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ProAgni probiotic hopes on trial

Lachlan Campbell discusses ProAgni Probiotics in The Land newspaper

“There’s a huge social licence about getting those antibiotics out of the food chain because of antimicrobial resistance,” he said.

“ProAgni has commercialised technology to take those antibiotics out of the lotfeeding system and has been in the market for more than 14 months.”

In this time more than 620,000 animals have been produced without approximately 589 kilograms of antibiotics saving 14,85 tonnes of feed and reducing methane emission by 148.3t.

And the company is near 12 months away from commercialising a dry-form probiotic that reduces induction times into feedlots by up to 74 per cent. Read the entire article in The Land

 

Weaning light and young lambs for Spring

Early weaning lambs

Q. In what circumstances would you be early weaning lambs?

Early weaning is a management tool to improve utilisation of feed resources across any season.  Drought continues to have a big impact, in parts of Australia, on feed availability and pricing. Early weaning can save a producer up to 40%* of feed resources between the ewe/lamb unit if fed separately.  If takes significantly more feed to support a ewe producing milk for continued lamb growth, and choosing to wean earlier and separate ewe from lamb, significantly reduces feed demand.

Early weaning is a challenging concept for some, likely a result of poor experiences in the past.

But, what could early weaning do for your production system?

  • Finish lambs earlier
  • Re-join ewes sooner
  • Pastures last longer
  • Improved carrying capacity
  • Options, options and more options

With the introduction of our complete early weaning feed – ProAgni® ProWean S, developed to specifically support early weaned and light lambs, making early weaning a simpler process, and providing options for producers.

Q. What weight and age are considered ‘early or light’ weaners?

Approximately 10kg live weight and 4 – 6 weeks of age are classed as early weaners. ProAgni have developed the ProWean S complete feed specifically to cater for the complex nutritional requirements of young lambs.  While the lamb has a capacity to eat a certain amount of feed, providing concentrated feed, such as ProWean S, provides the nutritional requirements until it has reached a bodyweight to eat sufficient quantities of pasture/crop-based feed to meet protein and energy demands.

Q. What environment should I keep the light and young lambs in?

In extreme circumstances like drought it’s possible to wean between 8-10kg and feed the ProWean S in a confined or intensive environment.  Creating an intensive environment provides a greater level of control. The process of transitioning lambs to eat from feeders is an important management tool. The imprinting of this behaviour is essential before separating the lambs from ewes.

A combined/intensive environment provides:

  • control over the delivery of feed
  • distribution of feed (separating shy feeders and different weights)
  • halt degrading paddocks and pastures

Q. How much should I be feeding?

*Click here to view our feeding and weaning protocols

10 kg lambs 300g per head/per day. 15 – 20kg lambs 500- 600gm per head/per day. Younger animals can be fed ProWean S exclusively for a period of time.  As bodyweight increases grain can be added to the diet.  Adding grain gradually as the lamb gains weight will reduce the feeding cost.  It’s all about managing that transition.

NOTE: We always recommend hay is readily available at all times to lambs.  Talk to us if hay is unavailable

Q. What makes ProWean S different from other feeds?

ProWean S is a concentrated complete feed that delivers high levels of protein and energy to specifically support early post weaning lambs. The crumble texture is designed to maximise engagement and early intake. As the lambs bodyweight increases ProWean S can be mixed as a concentrate, with cereal grain and legumes.

Five minutes with David Horsnell, ProAgni Sales and Technical Services

David Horsnell

What’s the David Horsnell story

“I was born in Western Victoria into a farming family focussed on Pig and Sheep production. As a young person in a country town the things I looked forward to were playing football for the local team, the Balmoral Bombers, riding my motorbike and Water skiing during summer. As most young blokes involved in a family farm in the region, I shore for ten years in addition to working within the family business. In the early 90s, an opportunity presented to relocate interstate and join a successful rural retail business in the Murraylands of South Australia. I was with that business for eight years which was the stimulus for my interest in ruminant nutrition and management, which has been my passion for the last 16 years. We have been farming again in South Australia, at one point running 2000 breeding ewes. We have developed a feedlot with a capacity of 2000 head, which is used to trade lambs but is also used regularly as part of the sheep program. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to join the ProAgni team and become part of the new face in ruminant nutrition and management. The new technology ProAgni have developed along with their earthy approach and drive to deliver value to the production community, is a pleasure to be part of.

You played a bit of footy in your youth what sports do you enjoy now?

“I was a strong follower of AFL, however some recent events in the team I supported has left a bit of a cloud over football for me.  My daughter plays A grade netball for the ‘Mypolonga Tigers’, and my wife is the team manager, being part of the local club is important to us. Water skiing has always been a passion of mine, we ski regularly on the Murray River at Mypolonga and Caloote. I am a bit of a skiing tragic and earlier this year skied day one with a Victorian team (Wattsgoinon who raised $3500) over 170 km of the 450km to raise money for ‘Ski for Life’. An event that raises funds to tackle mental health and suicide prevention.” Hoping to ski the whole 450kms over the 3-day event next year.

What’s the biggest challenge to rural businesses in the next 10 years?

“Oh definitely climate change and variation in rainfall especially across the SA and Vic Mallee and western NSW.  If CSIRO predictions are correct, we need to produce 70% more food over the next 30 years to meet the demands of global population growth.  It’s an interesting time for new feed technology, management techniques and education.”

You spend a lot of time in the car visiting ProAgni resellers and producers, what do you listen to?

“ I listen to the ABC, especially The Rural Report and conversations with Richard Fiedler, 70s light rock features strongly ”

What three things couldn’t you live without?

“Family, beer – Coopers Pale Ale of course (gotta support the SA locals) and my water ski boat”

What do you like about working for ProAgni?

“The ProAgni team are authentic, the founders all come from the production community with a true passion for the industry and, want to deliver highly effective formulations that deliver value to the production community. They have developed leading edge technology that’ll change the grain feeding industry globally.”