A SUCCESSFUL Leading Sheep nutrition forum held in Longreach has paved the way for further similar events to be held this year.
Nutrition has been a major problem for western Queensland wool growers, who last year dealt with one of the worst protein droughts in recent history.
Muttaburra wool grower David Fysh was one of three producers who presented at the popular 'Ewe-trition Forum' which some 70 people attended.
Mr Fysh spoke of how his and wife Sarah's decision to purchase a truck-mounted mixer to distribute supplements is paying dividends.
The couple started supplementing their breeding ewes year-round about eight to 10 years ago to address protein deficiencies on their property, Acacia Downs. It has been a developing process and one in which they are heavily invested.
Mr Fysh said a recurring problem they faced along with many of the producers who breed sheep on the black soil Mitchell grass country was loss of protein in pastures.
"The grasses we have become very low in protein and that happens quite soon a lot of times after the rain finishes and a lot sooner than I was ever led to believe," Mr Fysh told the forum.
The couple join the breeding ewes in November for a March-May lambing.
Mr Fysh said they were often lambing at a dry time of year, and in previous years had been forced to supplement for survival.
"Early on in the piece we were only feeding cotton seed as a means of survival, and we waited until sheep were starting to fall in the bore drains before we started feeding," Mr Fysh said.
"Always we'd come to shearing and we wouldn't have as many sheep as we thought we had. Once we started feeding dry lick all year round, we weren't incurring so many losses."
About 12 to 18 months ago, the couple became more focused on supplementing for increased production, not just for survival.
As their supplementing regime has changed, so has their method of distribution. Originally Mr Fysh told the forum they were shovelling it out of the back of a Toyota, before they upgraded to a trailer with an auger.
However, they have since upgraded again and recently purchased a truck-mounted mixer.
"In 2009 we incurred a significant protein drought," Mr Fysh said.
"I was trying to feed liquid molasses we had mixed with cotton seed meal in tubs. For the number of sheep I had, and the workforce, it was not as successful as it could have been.
"After the considerable effort we put in and the results we achieved, we felt there had to be a more cost-effective and time-effective means of trying to achieve the results we were after."
Mr Fysh said they now fed a mix of cotton seed meal, molasses and minerals at strategic times of the year.
"We feed our lambs well when we wean them so that their full genetic potential can be reached. If you can do that, they'll become productive sheep throughout their life for you," he said.
Harry Glasson from Greenlaw, Yaraka, and Ben Banks, Springleigh, Blackall, also spoke at the forum, along with Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) livestock nutritionist Desiree Jackson.
DEEDI sheep extension officer Nicole Sallur helped organise the event and said the dry conditions of 2011 saw a rapid drop in the nutritional value of pastures.
"Producers noted a decline in their lambing percentages because of the dry conditions, and they're looking for the best way to provide cost-effective nutrition to their breeding flocks, now and into the future," Ms Sallur said.
"The forum gave them an opportunity to learn more about the nutritional requirements of their animals, as well as share feed ideas with each other."
Ms Sallur said some of the take- home messages for producers from the forum were:
Maintain the health of breeding ewes feed supplements before they lose condition.Conduct a pasture diet quality analysis on what your sheep are eating.Scan ewes so they can be fed according to their needs, as ewes carrying twins require better quality/ quantities of nutrition.Feed supplements to rams before joining and to lambs after weaning. Ms Sallur said more nutrition-focused events would be held early this year so that producers could continue their discussions and learning from each other.
Ms Sallur said feedback from the forum was very positive, with all participants saying they would recommend such an event to others.
"I was also pleased to see that 82 percent said they would implement changes within their business as a result of attending the forum," she said.
Leading Sheep is a partnership between DEEDI, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and AgForce.
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