Grass and clover growth have slowed up with the noticeable drop in temperatures in some spots and if this is the case for you, you will need to be making decisions about supplementary. Thanks to the drought supplementary feed is scarce this year and the little that is out there is selling at a premium, so now is the time to make some decisions to get you through the next couple of months to enjoy the spring ahead.

If your block has been stressed consider selling all your stock and letting the land recover. It’s a drastic choice but if you are facing a drastic situation it may be better to do this sooner rather than later for everything and everyone concerned.

If you are able to source supplementary feed you could consider reducing stock to a minimum and keep only the best genetics which will generally be the younger animals.

Remember the animal welfare implications under the law, and preventative action is better than having to destroy your stock or go to court.

You may also want to consider putting some or all stock on someone else’s block - if you do choose this option, be sure to get a grazing contract.  Ask your local stock agent for advice on this.

Watch out for pugging with the winter rains since there is little pasture cover at the moment.  Take stock off bare paddocks during very wet weather since it can take a long time to return paddocks to normal.

Pregnant ewes should be getting the best feed possible. Check with your veterinarian about any treatments you may need on hand for the next few months.  You could consider joining with neighbours and contacting a pregnancy scanning contractor to get an accurate picture of what your ewes are carrying – especially if decisions about feed need to be made.

Feed good quality supplements where needed and make sure you have some concentrate feed on hand for any pregnant ewes carrying multiple lambs that need a boost. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns about parasites and drenching ad about the importance of vaccinating ewes before lambing, which combination of vaccines to use and when their lambs should get a booster.

Make sure you are ready for lambing – spring lambs tends to refer more to the surprise they spring on you in the middle of a wet, cold, winter night than their appearance in mid October.  Watch for caste ewes as they can die fast if left on their backs over night.

Be on the watch for abortions (which are often hard to find) and consult your vet if there is more than one. A ewe with a prolapse or “bearing” can really ruin your day, and consult your vet quickly on how to treat it.

Save and freeze some colostrum from early lambing ewes for emergencies.

Look after pregnant cows and be sure they don’t lose too much weight or condition and be ready for calving.  You might have it planned out on the calendar but it pays to be prepared for the unexpected.  Try to keep some colostrum from the first cow to calve and put it in small self-seal plastic bags in the freezer for any calf (or lamb) that may need a booster later in spring.

Check with the vet about what you should have on hand for problems such as milk fever (calcium deficiency), grass staggers (magnesium deficiency) and ketosis (glucose deficiency). More importantly talk to your vet about how to recognise these in your stock. 

In the meantime, make sure you have a good supply of dry socks and jerseys ready for the next few weeks as you are bound to find that at the very moment you want to stay warm and dry inside is when a new animal will put in an appearance.