KI fires: Confinement feeding of livestock set to increase

To help locals understand the basics of the practice, PIRSA and AgKI are hosting a confinement feeding workshop at the Parndana Bowling Club on Tuesday, January 28.

Livestock Logic sheep consultant Darren Gordon, along with two Vic farmers, will provide practical advice on how to set up and manage stock in confinement feeding.

PIRSA Kingscote soil and land management consultant Lyn Dohle said some farmers on the island had already used confinement feeding during the Millennium Drought, with some continuing the management tool as an annual practice.

"But many of our farmers would have never had to consider doing this previously," she said.

"It is something people are aware of, but it hasn't been as necessary and critical as it is now.

"Many farmers now have no fences to contain livestock, they've got limited feed and the ground is already heavily impacted from the fires.

"Confinement feeding detains stock in a smaller area so you can manage them more easily and the property can then be rested to regenerate and avoid soil erosion."

Ms Dohle said confining livestock also enabled farmers to reassess how their farms were structured and whether they needed to rethink farm design or the way they ran the property.

"Some farmers will have to start making some tough decisions," she said.

"Whether it is containment feeding or not, whether they can afford to feed out, whether they have to agist or sell.

"It is likely that available feed reserves will quickly decline on the island and, while there has been some very generous donations going on, people will have to start making a call about how they will feed their livestock."

Ms Dohle said PIRSA would also be giving an update on funding and other forms of assistance available to producers impacted by fire

"This will include the Family and Business (FaB) Support mentors on the ground and how they can help farm businesses get back on their feet and provide more information on the recently-announced $75,000 federal government farm grants," she said.

Local vet Greg Johnsson, who also runs the Farm Owners Academy, will also be on-hand to discuss animal health.

Mr Johnsson said farmers were moving into the early recovery stage, assessing what livestock they have, remaining fencing and feed resources.

"There's not a huge number of sheep being treated anymore, only about 2500, and they should get through," he said.

"A lot of farmers will now be looking at confinement feeding, if they weren't doing it already."

Parndana wool producer Nick Clark, lost 90 per cent of his pastures in the Ravine fire on January 9.

They also lost 500 rolls of hay, about 70 kilometres of fencing and a handful of sheep.

"We had time to put our sheep on bare ground as the fire wasn't moving as fast on that day," he said.

Mr Clark previously used confinement feeding during the Millennium Drought and was happy with the results.

They also learned a few lessons.

"It is definitely best to use roughage in the feed pens," he said.

"In 2006, we didn't have any hay, so we fed grain, which the sheep survive on, but there are minerals in hay that grain can't provide, particularly calcium.

"We fed out lime, but it's not the same as plant-based calcium.

"Hay is also good for your shy feeders - you seem to have less tail-enders with hay."

Mr Clark said it was also worthwhile shearing before containment, to reduce dirt in the wool.

Confinement also allows burnt paddocks to rest and avoid future erosion.

"After the 2006 drought, it took more than three years for the pasture base to recover," Mr Clark said.

"And with the wool and meat job so strong at the moment, it will be important to return to full production as soon as possible."

They have nearly sourced enough fodder to feed out until early June.