WHILE lotfeeding can be a challenging option, it can provide profitable returns – if the sums are done right.
And while getting the formula right has been a long process, for the Mas-
lin family it has been well worth the effort.
Graham and Kathy Maslin, along with their son Ryan, run the mixed-farming enterprise “Inglewood”, Beckom, in the State’s south.
They first established an on-farm sheep feedlot about 10 years ago for feeding lambs for prime lamb production.
With the main enterprise on “Inglewood” breeding prime lambs, the Maslins run a predominantly Dorper ewe flock, which are joined to either Dorper rams or Poll Dorset rams.
Having changed their enterprise from breeding first-cross ewes and Merinos four years ago, Mr Maslin said they made the move to try and decrease the labour inputs.
While they joined some of the Dorper ewes to Dorper rams for their own replacement ewes, the rest were joined to Poll Dorset rams for prime lamb production.
Currently running 1600 breeding ewes, 400 young ewes and 300 first-cross ewes, the high fertility of the Dorper was one of the key factors for going with the breed.
As well as high-twinning rates, the Dorper was also able to be re-joined within a short time frame.
“We try for three lambs every two years, with the young ewes joined at about eight to nine months old,” Mr Maslin said.
While up to 500 ewes were kept as replacement breeders each year, the rest of the lambs were put through the feedlot and sold.
With a 1200-head capacity, the feedlot isn’t run all-year-round, but more as an opportunity operation.
Mr Maslin said it depended on the season and how much paddock feed was available as to what numbers they would put through the feedlot.
“If we have good paddock feed, we will only put a couple of select mobs through the feedlot, but if the season is dry all of the lambs will go through,” he said.
“Last year we didn’t put many lambs into the feedlot, but this year we have put through about 1000 already and have more to go in, in mid-February.”
While the feedlot has been operating for a decade, getting all of the components right has been a long process, and in the past five years Mr Maslin said they had finally fine-tuned it.
“Fine-tuning” the feedlot had meant things like working out what feed gave the best weight-gain for the return and how long the sheep should be fed.
The Maslins also conducted some trials in conjunction with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to identify which mineral supplements gave the best growth rates in terms of cost and for the dollar return.
Generally, Mr Maslin said a mineral supplement cost up to $100 a tonne more for grain, however the two per cent ratio he used in the feed mix was worth it.
Most of the lambs were weaned straight into the feedlot at about 16 weeks and, depending on their growth rate, were offloaded at 18 kilograms to 24kg, dressed weight.
While they used to weigh the lambs regularly, Mr Maslin said with the benefit of more experience they could now usually visually pick them at about the right weight.
Depending on the price of grain and how fast they wanted to get them in and out of the feedlot, the lambs were fed a mix of oats, barley and lupins, and as much straw and silage as they would eat.
Mr Maslin said it was important to keep the feed conversion ratios fairly low to make the operation economical.
“We put most of our own grain and silage through the feedlot, because it wouldn’t be economical if we had to buy it all.”
The Maslins aimed for a growth rate of between 0.8kg and 1kg a week.
“If you can get them up to 1.2kg, that is optimal, but it is hard to keep them at that.”
Once at their optimal weight the lambs were sold over-the-hooks, depending where the best market was.
Having previously sold to Cootamundra and Tamworth, Mr Maslin said they sold their most recent consignment of lambs for $5.40/kg for trade weight lambs and $5.20/kg for heavy lambs.
“That price is pretty good and makes the feedlot worth it, but I think the market is slightly back at the moment.”
Email a friend