Grazing stubbles is a great example of the synergies between crop and livestock production. Stubbles, when grazed effectively, can assist in the growth and maintenance of livestock during summer, when feed availability and quality is generally limited. In return, grazing livestock help to physically breakdown stubbles to assist with future sowing activities.
Another useful by-product of the winter grain harvest is spilt grain within stubbles. As sheep are very efficient at digesting whole grain, they can make the best use of recently harvested cereal crops cleaning up spilt grain.
Although spilt grain when paired with an effective source of protein can be great for finishing lambs, this is not recommended by ANP, as there are too many variables and risks involved in making it work efficiently. ANP think that spilt grain in stubbles would be better used getting dry ewes into good condition for shearing and joining.
Benefits of stubbles for dry stock:
- Low worm pressure
- Keep wool clean from burrs and debris
- Spilt grain can help increase body condition and wool growth
- Standing straw and a urea based mineral supplement like StockMins-HiPro can fulfil maintenance*
*The nutritional value of dry feed significantly decreases with each rain event.
Grazing Fresh Stubbles
Although a great source of feed, ad lib access to cereal grain in stubbles can cause acidosis. Piles of spilt grain should be spread out in the paddock and grazing animals should be offered a buffered urea mineral supplement like StockMins-Stubble Starter.
StockMins-Stubble Starter is a buffered, high protein (9% urea), mineral supplement that is designed to be fed to sheep for the first 14 days of grazing new stubbles when spilt grain may be present. StockMins-Stubble Starter is fortified with several effective buffers to assist in balancing rumen pH in sheep consuming high grain diets.
The inclusion of protein in the form of urea boosts fibre digestion and energy utilisation. In fact, it is commonly known that protein supplementation with the right level and source of non-protein nitrogen (NPN), can increase the utilisation of dry feed by up to 30%.
After spilt grain has been cleaned up in stubbles, StockMins-HiPro is the ideal supplement to boost protein and assist with efficient dry feed digestion and utilisation. StockMins-HiPro also provides RDI levels of essential minerals, vitamins and trace elements to improve energy utilisation, immunity, fertility and all-round animal health. As mentioned above, stubble supplemented with StockMins-HiPro can support maintenance in dry ewes and help get them in top condition for joining.
Feels Like Summer Promotion is Closing Soon!
Until the end of January purchase 40 bags of StockMins-HiPro or StockMins-Stubble Starter and get an extra 4 bags for free. Offer is also available on mixed pallets of both of these products.
