As the drought bites deeper, then you need to make sure that your animals are being able to source the necessary minerals to allow them to survive. Being organic doesn’t mean you can’t fix the problems that your stock are facing.

If your animals can source the minerals they need, then they need less bulk to get through their day. If they are eating less pasture, then you can keep more stock through the hard times.

We have always fed our stock minerals on a free choice system. Horses and cattle always have free choice to the different minerals that are made up into a loose powder lick. We do however, stress that you have salt as a separate container for them to access. If you include salt in any mix, you may make it too salty. Animals are great chemists and know exactly what they require. Just remember, always make sure that they have the correct minerals first.

Often during the drought, animals aren’t sourcing enough green feed (well, there isn’t any usually). You need to be very aware that Vitamin A can be deficient in these cases. Normally stock store Vitamin A in the liver enabling them to cope with dry spells. However, when the dry spell exceeds 3-5 months deficiencies will develop. This is a serious consideration.

Pink eye may develop, worm infestation may increase. Often if the coat of the animal is dry as well as runny eyes this can be a sign of worms or even a copper deficiency. However, it can also be a sign of Vitamin A deficiency as well.

What colour is the hay you are feeding? Has it any green colour to it? If not, then you can be pretty sure that it will not have any Vitamin A either.

How can you overcome this? Supplementation can be by cod-liver oil. You could also get A,D and E powder, emulsion, or injections. The powder, emulsion or oil can be mixed with the feed.

Try keeping the stock in a smaller area, to stop them eating the paddocks out. After all when the rains come, you want them to have some fresh paddocks available.

Also remember, that when it rains, the first green feed does not deliver the minerals for at least six weeks. It is often called a green drought. Rather funny really, there you have lovely green paddocks with your stock sourcing it as fast as they can and they look rather haggard or at least as bad as they looked before. So don’t forget to keep the minerals up to them.

Just remember, that by being organic, your place will jump ahead of your neighbours as your nutrients aren’t locked up.