Australian Farmers Fight Drought with Desperate Measures

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome to Sydney News today, powered by AI. Droughts gripping eastern Australia tight, forcing farmers into desperate moves to save their herds, near the new South Wales Victoria border. Emma Higgins is drawing 500 head of cattle along road sides since her property ran dry. No water means no choices, so she's hitting the long paddock with her youth, battling sky high fuel costs just to keep them alive. She's poured years into better genetics through artificial insemination, so selling's off the table. Instead, she taps roadside feed and traveling stock reserves with a permit from local services. It cost, but the cows and calves look strong, welfare first, and cooler water halls make hot days manageable. Meanwhile, up in New England, Jim McCallum's trucking weaned calves to King Island off Tasmania. It's over $200 per head, a pricey ride, but cheaper than supplemental feeding amid the dry. Strong markets mean those cows fetch $1,100 to $1,200 each, easing the pain. On the Northern Tablelands, Sally White's

1:05destocking hard, sending 900 head, including pregnant cows, straight to the abattoir. She prioritizes younger, superior breeders to cut feed costs before winter frosts hit worse. Data from meat and livestock Australia shows female slaughter rates at a near 50-year high. Fuel levees loom larger with diesel burning for any feeding plans, yet robust cattle prices shine brighter than the last drought. Farmers like these are adapting on the fly, holding hope for rain to break the spell.