Stock Containment Areas
Managing livestock following a disaster can be challenging, particularly when large areas of the farm have been affected.
The devastation to pastures and haystacks in a bushfire is very visible. The impact of flooding is not just the inundated pastures as flood affected hay quickly becomes unpalatable and brings with it the risk of spontaneous combustion.
This loss of standing and stored feed requires more intensive farming practices until pastures have re-established and the soil able to withstand livestock without causing erosion or pugging.
The risk of weed invasion increases dramatically after a natural disaster, particularly when bringing in hay and grain.
This weed problem is often harder to manage because landowners are dealing with the impacts of the disaster. The weeds may not appear until several months after the emergency has past. By that time the weed may be well established and costly to control.
One of the best ways of minimising weed infestations, erosion and helping pastures to recover is to remove stock from normal paddocks and 'feed-lot' them in a carefully selected part of the property.
Benefits of Stock Containment
- Facilitation of stock feeding, watering, monitoring and handling
- Weeds brought onto the property with imported feed will be contained to the stock containment areas
- Stock control when large areas may need refencing
- Faster pasture recovery
- Less chance of soil erosion or damage to paddocks
- Control of shelter and shade
What is a Stock Containment Area?
A carefully selected part of the property which is set up to hold, feed and water core farm-stock during adverse weather periods or following fire. It should be considered as part of the property management plan and once established should be maintained and be available for use during emergencies.
If there is any intention to convert a stock containment area into a feedlot for cattle then it will have to meet the requirements of the “Victorian Code for Cattle Feedlots”. Information on this is contained in Agnote AG0589: Planning requirements for feedlots of less than 50 head capacity.
What is needed for a Stock Containment Area?
- An area of 2-5 square metres per sheep and 10-15 square metres per beast (lower figure to be used on light soils to reduce dust).
- Reliable fencing.
- Appropriate subdivision to separate different classes of stock.
- Watering troughs with a reliable reticulated supply of water, refer to Information Note LC0077: Water Supply for Stock Containment Areas
- Stabilisation of soil around troughs through the use of stone or gravel where necessary.
- May be better to refer to troughs being set up further apart from feed area, ie opposite end of pen.
- Trees within SCA must be guarded.
- Shelter in the lee of trees is ideal, or provision is made for establishing shelter belts. Shade cloth or alternative can be utilized to provide shelter.
- Vehicle access for feeding and stock movement.
- 500 sheep constitute a maximum desirable working number for animal welfare and husbandry reasons. The establishment of additional areas may be necessary in some circumstances.
- Similarly 100 cattle constitute a maximum desirable number.
Location
- Readily accessible to homestead.
- Not within or including areas of native vegetation as irreversible damage will result.
- On moderately sloping, well drained, stable soils such as a clay or clay loam.
- Where problems of noise and smell will be minimised.
- In the lee of shelter.
- Consider privacy issues with regard to site selection.
- Close to shearing shed is ideal.
Other Issues
- Water quality needs to be protected through the following methods:
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- The stock containment area should be setback from watercourses and water storages. A distance of 500 metres is desirable if no other management methods are to be used in combination with the setback
- A nutrient filter should be established on the down slope side of the stock containment area. The filter may be provided by a vegetation buffer strip, or by constructing traps from wire netting or straw bales.
- It is important to closely monitor animals during the period of containment.
Stock Containment Area Checklist
Area
Allow 2 to 5 square metres per sheep and 10 to 25 square metres per cattle beast (the lower figure to be used on lighter loams to reduce dust - higher figures for ewes and lambs, and cows and calves).
Water
Supply of clean cool water supplied by trough. Plan for an average of 6 litre/day/sheep and 50 litre/day/beast. This can increase to 9 litre and 90 litres respectively for very hot days or lactating animals.
Trough length
Ensure 15 metres of trough edge is available to 500 sheep, while 100 cattle could require 5 metres of trough edge. Anecdotal evidence from landholders is that less has been used satisfactorily. Flow rates are often more important, refer to Information Note LC0077: Water Supply for Stock Containment Areas.
Slope and soil type
Moderately sloping land with well drained and stable soils such as a clay or clay loam
Odour and noise
Some isolation from dwellings is necessary.
Feeding
Feeding apparatus to be used where possible rather than feed directly on to soil. When feeding grain use 15-20 meters of double sided trough for 100 sheep, 400-600 millimetres each for beef cattle.
Old conveyor belt or corrugated iron between two logs and tractor tyres and 200 litre (44 gallon) drums cut in half have been used.
Access
For feeding, watering, monitoring and getting stock in and out.
Shade
Cool sheep will drink less and be less stressed.
Runoff
Consider where runoff will go from the site. What are your options for avoiding contamination of off-site water quality.
Subdivision
For separating different classes of stock including shy feeders.
The previous version of this Information Note was published in January 2006.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
