Tassie farmers finds sprouts to be the answer

Mrs Crosswell of West Kentish near Devonport uses barley sprouts to precision finish vealers targeted at the premium boutique market.

She purchased a Fodder Solutions 260 kilogram-a-day sprouting unit and now, having finished her first season with the system has described the investment “as the best money I’ve ever spent”.

Mrs Crosswell’s 30 Friesian-Hereford cows thrive on a sprout and pasture diet on a 20 hectare lease block of land.

She joins breeders to a French Saler bull to produce a big framed and fast growing calf.

She bought the Fodder Solution system after looking for something better to replace hay in her herd’s diet. About 15 tonnes of barely are used in a sprouting season.

Both nutritious and cheaper – 11cents/kg – they also ensure a constant supply of fresh green feed, enabling Mrs Crosswell to finish her vealers to exact market specifications, regardless of seasonal conditions.

“In the past I could be forced to sell when the grass ran out.”

Each cow and calf gets a “biscuit” of barley sprouts weighing about 7kg daily which is eagerly consumed, roots and all.

“The calves start to eat the fodder from about two months of age and it really puts polish and condition on them.

Mrs Crosswell aims for a narrow calving season from mid February to the end of April. The calves are sold straight off their mothers in small lots at 10 to 12 months of age at about 400kg liveweight.

“If I can get up around $800 for a prime vealer that’s pretty good money”.

Mrs Crosswell said she could add a few more cows to her existing system and is seriously considering duplicating the enterprise with another sprouting unit.

“I’d like to become a full-time beef producer one day.”