Modified Application for Feedlot at Lot 100 Treeton Road Cowaramup.Pdf
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Nick Logan Nick Logan Shire of Augusta - Margaret River PO Box 61 Margaret River WA 6285 22/4/20 Dear Nick Modified Feedlot Application and Dam - Lot 100 Treeton Road Cowaramup Please find attached the modified feedlot proposal for the above site. This includes consideration of the removal of clay which will result in an expanded dam. As such the proposal includes this dam expansion. Plans and documents are attached including most specifically the application document to DWER which comprehensively provides detailed information which is submitted with this application adjustment as justification. There appeared to be no reason to replicate this information in a separate report and so this application data is submitted as part of this planning application adjustment. It should be noted that much of the technical information attached is produced by DPIRD and this has been modified in consultation with and with the blessing of DPIRD. To address the specific queries raised during the advertising period we advise the following: With respect to maximum stocking of the feed lot a maximum of 1000 cattle would be within the feed lot at any given time. Over the period of November to May the throughput of cattle will be 3000. The same of cattle through put is proposed as to what is currently occurring instead there will be more cattle within the feed lot via this application. Within the yards area as indicated on the application plans there will be a covered work area of approximately 10 x 15 metres at approximately 3 metres high. This will effectively be constructed as a very minor open sided verandah/pergola area to provide cover for workers in the yards and to protect from the elements whether that be the sun or rain. This is indicated on the plans and will be a simple structure with posts and colour bond/zincalume roof. With respect to vehicle movements the landowner advises that given the through put of cattle will not be changing with respect to the new feed lot from the existing feedlot, traffic generation will be similar. Traffic expected is described as follows: • Bringing in of feed will be 60 tonnes of barley per week – 1 truck per week. • Moving of feed from south to north from the existing shed will be via a new machine which holds 7 tonnes and with typical movement of feed over the week there will be an average of 1 to 3 crossings of the road per day. • With respect to removal of manure, during summer manure dries off quickly and breaks down particularly with the onset of dung beetles. As such, the removal of manure is estimated at about 14 cubic metres per week and therefore 1 truck per week to be taken off site which is easy to distribute or sell as it is in high demand. • Stock deliveries will be estimated at approximately at 100 per cattle per week which will arrive in lots of 40 to 50 and therefore 2 trucks per week will be delivered and 2 trucks per week (100 cattle) will be taken away. • Other farm vehicles movements will be typical to existing activity. • In summary, the movement of vehicles associated with the use is stated to be similar to current activity: 1 truck per week for introduction of feed 1 to 3 crossings of the road per day moving of feed 1 truck per week removal of manure 2 trucks per week introduction of stock 2 trucks per week removal of stock movement of normal farm vehicles With respect to existing grazing practices on the farm land associated with the feed lot the landowners are professional graziers and will be buying stock and rearing stock generally on their farms with many to move through the feed lot. The landowners advise they have 1000 acres (400ha) available inclusive of their own land and leased land. Feed troughs are installed in some paddocks to provide effective delivery of feed to cattle in addition to the eating of grass and stubble. Supporting stock with feed in summer is common practice in grazing when conditions demand and this is why hay is cut. The landowners advise they would generally carry around 850 younger cattle (around 200-250kg) across their 1000 acres between May and December all fed on grass. In the summer/autumn period when the feedlot is operating the landowners will also buy (when market forces suit) smaller numbers of larger cattle (400kg) to be held and grazed in paddocks for short periods before entering the feedlot. These sale yard bought larger summer cattle will clean up stubble in paddocks before entering the feedlot and be supplemented with some feed if conditions demand. If the feed lot application of 1000 capacity was approved then the keeping of stock in wider paddocks will decrease from current activity. Agriculture WA has adopted stocking guidelines however these generally refer to rural smallholdings which could be expected to generally provide more conservative guidance than for broad acre farming properties because rural smallholding farms are smaller and more constrained. Notwithstanding this, a consideration of these stocking rate guidelines produced by Agriculture WA has been utilised to assist in advising on this matter. The document is entitled “Stocking Rate Guidelines for Rural Smallholdings” February 2000 - Agriculture WA. Table 1 - Base Stocking Rates Units (DSE) of the guidelines is included below. It should be noted the document outlines the various soil types that generally occur within the Darling Scarp and surrounding area. The soils within the subject site/area are generally of the Treeton Hill slopes and Wilyabrup undifferentiated hill slopes phases as described by the Department of Agriculture 2020. These two types of soils are described as generally duplex, sandy gravels, loamy gravels and grey deep sandy duplex soils, pale grey mottled soil (Treeton) and loamy gravels, duplex sandy gravels, brown deep loamy duplexes and friable red/brown and brown earthy loams (Wilyabrup). The report produced by Sean Smith attached to this application outlines the soil types of this nature and the test pit which is located central to the proposed feed lot pond clearly describes loams as the dominant soil type reflective of the Wilyabrup phase. Gravelly and loamy soils are therefore the primary soils. Based on this assessment, it can be assumed that the soils available for grazing associated with the farm are generally of the SR7, SR8 and SR10 unit code as per Table 1 above. The recommended dry stocking rate in these soil types is 10 DSE/hectare and recommended irrigated stocking rate is 25 DSE/per hectare. Table 2 of the stocking rate guidelines outlines the various types of animals and typical DSE rates as applicable. See below. The intention of the grazing on the site is to raise around 850 younger cattle generally in the 200 kilo range and graze them from May to December on grass within the general farming areas until they are introduced into the feed lot or sold. Based on this, cattle with a 200 kilo weight are generally described as having a stocking rate of 4 DSE. This means that at a carrying capacity of 10DSE per hectare 2.5 cattle could be accommodated per hectare. Given a hectare is the equivalent to 2.47 acres this indicates a general capacity of 1 head of cattle per acre or 0.4ha. The activity of carrying approximately 850 cattle across the 1000 acres of land fed on grass between May and December is consistent with such stocking rates. Between December and May the feedlot will be operating and the younger cattle on broader farming areas will be depleted as they will be transferred into the feedlot or sold. It is expected that nearly all of this younger cattle will enter the feedlot with possibly only a small number perhaps 50 not making it. As such the bringing in of some smaller numbers of larger cattle, (400kg) bought from the sale yards, will be able to be held in paddocks and clean up stubble for short periods (usually a few weeks) again before entering the feedlot. Given the carrying of larger cattle would be in the summer period, support of such cattle would be by way of cleaning up stubble feed in paddocks but also supplementary feed troughs if conditions require. Given the reared herd will be depleted in wider paddocks say to around 50 over summer and this would mean there would be adequate capacity to hold some larger 400kg stock that would have been bought in when market forces were beneficial. Such larger cattle have a DSE of 8 (as per table 1) which therefore with soils rating at 10DSE/ha could sustain 1.2 head per ha. With the younger cattle at around 50 and requiring around 50 acres or 20ha, there could be stocking area of up to 380ha available for the larger cattle over summer which would easily accommodate these small number as they a bought. They would naturally be moved to paddocks to eat available stubble. The landowner advises the stocking rates in this fashion are generally consistent with farming stocking rates over summer as also demonstrated typically on dairy farms. Moving stock around paddocks to take up available feed and stubble and support with hay/feed is common practice. This stocking capacity is undertaken efficiently and with innovative practices so that the best outcomes can be achieved on the paddocks available before introducing stock into the feed lot. The above information therefore indicates that the stocking of the paddocks will be equivalent to typical stocking rate guidelines that are applicable to rural smallholdings.