• Heating is most likely to damage hay stored at moistures above 30%. Minimum changes occur if it is baled at 20% or less although if it is uniformly dry it can be baled and stored safely at 25%. The 25% level is the average moisture in curing hay at which it is dry enough overall to avoid moulding or hot spots that occur with variations in moisture content that are usually at higher average moisture. Large square bales need to be baled at a lower moisture content than small square or round bales. more »
  • Once animals have been selected for breeding, the next step is to decide which are mated to which via a mating system. Some examples of mating systems, each with different intentions, were briefly covered here. Last week we saw how selecting for a particular allelic expression (ie selecting for ‘best’ phenotype) can change the gene frequency significantly in a population. Genotypic frequencies change indirectly as a result — they ‘tag along’. Mating systems do however change genotypic frequencies directly, with gene frequencies less affected. These systems fall into two general categories: inbreeding systems and outbreeding systems. Inbreeding is a mating system which increases homozygosity. Outbreeding is a mating system which increases heterozygosity. more »
  • Drought-hit producers are being reminded to be aware of what they are feeding their stock. Recent testing has shown huge variability in protein and energy levels which has meant some stock could be continuing to lose condition, despite hand feeding. Central Tablelands Local Land Services officer, Brett Littler, Mudgee, is urging producers to take the guesswork out of what they are feeding by testing. “We have seen metabolisable energy ranging in some hays from 5.6 megajoules per kilogram, which is below maintenance, through to 10MJ/kg, which is really good feed,” Mr Littler said. “Similarly, protein variations can be seen from 16 per cent through to below the level of reporting, some is very low quality with less than two pc protein. more »
  • Planning the best tax structure deal for a farming business is not something to be rushed into at the end of the financial year. If your family business is looking to reduce or eliminate tax or stamp duty implications ahead of a looming restructure, farm succession manoeuvre, or sale, the chances are everybody involved needs to be much more familiar with the way their enterprise operates. more »
  • “This aims to identify whether or not the use of Multimin increases the efficacy of the vaccination program,” he said. “A trial such as this has only been done a handful of times.” They will also be looking into whether there is an increase in fertility from using Multimin pre-joining in crossbred ewes. Mr Willson hopes to see whether a dollar value can be placed on using Multimin in terms of response and the increase in production. “I am always interested in the dollars and cents of the products. I am interested in seeing if it works and if we can put a dollar value on using Multimin within our flock,” he said. He said the immunology trial will commence later in the year while the crossbred fertility trial kicks off in the spring joining period. more »

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