FILLING the feed gaps and making use of random summer storms is the goal of farm manager Shane Arnold.

Shane runs the 1600ha property, Mokanger, near Cavendish in the heart of Western District, a region steeped in wool tradition.

    AT A GLANCE
  • Who: Shane Arnold
  • What: cropping and sheep
  • Why: changes to suit the climate
  • Where: Cavendish
  • Report: KATE DOWLER

While the industry may be old, Shane is using new techniques to lift the farm's ability to be self-sufficient and profitable.

Mokanger runs Merinos and crops 200ha as a means of renovating pastures to grow more feed to temper the impact of recent high grain prices.

Shane is also planting more lucerne and chicory pastures to provide summer feed.

Eventually 10 per cent of the property's pastures will be the summer-active variety, he said.

Mokanger is owned by Melbourne businessman Mark Rayner. Shane has managed the property for six years.

The equivalent of 20,000 dry sheep equivalents are run across the two properties. This compares with 28,000 DSE before the drought hit and the cropping program was expanded.

Shane and one other full-time employee run the farm, with contractors used in the busy times for operations such as silage making.

Like many farmers in southwest Victoria, Shane can't keep the smile from his face when talking about this season.

And after a quick survey of his pastures you can see why.

Rainfall is now slightly above average for the year so far and most has fallen during the growing season.

"Crops are now a bit wet but they will pull through," he said.

The crops are grown for stock feed, or if they do well, for grain and a cash injection.

The 5000 ewes in the self-replacing Merino flock are now lambing and Shane hopes for 100 per cent weaning.

The flock is based on NSW bloodlines Yalgoo and Cressbrook.

Each year semen is bought in and rams bred from the flock.

"We use those bloodlines because we've been trying to reduce micron and we want plain-bodied sheep with moderate adult weight," he said.

Wool from adult sheep now measures 16.5 micron. Lambs average 14.5 micron.

"We'd like to push that down a bit more while maintaining fleece and body weight," Shane said.

Adult sheep, which weigh 50-55kg, cut an average 4.5kg of wool.

"We want to remain focused on wool, and, of course, hope the market lifts," he said. "So I guess we are going against the trend a bit."

Wethers are sold to the boat trade at three to four years old.

Mokanger is sticking with all Merinos, and while prime lambs could be an option down the track, Shane said the investment in the wool industry and genetics of their sheep was too valuable to change at the moment.

"Wool is at record lows and sheep prices (meat) at record highs, but we're still getting good money for boat wethers and so I don't think we're too far behind," he said.

The Mokanger pastures are phalaris dominated and while this is undoubtedly the best species in the district for winter and spring growth, Shane said they were trying to reduce reliance on supplementary feeding in summer by growing summer-active pastures.

The phalaris received a boost of Progibb acid spray in June at the rate of 10gm/ha, which Shane said really helped kick the growth along.

The combination of phalaris and clover in lambing paddocks provides a great fodder source for the ewes and shelter for the young lambs.

A 50ha lambing paddock now runs 1200 ewes.

Shane estimated these pasture were providing 4000kg/ha of dry matter before the lambing ewes go in.

"It is ideal pasture for lambing on to, and I don't think we've lost very many lambs yet," he said.

Soil-fertility tests are conducted annually and Shane aims to keep Olsen P levels at about 15-20. Potash is often applied every second or third year.

Pastures are rotationally grazed, depending on plant growth, which does not follow any set pattern. Lambing ewes are, however, set stocked.

In designated sandier paddocks, lucerne and chicory have been grown for the past six years to fill the summer feed gap.

With ewes lambing in September, the lambs are generally weaned on to lucerne pastures in December.

Lucerne and chicory are sown at rates of 10kg/ha and 2kg/ha respectively in September.

Lucerne pastures are becoming more common around Hamilton as farmers recognise that they can save money by not having to buy-in grain to get stock through the summer months, Shane said.

"We haven't had problems getting it established because we sow in spring into well-drained, sandier soil paddocks," he said.

"And it is great to be able to wean on to green feed, and this pasture utilises the moisture in summer."

The aim is to sow 10 per cent of the property to lucerne. This should be enough to restrict the need for supplementary feeding.

Other efforts to reduce the feed bill include cutting significant amounts of silage and storing them in pits as a drought reserve.

This year, Shane said they would put 800 tonnes of square bales in the pits at 70 per cent dry matter.

The Wannon River runs through the middle of Mokanger and recently 6km of the river frontage was fenced off with the assistance of a Catchment Management Authority grant.

Shane said the fencing would maintain river health and reduce erosion.

It is also helping to encourage native birdlife, with the river area busy with waterbirds this year.