SAC Gives Drought Guidance to Beef and Sheep Producers

SAC has produced a series of information notes which provide beef and sheep producers with guidance on handling their stock during a drought.

Even though many areas of Scotland have just received the first decent rain in a month

or more, it is important to remember that the soil moisture is low. Some areas are suffering from a severe drought while in other areas grass swards are inadequate to maintain target gains without supplementation. It will take considerable rainfall before things return to normal.

In addition, although stock appear to have been thriving, in many cases performance is already being reduced. This is a particular concern when combined with the shortage of winter feed currently facing many producers. Later finishing of cattle and lambs puts more pressure on feed supplies and leaves less feed for breeding stock to maintain condition and fertility.

The three SAC information notes - on beef, sheep and silage - contain a number of practical tips including supplementing animals at grass, assessing silage stocks and strategies for dealing with any shortfall. SAC specialists are urging farmers to adopt the principle, it’s best to be prepared.