Confinement Feeding

Confinement feeding — hand-feeding livestock in a small, contained area — is becoming a valuable tool for mixed farmers in the WA Wheatbelt. By resting pastures while stock are held in confinement, farmers can grow more feed, save labour, and reduce erosion risk.

A recent economic analysis with Facey Group case study farms shows that confinement feeding can be profitable across a range of systems — provided it’s managed well.

Why Confinement Feeding?

Confinement feeding involves yarding or penning stock and supplying them with hay and grain rather than letting them graze paddocks. The system offers several potential benefits:

  • Pasture deferment: allowing paddocks to rest and grow more feed for later use.
  • Lower energy demand: sheep use 8–15% less energy as they walk less for feed and water.
  • Less supplement waste: feeding losses cut by 5–10%.
  • Labour efficiency: hand-feeding is quicker and easier in a small area.
  • Animal monitoring: stock health and weight can be managed more closely, and sale stock drafted off sooner.
  • Soil protection: paddock cover is maintained, reducing erosion and improving rainfall infiltration.

Of course, confinement also has costs — particularly for feed and infrastructure. Whether it “pays” depends on how well it’s managed and the farm’s broader system.

What the Analysis Found

The study modelled confinement feeding on three mixed sheep–cropping farms in the Facey Group catchment. The results were clear:

  • Profitable across farms: Confinement feeding lifted profits by $18,300–$28,000 per year .
  • Pasture deferment is the big win: More than 90% of the value came from deferred pasture growth .
  • Timing matters: Confinement before the break of season was generally less profitable, as pastures were not yet being deferred .
  • Seasonal conditions are key: The value of confinement increases in poor seasons, when grazing pressure is highest and deferred feed is most valuable .

How It Works in Practice

The modelling highlighted several benefits and trade-offs:

  • Pasture gains: Confinement lifted pasture growth on deferred paddocks by up to 186 kg DM/ha (dependent on the deferment period).
  • Labour savings: Up to 15 hours/week saved on feeding on some farms.
  • Supplement efficiency: Sheep used feed more efficiently, saving energy and reducing waste.
  • Stock performance: Condition scores and liveweight gains can be better managed in confinement.
  • System fit: Benefits varied depending on farm structure (stocking rate, pasture area, lambing time), showing that outcomes are highly farm-specific.

Key Takeaways

  • Confinement feeding was profitable on all case study farms, adding $18k–28k/year.
  • The main value is in pasture deferment, which made up more than 90% of the benefit.
  • Success depends on seasonal conditions, stocking rate, and how well the system is managed.
  • The practice brings practical benefits beyond economics — from easier feeding to better groundcover and stock monitoring.

🌱 This project was delivered in collaboration with Facey Group and supported by MLA’s Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) program.

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