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Lamb containment feeding resources

By Dr Jillian Kelly, AHN Consulting (Paddock To Pen project lead)
11 May 2026

Dry conditions across much of eastern Australia are a timely reminder of why containment feeding matters. Root zone soil moisture deficits persist in parts of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, where conditions remain among the driest nationally. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast for June to August 2026 indicates rainfall is likely to be below average for much of eastern Australia, meaning many producers are already planning ahead. (Read the latest drought update from the Bureau of Meteorology by clicking here.)

These conditions mean there is increasing interest in containment feeding, as a drought management tool. Whether you’re new to the practice or refining a system you’ve operated for years, having access to the right information makes a difference.

The following resources have been compiled to support producers involved in – or considering – lamb containment feeding. From nutrition and ration planning to animal health and infrastructure, these links cover the key areas that matter most on the ground.

The SQNNSW Innovation Hub-supported Paddock to Pen project is also building a regional evidence base on lamb containment feeding; find out more and sign up for project updates at Paddock To Pen.

Preparing for drought

  • Managing & Preparing for Drought Handbook - the managing drought guide has a preparation section, taking you through putting together a drought action plan, download here.
  • Dry Times Smoko: watch this video for an overview of livestock issues brought about by dry conditions.

Calculators and other tools

  • Drought & Supplementary Feed Calculator - this calculator, from NSW DPI, is a tool sheep and cattle producers can use to develop drought feed rations.
  • Lamb feedlot calculator - this web-based gross margin calculator enables the user to enter different real time production, economic and feeding scenarios to estimate likely profit for a lamb feedlotting enterprise.
  • Ag360.com.au - supported by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub and developed and maintained by the University of New England, this tool provides a six month rainfall forecast for your location, and helps predict soil moisture, pasture growth, and animal weight and health risks. Set up your free account today.

Confinement feeding information: read, watch, listen

  • A Guide to Confinement Feeding in NSW - these resources from Local Land Services NSW provide information on everything you need to consider, when setting up a containment area. Download from here.
  • Confinement feeding - watch this video to hear from LLS NSW on confinement feeding planning and principles.
  • Fundamentals of confinement feeding - watch this video from LLS NSW to learn more about what a confinement feeding system is, the benefits, and practical advice.
  • Workshop series - in 2025, Merinolink ran a series of workshops on confinement feeding. Click here to watch the associated webinar, and download the slides. The national webinar discussed practices around confined feeding (particularly at joining and lambing) as well as the use of supplements to increase production, mitigate heat stress and methane production in confined and grazing sheep.
  • Sheep Confinement During Drought Podcast - listen to this series from Charles Sturt University’s Gulbali Institute. In this series, experts answer questions raised during the 2025 Merinolink workshop (click here for more on the original project).
  • Sheep Drought Feeding Book - from Agriculture Victoria, this booklet can be downloaded as a PDF or Word document.
  • Confinement Feeding Systems - this Geoff Duddy presentation for LLS NSW has a host of additional resources, on slide 1.
  • Containment Feeding to Boost Business Performance and Resilience Project - from the South Australian Drought Hub, this producer resource guide provides information on everything from decision pathways to releasing stock from containment.
  • A producers’ guide to production feeding for lamb growth - this guide from MLA covers nutrition, feeding options, welfare, marketing and more.

Landholder case studies

  • Landholder case study – retaining breeders: this video, filmed at Binalong NSW, includes producers who utilise confinement feeding to retain their core breeding stock in dry times. This case study is from the Saving our Soils During Drought project supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. You can read more about the project by clicking here.
  • Landholder case study – utilising a feedlot for confinement feeding of lambs: this video, with a producer from Wean in NSW, involves the expansion of an existing feedlot during a recent drought.

Research papers for you

  • Finishing lambs: optimising preparation and adaptation of lambs to improve finishing performance - this final report from an MLA/Charles Sturt University project collates the state of knowledge regarding lamb growth rates and identify constraints on individual lamb performance in feedlots.
  • Lambs fed two diet types in confinement had increased rates of fat deposition compared with lambs grazing pasture: animals fed in confinement demonstrate increased rates of fat deposition in comparison to their counterparts grazing pasture. This study from Charles Sturt University, explored the extent to which energy costs of activity and the composition of the diet contribute to the observed differences in body composition.
  • The environmental impact of sheep confinement feeding systems - this paper from the University of Southern Queensland explores the knowledge gaps surrounding confinement feeding sheep, compared to cattle.

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The University of New England hosted Armidale Node of the SQNNSW Innovation Hub receives funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Published: 11 May 2026