Scarcity of fodder despite frost

Quality fodder is in short supply despite projections there would be an abundance. One farming leader has reported “fodder yields being reduced by 50 per cent”.

Quality fodder is becoming a rare commodity despite earlier projections that there would be an abundance after cereal crops were baled following frost damage.

Hay supplier and Australian Fodder Industry Association chairman Louis Kelly from Jerilderie in the NSW Riverina said overall fodder yields and stocks were lower.

“I have just sold seven road trains of (oaten and clover) hay out of the paddock for $300 to $325 a tonne,” he said.

“There’s demand, and there isn’t as much hay around as we previously thought,” Mr Kelly said.

“The power of hay we all thought was coming onto the market after the frost didn’t eventuate,” he said.

According to AFIA’s latest hay report, cereal hay from the Goulburn/Murray Valley is making $270 a tonne to $300 a tonne, and lucerne hay is selling from $380 a tonne to $440 a tonne.

Cereal hay in Gippsland has increased $10 a tonne in the past week to make $310 a tonne to $350 a tonne.

Cattle in a feedlot at Nanneella. Picture: Supplied

Jason Palmer from Nanneella runs a cropping operation and a cattle feedlot and agreed that there was not a lot of hay around.

“We are just not seeing it in the paddocks,” Mr Palmer said.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Scott Young.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Scott Young said he had heard reports of fodder yields being reduced by 50 per cent.

“If you have been able to make hay without the rain that is a benefit,” he said.

Despite the challenges from the fodder industry, he said livestock producers were enthusiastic about sourcing fodder because saleyard prices had improved.

This comes as lamb prices have gathered heady pace into Christmas, amid a shortage of well-finished heavy stock, with rates soaring up to $10/kg on a small number of export weight lines.

The benchmark heavy lamb indicator hit 907c/kg carcass weight on Tuesday. With the market signalling lambs are worth feeding to heavier weights, this is also expected to support fodder demand.

Cattle markets improved off the summer rain, with the best Angus yearling steers nudging 400c/kg at Wagga Wagga, NSW, last week, a welcome report for new year weaner calf sellers.

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator sat at 667c/kg carcass weight on Tuesday.

Finley dairy farmer Malcolm Holm. Picture: Dale Webster

Finley NSW dairy farmer Malcolm Holm said the wet weather had created challenges for the fodder industry.

“Hay has really copped the weather, and some growers are considering silage rather than hay,” he said.