It’s been a big few months on the road for Milne Feeds. After LambEx, we headed to the Bendigo Sheep Show, where the confidence among producers was clear. Farmers were engaged and optimistic, and there was a real sense that the sheep industry is in a good place.
Bendigo was a highlight. It was great to see how many WA producers had travelled across the country to display their rams. Some had even brought bags of Milne feed with them because they wanted to keep their rams on the ration they knew was working. That kind of loyalty means a lot to us, and it was good to hear their feedback. Milne Feeds products are now available in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
From Bendigo, we made our way to the Hamilton Sheep Expo, where we saw that same confidence in the industry. Lamb numbers look set to increase this year, which is encouraging. Hamilton is also becoming a bigger focus for us. We’ll be opening a new depot there this year in partnership with Universal Feeders, our distributor in the area, giving local producers reliable access to our feed range.
Back in WA, Dowerin Field Days was one of the busiest we’ve seen. Even with the rain, which was exactly what pastures and crops needed, interest in the ram shed was strong. We had four people working on the first day and still struggled to keep up. It was one of our best Dowerin Field Days, with plenty of optimism among sheep producers.
We wrapped up the run at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days. It’s always good to catch up with local farmers, hear how their season is going and talk through what they’re doing on farm.
Those conversations also showed the challenges ahead. Across parts of WA, particularly the Great Southern, the season has been drier than average. Pastures are going backwards and crops are poor for this time of year, which could leave feed in short supply. Milne Feeds can help producers keep their livestock in condition when pasture is limited. As we often say, ‘Condition is King’. Our depots are well stocked, and we can also arrange 60-tonne loads delivered directly to farm. Just ask us for a quote.
Easy2Gro LM
If there was one topic that came up at every event, it was Easy2Gro LM. Producers wanted to know where they could get it and how it works. Uptake has been strong, and it now accounts for a large share of the sheep pellets we sell.
Easy2Gro LM combines our Hyfibe® technology with a patent-pending low methane formulation. It can reduce methane emissions by around 70% compared with home mixes, while delivering 15.5% protein and 11.5MJ/kg of energy. We’ve seen Merino lambs achieve daily gains of around 400grams, and sometimes more depending on genetics and water quality, with feed conversion ratios below five.
It’s a complete, highly palatable ration that supports rumen health and can be fed without an adaptation period. It’s also antibiotic and ionophore-free, which is valuable for producers supplying export markets.
Whether it’s used in a feedlot, to condition rams ahead of sales or for trail feeding in the paddock, Easy2Gro LM™ is proving its value across a range of feeding systems.
The confidence we saw at this year’s events was encouraging. At the same time, tough pasture conditions in parts of WA mean getting nutrition right will be especially important in the months ahead. If you’d like to talk through your feeding plans, give us a call. We’re always happy to help.
For more information on Easy2Gro LM or to discuss feeding options for your farming operation, contact Paul Nenke on 0407 720 040.
