Winter: Feedlot Resources

This comprehensive seasonal guide delivers essential resources and practical strategies to navigate the challenges presented by winter conditions.  

With colder temperatures, wet conditions, and shorter daylight hours, effective management practices are key to maintaining optimal feedlot performance and animal wellbeing through the winter months.

ALFA has developed a dedicated Winter Resources page, featuring a curated list of tools and information to support lot feeders in preparing for and operating throughout winter.

We invite you to explore our winter-specific resources, designed to enhance operational efficiency, support livestock health, and maintain best practices during the colder season.

Stay on top of weather warnings for your area on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

This page contains a curated list of resources for lot feeders to utilise in preparation for and during the winter months. These include: 

• Seasonal bushfire outlook for winter 2025

• Winter wet conditions: pen management guide

• Bedding for feedlot cattle

• Clean cattle manual

• Waste management & effluent planning

• Using manure for energy recovery

• Summary of bovine respiratory disease preventative practices

• Mental health at work 

• Seasonal workforce planning

• Featured training: livestock handling fundamentals

• Pest management: mice

• EOFY tax time info

• Increased hazards in Winter: Slips, Trips, and Falls

Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for winter 2025

The AFAC Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for winter 2025 identifies an unseasonable risk of fire for parts of SA and Victoria. 

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Winter 2025 identifies a heightened risk of fire for parts of South Australia (SA) and Victoria. In these southern regions, the unseasonable bushfire risk is being driven in part by significant and persistent dry conditions.

The Seasonal Outlook is the culmination of a complex analysis by expert fire specialists across Australia, and climate prediction and fire weather experts from the Bureau of Meteorology. 

For more information and to stay up to date with bushfire warnings, visit the AFAC website.

Winter wet conditions: Pen Management Guide

Winter brings increased rainfall in many regions, creating challenges for pen conditions and animal comfort. This guide outlines effective pen management techniques to mitigate mud and maintain welfare standards.

Bedding for feedlot cattle

Feedlot bedding study: This study provides information about the types and costs of regionally available bedding materials and describes the trials conducted using bedding in feedlot pens. Click here to download.

Graded levels of woodchip for feedlot cattle: This report details the production and management costs, as well as the benefits, of using woodchip bedding for feedlot cattle during wet conditions. Download the summary here.

Clean cattle manual

The Clean Cattle Manual provides up-to-date information, case studies, and practical information on the management of dags and ensuring clean cattle in small, medium and large feedlots. Find the manual here.

Waste management & utilisation manual

This manual continues to serve as a vital reference for managing feedlot manure and effluent year-round, with winter-specific considerations for runoff and storage capacity in wet conditions.

Using manure for energy recovery

Explore the potential of biogas generation from feedlot manure, including its environmental and economic benefits. Winter presents a timely opportunity to plan or reassess infrastructure for renewable energy use. Read the MLA study here.

Summary of bovine respiratory disease preventative practices

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is produced through the complex interaction of pathogens with animal, environmental and management risk factors. This handbook is a summary of BRD preventative practices.

Mental health at work

Winter can be mentally challenging, with fatigue and stress heightened during colder, darker months. The Workplace Pulse Check is a confidential, quick tool to help gauge and support mental wellbeing across your team. Visit Mental health at work | NSW Government for more.

Seasonal workforce planning

ALFA acknowledges the ongoing challenge of accessing skilled labour in agriculture. This update summarises government support initiatives, training programs, and recruitment resources to assist feedlots during seasonal workforce transitions. Read the article here.

Training focus: Livestock Handling Fundamentals

Available on Feedlot TECH, this course covers essential skills for safely handling livestock year-round. Ensure your team is equipped to manage cattle confidently and safely, reducing risk to both staff and animals.

Enrol via Feedlot TECH today to upskill your team and reinforce safety and animal welfare through practical online training.

Pest management: mice

Mice may be small, but they can cause significant problems on the feedlot - contaminating feed, damaging structures, and spreading disease. It’s important to regularly monitor areas around feed storage, equipment, and livestock pens for signs of mice like droppings, burrows, or chewed bags. If you see any evidence of mice, report it right away. Early reporting and prompt action keep your feedlot clean, safe, and healthy for livestock.

Click here for information on how to monitor and manage mice activity.

EOFY tax time info

Getting your deductions right this EOFY

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has shared some tips with the agriculture industry to help lodge and claim correctly this tax time.

To claim a deduction for any work-related expenses, you’ll need to make sure:

• you spent the money yourself, and weren’t reimbursed

• the expenses directly relate to earning your income

• you have the records to prove it (usually a receipt).

You can’t claim private expenses

This includes things like rent, meals and groceries, childcare, medical expenses, relocation expenses and the cost of travelling to and from work. These are private in nature and can’t be claimed in your tax return.

Only source reliable tax advice

You should only ever get tax advice from a reliable and trusted source, such as the ATO or a tax professional who is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. You can find out whether a tax agent is registered by visiting the Tax Practitioners Board website.

Records, records, records

You must have records, like a receipt, for any deductions you claim. A bank statement (on its own) generally isn’t enough evidence to claim a deduction for work-related expenses.

More information

Check out the ATO’s tailored occupation guide for agricultural workers. It helps explain which deductions you can and can’t claim this year, as well as the income you’ll need to declare and the records you need to keep.

Increased hazards in Winter: Slips, Trips, and Falls

As temperatures drop and daylight hours decrease, feedlots may face increased hazards, including:

• Wet areas that don’t dry as quickly, increasing slip risks.

• Working in low-light or dark conditions.

• Frosty or icy surfaces that may be slippery.

Visit Safe Work Australia’s website for guidance on managing these risks effectively.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ALFA team on 02 9290 3700.