Setting up a drought lot

This article has been supplied by Nick Flittner, Drought Lot Project Officer,  TFGA.

1. Site - ideally a gently sloping site (to allow run-off) near existing infrastructure like shearing sheds, but away from watercourses and houses.

2. Fencing - pens should provide around 5 square metres per sheep, and can be ringlock or electric. Some drought lots feed sheep in the pen, others have an additional feeding pen where sheep move to feed and then return to their main pen.

3. Feeding infrastructure - troughing prevents feed wastage and animal health problems, and can be made of anything from shade cloth to commercial metal or plastic troughs.Allow up to 20cms per adult sheep - this will allow all the animals to have good access tothe feed.

4. Water - water flow is more important than trough space. Water should be kept clean and be of good quality.

5. Nutrition - sheep require energy, protein and fibre. This usually means grain (wheat or barley), and roughage such as hay or straw. It is essential to provide a good source of long fibre (hay or straw) to encourage rumination in the animals and prevent problems such as acidosis. If animals are not used to grain feeding they need to be introduced to it in the weeks leading up to enclosure. It is also important to provide minerals - stocklime and salt can be mixed through the feed or provided separately.

6. Feeding regime - this is done differently by different farmers. Some feed daily, some every second day. Some feed roughage first, some grain first. Some feed in pens, some outside. Individual management regimes need to be developed.

Download the Drought Lot Newsletter for February 2008 (842 kb, 4 page, pdf file) or find out more about how to apply to participate in the drought lot project .

For further information contact Nick Flittner TFGA phone 6332 1828, email: tfganflittner@bigpond.com