Livestock

Winter roughage recommended

By Contributed

Jul 1, 2026

Agriculture Victoria’s Dr Jeff Cave recommends supplementing roughage to animal feed this winter.

With the ongoing challenges of drought — including higher prices and the need for other feed supplements — you could be thinking about how and why to feed roughage over winter.

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Roughage may be needed this winter for any of the following reasons:

Even though some roughage may be left uneaten, for digestive function livestock require a minimum amount of fibre and long roughage to maintain their digestive systems. This is sometimes known as the “scratch factor” and stimulates rumination (cud chewing).
If feeding grain or pellets with too little roughage, acidosis or grain poisoning can occur.
As we move further into winter, hay may be needed to reduce grass tetany risks and allow a way of administering Causmag.