Veterinarians Alison Gunn and Chelsea Hair, operating out of Walpa and Stratford, are no strangers to the demands of farming life in Gippsland and Wellington.
With a strong passion for working alongside local producers, the duo offers both clinical care and consultancy services across the beef, dairy and sheep industries, from Genoa to Giffard.
Alison and Chelsea provide sound, practical advice on the most effective methods and products to ensure livestock remain healthy and productive year-round.
Right now, their key message is clear: stock owners must ensure they have sufficient forage to carry them through to a potentially late spring.
Cattle, in particular, require roughage in their diet – and currently, there’s a statewide shortage of hay, silage and even straw due to drought conditions across much of South Eastern Australia, compounded by flooding in parts of New South Wales.
Producers should take stock now: do you have enough forage to make it through winter and into spring – whenever that break may come? If not, now is the time to act.
If sourcing additional forage isn’t possible, consider stretching existing supplies by “shandying” with grain.
Sheep offer more flexibility, as they can be fed straight grains like barley, though some hay or straw is essential to transition them onto grain-based rations, and a careful steady approach is always needed when transitioning any ruminant to grain.
When feeding high levels of grain, producers must also include a buffer to help prevent acidosis – a serious risk to stock health.
If you’re unsure about your current feed supplies or need help setting up grain-feeding ratios, Herd Solutions is available to assist with feed budgeting and planning.
In addition, prime producers should be aware of the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant, which offers dollar-for-dollar funding up to $10,000 for infrastructure improvements aimed at drought-proofing.
This can include feeding equipment, water storage and irrigation upgrades.
One-on-one consultancy support may also be available under the same scheme.
For more information, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought-support or ruralfinance.com.au/grants
