Drought Feeding

In regions facing winter drought, traditional forage such as hay becomes scarce and prohibitively expensive. As hay stocks dwindle and prices soar, grains and grain‐based mixes can serve as invaluable alternative feed sources for cattle, sheep and other stock. Among these, high-fibre ingredients—especially cracked lupins and feeds formulated by Green Valley Grains—support rumen function, maintain gut health and help sustain productivity when roughage is limited.

The Importance of Fibre for Rumen Health

Ruminant animals rely on a complex microbial ecosystem in the rumen to ferment and digest feedstuffs. Fibre—particularly the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) fraction—provides the structural carbohydrates that rumen microbes need to flourish. Sufficient effective fibre:

• Stimulates chewing and saliva production, which buffers rumen pH and prevents acidosis.

• Slows the rate of passage, improving nutrient extraction.

• Promotes stable rumen populations of cellulolytic bacteria, essential for long-term gut health.

  
  

Without adequate fibre, diets high in rapidly fermentable starches can lead to ruminal pH drops, sub‐acute ruminal acidosis, laminitis in cattle and poor feed conversion efficiency.

Cracked Lupins: A High-Fibre, Low-Starch Feed

Cracked lupins combine high protein with substantial fibre and minimal starch—an ideal profile for drought supplementation. Processing lupin seed by cracking increases surface area, improving palatability and microbial access. Analysis of a premium cracked lupin product shows:

• Crude Fibre: 12–15%

• Crude Protein: 28–32%

• Starch: 1–2%

• Digestible Energy: 13–14 MJ/kg DM

Because lupins are low in starch, ruminants can transition onto lupin-rich diets without the same risk of acidosis associated with cereal grains. The moderate fibre level contributes to rumen fill and chewing activity, while the high protein content supports maintenance of muscle and wool growth in sheep, and milk production in dairy cows.

Green Valley Grains Products: Hobby Mix and Cracked Lupins

Green Valley Grains offers two key products for winter drought feeding:

• Premium Cracked Lupins (20 kg): Premium quality cracked narrow-leafed lupins for all stock, providing high protein and fibre while limiting starch exposure

• Hobby Mix (20 kg): A palatable supplement combining steam-rolled barley, maize, lupins, oats and lucerne chaff, coated with molasses and vegetable oils. Designed to be fed alongside pasture or hay, it does not contain a rumen buffer, so intake must be managed gradually to maintain pH balance.

  
  
  
  

  • Typical feeding rate: up to 0.5% of body weight for cattle and sheep, ensuring fibre from lucerne chaff and lupins is paired with other energy sources.

    
    

By blending multiple grains and lucerne chaff, the Hobby Mix delivers both fermentable carbohydrates and roughage-type fibre, mitigating the risks of feeding straight cereals.

Other High-Fibre Grain Options

Beyond lupins and mix feeds, consider incorporating:

• Lucerne Chaff: Steam-cut lucerne chaff delivers roughly 20% crude fibre alongside 15% crude protein, acting as an excellent roughage substitute when hay is scarce riverina.com.au. It can comprise up to 30% of cattle rations and 20% for sheep, promoting rumination and saliva production.

• Oats & Barley (Steam-Rolled or Feed Oats): While lower in fibre than lupins or lucerne, rolled oats and steam-rolled barley still contribute NDF (~10–12%) and offer highly digestible energy when used judiciously.

• Sorghum & Millet: Native to many Australian feed ranges, these cereals provide moderate fibre and are drought-tolerant crops that may be locally available at lower cost.

Incorporating Rumen Licks and Blocks

When roughage is limited, offering a rumen-specific lick or block alongside grains can help stabilise rumen function, supply essential minerals and encourage saliva flow:

• What they are: Rumen licks or blocks are compressed blocks or free-choice licks formulated with buffering agents (e.g. sodium bicarbonate), soluble fibre sources (e.g. chopped lucerne hay), macro-minerals (Ca, P, Mg), trace elements (Zn, Cu, Se) and sometimes yeast cultures.

Benefits:

• Buffers rumen pH, helping neutralise acid from rapidly fermentable grains.

• Provides additional effective fibre, promoting chewing and saliva production.

• Supplies minerals and trace elements that may be lacking in a grain-heavy diet.

• Supports microbial populations, especially when yeast or direct-fed microbials are included.

How to use:

·        Offer free-choice in a covered trough or block feeder so stock can self-regulate intake.

·        Monitor consumption; target roughly 50 g–100 g per head per day for sheep and 200 g–400 g per head per day for cattle.

·        Ensure clean water is always available—lick intake increases water demand.

·        Phase in at the same time as grains, so animals develop a consistent chewing pattern and buffering effect.

Practical Feeding Strategies in Winter Drought

1. Introduce Gradually: Increase inclusion rates of cracked lupins, Hobby Mix and rumen block by no more than 10% of the daily ration each week.

2. Maintain Forage Base: Even limited hay or pasture is invaluable; aim for at least 0.5 kg DM of roughage per 100 kg liveweight daily.

3. Monitor Rumen Health: Watch for acidosis signs—ankle swelling, loose stools, reduced cud-chewing—and adjust fibre sources or block access accordingly.

4. Provide Unlimited Clean Water: High-fibre and lick/block diets increase water demand; keep troughs topped up.

5. Adjust for Animal Class: Lactating animals may benefit from a higher-energy grain mix but should have constant access to fibre and buffering blocks.

   
   

By combining high-fibre grains like cracked lupins, fibre-rich mixes from Green Valley Grains and a dedicated rumen lick or block, producers can safeguard rumen health and maintain performance through winter drought. Thoughtful ration formulation—balancing energy-dense cereals with effective fibre and buffering agents—will ease the feed shortage pinch and optimize livestock resilience until pasture and hay supplies recover.