Tool 8.3 Feed budgeting template

There are some simple, short-term feed budgets you can calculate manually and two examples of these are given below. More complex forecasting stocking rate calculators are also available which will assist you in planning your paddock rotation and feed budgets months in advance, based on historical pasture growth predictions. An example of this type of stocking rate calculator is included as the third example below.

To fill in the short-term feed budget templates you will need to:

• Measure the pasture mass (kg green DM/ha) in the paddock you have allocated to the stock to get your starting point (Tool 8.5).
• Estimate pasture quality (Tool 8.5 or Tool 7.6 in MMFS Module 7 Grow More Pasture).
• Determine the estimated intake of livestock from the table at the end of this tool below or download it here.
• Look up typical pasture growth rates for your pasture type and soil fertility (see Tool 8.1).
• Define the minimum target pasture mass (kg green DM/ha) for the class of stock (see table 8.1 in Chapter 8.2).

To convert pasture/herbage mass to feed on offer (FOO), add 300 kg/ha.

Short-term stocking rate calculator

Q1: How many lactating, 60 kg ewes with twins can I put in a 40 ha paddock for a 42 day lambing, while ensuring the minimum to meet stock requirements is maintained?

* The minimum pasture mass is 1,500 kg green DM/ha to ensure that nutrient needs of these lactating ewes with twins are met (see chapter 8.2).
** Intake estimate from the table at the end of this tool or can be downloaded here (pasture digestibility 70%).

Predict feed availability

How long will my pasture last?

Q2: How long will a 16 ha paddock last stocked with 400 pregnant, 50 kg ewes ensuring pasture is kept above a minimum level to meet livestock requirements?

* From Tool 8.1
** Intake estimate from the table at the end of this tool or can be downloaded here (pasture digestibility 70%).

These calculations indicate a net pasture loss of 8 kg green DM/ha/day (ewes are consuming 35 kg green DM/ha/day which is 8 kg greater than the pasture growth rate of 27 kg green DM/ha/day).

When calculating short term (1-5 days) feed budgets, pasture growth may be ignored (except in spring).

Stocking rate calculator

Q3: Will I have enough pasture for my 50 kg early pregnant Merino ewes to meet their nutritional requirements over 3 months given I have an average of 500 kg DM/ha (green) in my 40 ha paddock now?

3 month feed budget

To fill in Step 1 of the feed budget template below, you will need to:

• Estimate pasture mass (kg green DM/ha) in the paddocks you have allocated to the stock to get your starting point
• Look up typical pasture growth rates for your pasture type and soil fertility (see Tool 8.1)
• Estimate pasture quality (see Tool 7.6 in MMFS Module 7 Grow More Pasture)
• Look up the minimum pasture mass required (kg DM/ha) for the class of stock to meet their requirements (see Tool 8.1 in chapter 8.2)
• Determine the estimated intake of livestock for each month from the table at the end of this tool or can be downloaded here (pasture digestibility 70%).
• Look up the target condition score for the class of stock in question (see Tool 10.1 in MMFS Module 10 Wean More Lambs)
• Account for a spoilage factor due to trampling, dung and urine. A figure of 15% is used here.

* From Tool 8.1
** Intake estimate from the table at the end of this tool or can be downloaded here (pasture digestibility 70%).

In the above example 680 ewes in the 40 ha paddock would ensure that pasture requirements for the early pregnant ewes are always met during pregnancy.

The MLA Stocking rate calculator can be accessed online and automates the process shown above.

Source: NSW PROGRAZE®, adapted by AWI and MLA