Nelshaby Ag Bureau on the Road: Confinement Feeding in Action
Congratulations to the Nelshaby Ag Bureau on the success of their Stock Bus Trip held on Friday, 6 February.
Thirty livestock producers toured four enterprises across Wandearah and Belalie East, all linked by a common theme of feeding livestock in confinement systems.
The tour showcased a wide range of practical infrastructure and systems, including a modular shearing shed set-up, consignment feeding, spelling yards, stockyards, drafters and loading ramps, feeding equipment, feed storage, and pen infrastructure designed for confinement and feedlot operations.
Across the properties visited, hosts demonstrated how technology, livestock handling layouts and feeding systems can add value, while also openly discussing maintenance and labour challenges. Key take-home messages included optimal pen and feed trough sizing, the benefits and upkeep of auto-feeders, and how family skills can be utilised to tailor both the focus and intensity of confinement feeding operations.
At Neville Jacka’s property, producers were particularly interested in an innovative water trough system that aerates water using a solar-powered pump, coupled with a chlorine tablet to prevent algae growth. The importance of fresh, clean water was highlighted, with the modification shown to reduce trough cleaning frequency in confinement systems from daily to every three days, while encouraging increased stock water intake.
The importance of forward planning for feed storage and ordering was also reinforced at the Grieg and Broad properties.
The Nelshaby Ag Bureau thanks the SA Drought Hub for their funding support, which made the event possible.