Watch your stock after patchy rain

Livestock risks can emerge following patchy rainfall

North West Local Land Services is reminding livestock producers to closely monitor stock health following recent rainfall events that may result in the emergence of patchy green pick across parts of the region.

While conditions remain dry across much of the North West, rain events combined with warm soil temperatures can trigger sudden pasture responses that may create livestock health risks.

North West Local Land Services District Veterinarian, Heidi Austin, said producers should be particularly aware of the potential for issues such as pulpy kidney, bloat and metabolic disorders when livestock transition suddenly from dry feed or grain-based rations onto fresh green feed.

“Sudden changes in feed can create significant health risks for livestock, particularly young or fast-growing animals, or stock with limited vaccination history,” Heidi said.

Pulpy kidney is caused by the overgrowth of clostridial bacteria in the gut associated with consuming high carbohydrate feed. Animals being supplemented with heavy grain feeding or moved onto fresh green pasture can be at increased risk. Livestock producers are also being reminded that fresh green pick can contain very high water content, often up to 90 per cent, which means stock may still require supplementary feeding even when paddocks begin to green up.

Heidi continued, “Pastures can take several weeks before they provide useful feed value, depending on pasture species, pasture density and the amount of rainfall received. Continuing supplementary feeding while pasture establishes can help reduce livestock health risks and avoid overgrazing recovering paddocks.”

North West Local Land Services also encourages producers to carefully manage grazing pressure following rainfall events, including using smaller paddocks where possible and slowing paddock rotations to allow recovering pastures additional growth time. The myStockFeed planner is a tool available through the NSW DroughtHub that can help producers with feed planning and livestock nutrition decisions.

For more information about livestock health or supplementary feeding, contact your Local Land Services District Veterinarian or Livestock Officer on 1300 795 299.