Containment feeding boosts lamb marking rates by 12 per cent

Livestock consultant Deb Scammell has demonstrated that containment feeding for ewes can significantly improve production outcomes beyond mere drought mitigation. A three-year Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) producer demonstration project conducted across the Barossa region and other sites in South Australia revealed that containment feeding can boost lamb marking rates by 12 per cent compared to ewes kept in paddocks on the same property.

The project, which ran during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons, also showed that the method helps maintain ground cover above 70 per cent. Scammell, who runs Talking Livestock, noted that the practice is an effective management tool for preserving paddock feed during both good and bad seasons. Producers utilized containment feeding to bridge nutritional gaps during late summer and autumn, particularly when pasture growth was delayed.