NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has launched an Australian-first smartphone app enabling farmers to develop a drought feed strategy for livestock.
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Ms Hodgkinson said the innovative Drought Feed Calculator app – developed by the Department of Primary Industries – would assist farmers to make timely feeding decisions while standing in the paddock.
“It will enable farmers to make well-informed decisions, helping them to manage their land and save money on feed costs,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “The app allows farmers to boost production by accurately matching feed levels with energy requirements for sheep and cattle.
“It calculates the least-cost ration by comparing feeds using estimated nutritive values listed in the calculator or by entering values from individual feed test results.
“The app can be used for short periods of feeding during extended dry seasons which are common in parts of the state during summer and autumn.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government was committed to supporting the state’s farmers and helping them better prepare for future droughts.
“The Drought Feed Calculator is another tool to help farmers prepare for when the next inevitable drought strikes,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“The release of the app builds on the cutting-edge research and development being undertaken by DPI researchers, which is giving farmers access to new and improved drought-tolerant crop varieties and world-class sheep and cattle genetics.”
Riverina farmer David Kingston was involved in the development of the app and has seen firsthand the benefits to his farm’s bottom line.
“Using the app, I calculated a saving of $3390 by purchasing oats at $230 per tonne compared to pasture hay at $180 per tonne – even though the hay was $50 per tonne cheaper,” Mr Kingston said. “I only had to feed 610 grams of oats compared with 970 grams feeding the hay. This added up when feeding 1000 animals for more than three months.”
The app is available for smart phones and tablet devices and can be downloaded from the iTunes Store or Google Play. Further information is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au