ON FARM NATIONAL SEASONAL CHALLENGES: PROGRESS AGAINST Things are marginally better than where LONG‑TERMGOALS: we were at this time last year, but we Cattle numbers are still where they were haven’t made a lot of progress. We – we haven’t downscaled in terms of the haven’t had the rain we’d like. breeding herd – and sheep numbers WHAT’S ON MY PLATE: are up at the moment, but that’s not We’ll preg scan the ewes and get them a permanent situation. Our cattle in good condition for lambing. Based on conception rate was around 75%, down Lifetime Ewe Management principles, from 92–95%. Their body condition SNAPSHOT: they need to be at condition score relative to joining time meant there was Will, Simone and Mandy Onus, 3 to lamb successfully. If there’s not a small window for conception. This Adjungbilly, NSW enough grass to achieve that, we need has caused some issues for this year’s to supplementary feed. We’re quite production – there aren’t as many Sl sensitive to that after some mistakes we calves around – but there may be somedemand for pregnancy‑tested empty made last year. finished cows later in the year. There Having the animals on either a neutral are always opportunities – we just have or rising plane of nutrition at the right to try to turn the difficult situations to time is imperative, because we learned our advantage. that the cost of having the animals lose In the past 12 months I’ve come to weight and then have to regain it is understand the value in concentrating considerably more than just maintaining on the bottom end of our production condition. I think last year there was a stock (lambs, steers and heifers). If we Area: reluctance on my part to accept the full 2,630ha plus 4,850ha of state forest economic reality of feeding at that scale. can take the lighter cattle up to 250kg lease, and 1,619ha agistment at This is something we’ve improved on from 150kg, the economics look good Condobolin, NSW over the past 12 months and we’re because they don’t eat a lot and there’s feeding much better now. a good trade differential. Last year our Enterprise: heifers and steers that were 150kg in Feeder steers and wool production We’ve also invested in constructing May had only put on 120kg by January– confinement areas for sheep and cattle February and then we found they were and focused on our ability to feed, unsaleable. The EYCI was the lowest it because I don’t think it’s the last time had been since 2014. We’d set our sights we’ll go through this. I also think there on sending fat stock to market but they are opportunities around as much weren’t fat enough. We didn’t execute as there are challenges. Having the our plan well – it was just so hard to get confinement areas gives us the capacity it right. However, people tried a lot of to buy stock in for production feeding different things last year and it rarely when the opportunities arise. worked for anyone. One lucky aspect of being a young farmer is that we’re a lot more open and transparent. We can learn from what others are doing. ■ Will Onus E: will.onus@gmail.com 12