ON FARM SHEEP FEEDBASE f Keep it confined Daniel Dempster is increase their stocking rate. stores prior to seeding, as SNAPSHOT: quick to point out “There are many ways to set done previously. Daniel and Emily that he’s no expert up pens but we chose to do The sheep grazed Dempster, Robert on confinement feeding, it with 14 pens holding (a totalstubbles before going into and Jade Dempster but he’s happy with the of) 5,600 head,” Daniel said. confinement and were direction and flexibility The pens are 40m by 50m inducted with trail feeding and Vern and the system has given his and each hold up to 400 with grain for a couple of Amanda Dempster,S family’s enterprise. head, giving 5m per head2 weeks. Other than some Goomalling, WA with two feeders. Water is issues with pregnancy Daniel shared his learnings supplied from a 26,000-litre toxaemia in one group of at an MLA Pasture and tank, windmill-fed from ewes, the sheep had no Livestock Update at Moora a dam, with town water trouble adjusting. last spring. connected as back-up. “Nursing the ewes through The Dempsters – Daniel “We built the pens down the preg tox took some time,” (pictured) and his wife Emily; each side ofa laneway Daniel said. Daniel’s brother Robert and used thelane to drive and sister-in-law Jade, and down witd have saved labour by havingh “If it hadn’t been for that, we’dhaser bin toa c Area: Daniel and Robert’s parents fill feeers. 4,000ha Vern and Amanda – run a the sheep confined.” mixed cropping and sheep “The ewes were used to lick Enterprise: feeders so they adjusted Daniel expects there will Sheep and growing (wheat, enterprise at Goomalling, be labour-efficiency gains barley, lupins and oats) 140km east of Perth. In 2017 well. We fed a ration of by having the sheep close they introduced confinement two-thirds oats and one-third at hand rather than spread lupins, with barley straw Livestock: feeding to manage ewes across the farm, especially Merinos – 3,500 ewes (50% through the difficult autumn provided ad lib as roughage. when supplementary feeding In the future, I’d like to be mated to Poll Dorsets and period, when feed is scarce. would be necessary in the remainder to Merinos) much more precise with how paddock and labour is in “Confining the ewes enabled much feed they are getting. Poll Merino and Poll us to sow crops and pastures high demand at crop sowing. “This harvest we plan to bale Dorset studs withoutcompromising our chaff dumps (behind the Daniel said the confinement timing,” Daniel said. header) and use them as the system provided flexibility in Pasture: “It was logistically simple terms of timing and overall Forage oats, vetch, clover roughage source.” farm management, and there and serradella because the sheep were in onelocation. It also meant When the sheep entered the may be more benefits in the Soil: wecould defer grazing the yards, they were drenched future as they work to refine Varied – deep yellow and pasturesuntilthey established with moxydectin. their system. white sands, gravelly loams, .” Thenet result of confining Daniel estimated the yard “There are also benefits grey clays and some basaltic theregnantp e forwes system cost $25,000, taking in terms of better land red clay Mayand June wa that thes into account buying a silo management and erosion ($12,000), fencing ($8,000) prevention during dry times,” Rainfall: Dempsterswe able tore and allowing $5,000 for 350mm he said. labour. The overall price “The confinement pens are does not include pickets, close to the shearing shed, Daniel and Emily netting or feeders, as Dempster they were on hand. Water so it would be convenient to E: Dempster.dn@gmail. infrastructure added another shear them while they are in com $35,000 in costs. The confinement, but at present confinement system enabled we shear in January.” ■ the Dempsters to crop an additional 150ha. Between LESSONS that, and the higher stocking LEARNED rate, Daniel calculated the investment paid for itself > Confining pregnant ewes during May–June enabled in the first year. They also stocking rate to be increased. made an additional $20/ > Confinement offers greater overall farm flexibility and head selling trade improved land management. weight lambs in June and July instead > Setting up a simple system enabled it to pay for itself in of selling them as one year. 18