Starving cattle’s get first feed in 12 days, Farmers relieved to see help
February 10th 2019
Hay from Rural Aid is finally reaching stations in NW Queensland with helicopters working all day to get hay to stranded cattle.
Over 160 large square and round bales have been trucked to different locations around Winton where the helicopters carried bales to small mobs of 20 or 30 too weak to walk.
160 bales will feed up to 8,000 cattle for a day and will keep them alive for days afterwards.
The Mayor of Winton, Gavin Baskett says property owners are in desperate need until the grass starts growing, “The hay from Rural Aid is very important because some of the cattle haven’t eaten for 12 days After being exposed to rain and wind, having something in their stomach for three or four days is important until the grass starts to shoot. I want to thank all Australians because it gives us hope. It was great to see how quickly it got here, landing within a day of when it was needed.”
Tahnee Oakhill is from Bernfels Station and has around 1,00 cattle. They have been greatly affected with more stock ‘down than up’. She says the hay from Rural Aid will be a huge help, “We had 22 inches of rain so can’t get onto our country and won’t be able to for a week or so. The cattle have
been starving for ten days so this hay will be a life saver for most of those.”
Nathan Mura ajists cattle on Nufarm station. He says the flood has gone through all their channels,”This hay from Rural Aid is a huge help, it will help any of the cattle still alive because after 10 days without feed it will start their rumen again so they might make it through.”
Debbie and Geoff Nicols from Bendemeer station say the scenes have been heartbreaking. Around 40 cattle died at the fence surrounding their homestead. They haven’t been home because the road has been inpassable. She says the hay will help a great deal,” It will fill their stomachs, give them a bit of strength to carry through until the green feed comes through. They have nothing now so anything is a big help. The first people that turn up here are Rural Aid, you’re there standing beside us helping in
any way you can”.
In addition to these Winton hay bales, 350 bales are heading to Cloncurry today and a further 300 will be on their tomorrow, Monday.
1,500 bales are being trucked in total with another 1,000 being sourced from Collinsville in Northern QLD.
The CEO of Rural Aid, Charles Alder says the charity will keep supporting flood affected farmers until it is told to stop.
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