Enrolments Open - Heifer Check Program!

The Heifer Check Program

 Agricultural Scientist Dr Kirsty Kennedy and Livestock Vet Dr Kathryn Robertson are teaming up to give local beef businesses their annual performance check.

“The management of our heifers underpin the future structure and performance of our beef business and sometimes we struggle to optimise the performance of these animals. That is why we have developed a program to help producers achieve production targets and implement management strategies that will optimise performance of these females”, says Kirsty from Thrive Agri Services.

In the “Heifer Check” program Kirsty and Kathryn work with individual producers to set production plans and targets for their heifer herds prior to joining. Participants then undertake a series of webinars where the key production and animal health issues relevant to their stage of production are explored. Having two intakes each year, based on the time of calving, enrolments are now open to prepare heifers for the Autumn 2022 calving period.

To find out more about the program & how to get involved click here: Heifer Check or give Kirsty (0438 716 775) or Kathryn (0427 096 350) a call to discuss. 

 

 

 

 

 

What do I need to do to ensure my farm or agribusiness is COVIDSafe?

ANSWER: All Victorian businesses are required to have a COVIDSafe Plan in place.

To ensure compliance, random spot checks are underway in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Your COVIDSafe Plan must set out:

  • Your actions to help prevent the introduction of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace

  • The level of face mask or personal protective equipment (PPE) required for your workforce

  • How you will prepare for, and respond to, a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace

Businesses must review and update their COVIDSafe Plans routinely. Organisations with multiple worksites must complete a COVIDSafe Plan for each worksite.

Failure to comply can result in an on-the-spot fine of up to $9,913 and up to $20,000 for serious offences.

Visit Creating a COVIDSafe workplace for more information.

Source: Information in this article is sourced from the following website. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-overview

Is this YOU? Are your rams about to go out?

·       Your rams are in peak health, they’ve been on increased nutrition for the last 8 wks;

·       Your ewes are in optimal condition score to maximise your reproductive rate;

·       Pre-joining health plans are completed.

We are good to go right? …. Well nearly...  One last job to do is to book in the pregnancy scanner.  

·       Day 1 of the reproduction cycle = the commencement of joining.

·       The optimum time to pregnancy scan is approximately Day 80 – 90 from the commencement of joining.  

Don’t delay! Do it as you shut the gate on the last ram going in! Why? Because you are not the only producer joining your rams that day and you may forget and someone else will get your optimum scanning slot.

Remind me - How am I going to make the most of my scanning data? Well …

·       Knowing the number of foetuses on board enables me to:

o   Accurately budget (& allocate) the required nutrition to livestock (save $$$).

o   Feed according to my animal requirements to maximise ewe & lamb survival (minimise the incidence of metabolic diseases & achieve birth weights targets).

o   Make important observations on lambing management strategies (paddock preparations, feeding regimes & performance of my lambing paddocks).

o   Know my reproductive rate and use this to aid future decision making.

o   Conduct analysis on my enterprise to optimise performance & productivity.

Need help making the most out of your pregnancy scanning data? Give us a call.

First things first, remember to book in the scanner at Day 1 of joining!

The Thrive AS Team

Dr Andrew Kennedy 0408512240

Dr Kirsty Kennedy 0438716775

Thrive Top Tip: How much can ruminants eat?

How do we determine Dry Matter Intake limits of stock?

Intake is often related to the neutral detergent fibre (a measure of the total structural fibrous fraction of forages). Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) is reported as a % of dry matter on feed analysis reports and as the NDF% increases, the amount of feed an animal can eat decreases.

How do we use the NDF% value to determine Dry Matter Intake (DMI)?

General Rule: 120 / NDF % of forage = % of body weight DM the animal can consume

Example: Vetch Hay with a NDF of 50%, How much hay can a 65kg ewe consume a day in the early pregnancy?

120/50 (NDF) = 2.4% of body weight as dry matter

65 kg x 2.4% = 1.6 kg Dry Matter /day

These ewes could consume up to 1.6kg of this feed on a dry matter basis. Assuming a Dry Matter % of 90%, this equates to about 1.8kg of hay as fed.  

Note: This rule does not apply to stock in the later stages of pregnancy due to a reduction in rumen capacity from the growing foetus.  

Thrive Short Consults – To ensure your ruminants meet their production targets book in for a Thrive Short Consult and get your feeding strategies reviewed - https://www.thriveagriservices.com.au/programs/thrive-short-consult-1hr-2

Need to make Supplementary Feeding Decisions - Ask Us!

Thrive Short Consults (1hr)

Want answers quickly?

  • Needing help to make supplementary feeding decisions?

  • Have questions on how to set or achieve your production targets?

Book in for a Thrive Short Consult (TSC) & have your answers ASAP!

Inclusion: 60mins consultant time
Part A) Scheduled time up to 30mins discussion & agreed deliverables (phone / zoom)
Part B) remainder of time consult / resource preparation.

Click on the link to find out more: THRIVE SHORT CONSULTS