Livestock producers in the agricultural region are reminded that summer rainfall, including recent falls from ex-Tropical Cyclone Iggy, is likely to cause stock nutrition and toxicity issues unless preventative action is taken.
Department of Agriculture and Food Animal Disease Surveillance Manager Marion Seymour said recent rain would further reduce pasture quality to the point where it could not meet the energy and protein levels needed by stock.
“To prevent stock losses and/or reduced production, producers should feed stock with good quality roughage as soon as possible after the rain and increase supplementary feeding,” Dr Seymour said.
“For roughage, sheep require an intake of 1 kilogram per head per day and cattle 8 – 12 kg/hd/day. Hay can be used to supply much of the bulk of the ration, but some grain supplementation will be required to meet energy and protein needs.
“As always, feed hay first and take care to gradually introduce grain supplements. Monitor stock health in order to prevent acidosis problems.
“Always get your hay tested for annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) before feeding to stock and when buying hay, ask the vendor to certify on the Commodity Vendor Declaration that their hay has been tested.”
Dr Seymour said livestock on wet pastures or stubble often reduced their feed intake, and when they began feeding again, they sought out green feed which might be toxic.
“Caltrop, gastrolobium plants containing fluoroacetate such as York Road poison, summer weeds high in nitrate such as mint weed and melons, and saltland plants high in oxalate such as iceplant can all be fatal to stock when they consume it in large amounts,” she said.
“Additional rain on lupin stubbles and blue lupin pastures also increases the risk of lupinosis, another disease that may be fatal to stock.
“ARGT is also more common after summer rain in paddocks which still have standing ryegrass seed heads.
“Take a look at what is growing in your paddocks after the recent rain and identify any new or dominant plants that may affect stock. Monitor stock carefully and contact your private vet to investigate any stock losses or poor production.”
