Hay vs Silage: Filling Feed Gaps on the Eyre Peninsula
As livestock producers continue to experience prolonged dry conditions across the state, filling feed gaps unfortunately remains front of mind for those spending considerable time and dollars supplementary feeding.
In collaboration with Tim Prance of T Prance Rural Consulting, AIR EP has released the Filling Feed Gaps – Hay vs silage production for the Eyre Peninsula fact sheet. Designed to assist livestock producers in decision-making surrounding cost effective and sustainable production of hay and silage, the fact sheet also provides critical information in preparing for drought through best practice feed conservation and storage methods.
Funded by the SA Drought Hub in collaboration with MacKillop Farm Management Group, the project titled Filling Feed Gaps: Best Practice Hay and Silage Production comprised of five key components being feed testing, demonstration sites, workshops, feed test interpretation, and extension. Activities were delivered across four regions including Limestone Coast, Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Eyre Peninsula.
Expert guest speaker, Tim Prance was engaged to present at the FDF Science to Practice Forum: Livestock in dry times at Wudinna on 8 June 2023. Content included at the event aimed to extend information on best practice in hay and silage production to livestock producers across the region. In addition, Tim provided an overview of the decision-making process of hay and/or silage production, options available to farmers on the upper Eyre Peninsula, and methods of production.
In addition to the workshop, 17 livestock producers across the Eyre Peninsula participated in submitting a total of 35 samples for feed quality testing. This activity not only provided feed quality benchmarking data for the region, but assisted farmers in understanding how to interpret their feed test report containing quality results.
To view the Fact Sheet and commentary on the feed test results, please click the following link
For further information, please contact Tim Prance on 0427 812 655 or t.prance@prance.net.au
Acknowledgements
This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Project number DN5_23_01 Filling Feed Gaps: Best Practice Hay and Silage Production. Fact sheet prepared by Tim Prance, T Prance Rural Consulting, May 2024.
