Stock Journal Articles

By Michael Wurst, PIRSA Key pointsGrazing management is essential to ration feed and maintain ground cover.Do a feed budget.Livestock management is about monitoring livestock condition, soil cover and pasture growth.Check chemical grazing withholding periods, before grazing.Rotationally graze paddocks using large mobs for short periods rather than small mobs grazing for longer...Read More

By Tiffany Bennett, Livestock ConsultantCurrent seasonal conditions across South Australia have posed challenges in maintaining ewe health and optimising ewe nutrition. The result has been an increase in reports of ewe deaths across the state, particularly during late pregnancy and lambing. In many cases the cause of death is not...Read More

Sheepmeat and beef producers looking to boost carcase compliance and profitability can tap into valuable data and tools available through the online carcase feedback program, Livestock Data Link (LDL).Managed by Integrity Systems Company (ISC), LDL enables timely sharing of carcase information between processors and their suppliers with the aim of...Read More

Planning for rebuilding your flock numbers, when conditions improve, is important to ensure all options are considered. While buying in sheep is one strategy, the biosecurity risks associated with introducing any stock must be considered.Changes to the management of Ovine Johne’s Disease (OJD) introduced on 1 July 2019 have seen...Read More

By Tiffany Bennett, Livestock ConsultantIt is estimated that there are more than 270,000 stock working dogs across Australia with most being Kelpie and Border Collie or their crosses. Work dogs are recognised as hardworking loyal companions, contributing significantly to agriculture, with a good dog recognised as doing the work of...Read More

By Tiffany Bennett, PIRSA Rural Solutions SAWhilst some SA producers are experiencing ongoing impacts of the drought, it is still important to consider future recovery strategies, particularly given the likelihood of low available sheep numbers and the potential high cost of restockers. Retaining older ewes that would normally be culled may...Read More

By Tiffany Bennett, Livestock ConsultantA combination of high fodder prices and limited access to fodder due to seasonal conditions has forced producers to reduce core breeding animal numbers in some parts of the state. While ongoing drought management is a reality for many producers, high returns from the sheep enterprise...Read More

Water is an essential requirement for running a farm business and has a significant impact upon the livestock enterprise with relation to stock welfare, farm productivity and business profitability. Knowledge of livestock water requirements and potential sources of water are important for planning on a daily, as well as an...Read More