Australian drought: Hundreds of thirsty cows swarm around a water truck desperate for a drink
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
You may think that we have had a hot summer here in the UK but it's nothing compared to what is going on in Australia.
A heatwave Down Under has resulted in a severe drought which is having a catastrophic effect on the country's agriculture and farming industry.
This means that many livestock, especially cows, are incredibly thirsty. This is evident from some unbelievable drone footage shared by Burrabogie Livestock and Contracting .
The clip shows literally hundreds of cows flocking around a water truck as it tries to deliver the liquid to the animals.
The drought has left farmers in rural areas of New South Wales and Queensland in dire straits financially as they have gone weeks without rain.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has already confirmed that this has been Australia's second warmest summer ever, with the autumn being the driest and warmest in history.
Meanwhile, the state of New South Wales is officially in a drought. Farmers are having to hand feed their cattle as the grass they would usually eat has turned into dust.
The problem isn't just having an effect on cows. Wild kangaroos are also struggling.
Niall Blair, the Primary Industries Minister in the Australian government said:
Many farmers are taking livestock off their paddocks, only to then see kangaroos move in and take whatever is left.
If we don't manage this situation, we will start to see tens of thousands of kangaroos starving and suffering, ultimately leading to a major animal welfare crisis.
The bleak reality of the situation means that farmers are being forced to kill their own animals as they simply can't afford to keep them alive.
Dairy farmer Jason Maloney told the BBC :
Farmers are getting out left, right and centre. It's gotten to the point where it's cheaper to shoot your cows than it is to feed them.
No-one likes doing that. You've bred them from birth - they've been part of your life. But it gets to a point of no return.
In response to the crisis, the Australian government has offered a subsidy to farmers who are feeling the strain to help them until the drought subsides.
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I have friends that live in some of those areas. Not many years ago there was another prolonged drought. The folks there have implemented many measures to trap, conserve and re-use water.
This is very helpful.
Unfortunately, sometimes the best of planning can only help so much.
Hopefully, this drought won't last much longer.
The closest I ever came to dying was probably during the rough winter of 1980-81. We were grazing about 120 head of mama cows with new calves on some wheat pasture when a big northern blew in. The pond the cattle normally drank from had frozen. So, it was my job to go out on the ice with an ax to break a place in the ice for the cows to drink. Well, I guess those cold cows had just about been sucked dry by their nursing calves because as soon as I got a hole opened through the ice those cows more or less stampeded into the opening breaking it open further and further. As this was happening I fell through the ice of rather slipped into the widening opening. Fortunately those old cows were pretty gentle so I was able to get close enough to shore to stand on the bottom and pull myself up onto the ice under the hooves of all those cows and all that ice. I have never been so cold or so miserable as I was when I got back to the truck and some warmth. For a while there my life passed before my eyes and I was pretty damn sure I was bound to die either by being trampled, frozen or drown to death...
Much of my family lives in NSW so I get a regular report from them. The drought is deadly as wild life and cattle are suffering. Bilabongs (water holes) are drying up and this drought will lead to a huge wild fire season down under.
By no means is this funny to the people having to live it. One of our members on NT, Shona lives closer to Melbourne and they are sending pallet of water to them that's now bad it is there. (private donations)
The fire season down under are savage and deadly. With an extended drought these fires will be worse than they formerly were. (think California)
Australia is in it's winter season now, so that help with the fires now, but later the story is going to change.
I'm hoping for the best and rain soon. I hope that all member of NT are on the same page.
More information.....
That area between in NSW and down into parts of Victoria get hit hard sometimes.
Reservoirs dry up, both personal and regional. Then disease ridden rodents get in to the mix too. Of course the snakes follow any path to water too.
The sight is heartbreaking.