BY: Peter Smith
WA Dept of Agriculture- Karratha
Beef Development Officer
Ph: (08) 9144 2065
pcsmith@agric.wa.gov.au

• How we fed small weaners 80-120kg

 Earlier in 2002 areas in the west Pilbara of WA and further south were experiencing the driest period on record. As part of a management strategy for these dry conditions, some pastoralists weaned calves back to around 80kg liveweight to improve the performance and survival chances of breeders.

I have followed the fate of some of these weaners on several properties in the west Pilbara and one in the Gascoyne and am pleased to report that they have generally performed pretty well. Weaner mothers have certainly benefited from weaning.

How we fed small weaners

The majority of these small weaners, 80 – 120 kg, were fed on high protein (18%) weaner pellets from several manufactures. The pellets were fed in open troughs and on at least one property with several hundred small weaners, in grain self feeders. Most weaners were fed hay as a roughage source with shipper pellets (12 – 13% protein) used on another property where this was more convenient.

With few exceptions these young weaners performed well, continued to grow and maintained some of their bloom. Some pastoralists sold weaners to, or negotiated profit sharing deals with, producers in more favoured areas in the south of the state. Selling these young cattle a year earlier than they would normally be turned off will create a gap in sales for next year. Time to plan and the old story; "a $ in the bank is a long way ahead of a dead cow in the bush", will help ease this problem.

Feeding and managing these young weaners proved to be expensive in time and $’s for the people involved. However, it almost surely saved the lives and greatly enhanced the productivity of many breeders. Not only did many more breeders survive; most of them are likely to produce a calf early in 2003. The apparent ready market for young weaners that were well fed and settled down was an unexpected (by me) bonus!

By ensuring the survival and well being of both these young weaners and their mothers, pastoralists were once again able to demonstrate their responsible attitude to the welfare of animals in their care in the rangelands, while protecting their bottom line.

© WA dept of Agriculture December 2002-  This source: http://www.cattlefacts.com.au

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