wasn't up to scratch," Elliot said
Realising his cattle performed well through trail feeding – and on a lower ration – was a welcome revelation which, despite requiring more labour, negated investment in more self- feeders.
The results, while surprising, prompted Elliot to invest in better trail feeding equipment.
Comparing the cost
Supplement feeding, whether for long or short periods, requires additional cost for feed, labour and equipment. As a result, producers often implement the practice when conditions are critical.
The PDS aimed to offset – or justify –these costs, by using grain on hand and utilising equipment which was otherwise sitting in the shed.
"That's how this PDS started. A lot of people around here have capital investment in feeders from the drought just sitting there, so it's good to be able to use what you have without investing more," Elliot said
"Often the cost of wasted feed through trail feeding isn't worth it when you're feeding for years at a time in a drought, but in scenarios where I'm supplementing short-term to increase animal performance, it's definitely worthwhile.
"Trail feeding also gives me an opportunity to monitor the cattle and their performance more consistently, whereas with the self-feeder, I could get away with four or so days in between visits to top up the feed," he said.
"The PDS has definitely given me the confidence that trail feeding can work in my business. It's a good tool to have."
