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Farmer Richard Gillham carries his exhausted dog after feeding sheep at his drought-affected paddock near Boggabri in northwest NSW. Mr Gillham runs a mixed operation with his brother near the Namoi River. “The Namoi is only puddles now which means blue green algae will set in and we’ll have to move the sheep off the river,” he says. Picture: Getty
1/13Farmer Richard Gillham carries his exhausted dog after feeding sheep at his drought-affected paddock near Boggabri in northwest NSW. Mr Gillham runs a mixed operation with his brother near the Namoi River. “The Namoi is only puddles now which means blue green algae will set in and we’ll have to move the sheep off the river,” he says. Picture: Getty
Grazier Wayne Brabrook on his bone-dry Trangie property, west of Dubbo. June, 2018. Picture: Britta Campion
2/13Grazier Wayne Brabrook on his bone-dry Trangie property, west of Dubbo. June, 2018. Picture: Britta Campion
Brothers Lachlan and Archie Orr with their dog Ege near Parkes in western NSW. “There is no down time,” says their mother Kate. “All our time is spent carting water and feed. If (father) Spike comes in for lunch we are on Excel spreadsheets working out how to adjust the feed and ringing around trying to find where to buy it. Just two years ago we were marking our lambs in flooded paddocks.” August, 2019. Picture: Dylan Robinson
3/13Brothers Lachlan and Archie Orr with their dog Ege near Parkes in western NSW. “There is no down time,” says their mother Kate. “All our time is spent carting water and feed. If (father) Spike comes in for lunch we are on Excel spreadsheets working out how to adjust the feed and ringing around trying to find where to buy it. Just two years ago we were marking our lambs in flooded paddocks.” August, 2019. Picture: Dylan Robinson
“This is the worst I’ve seen it,” says Peter Baker on his farm Rosehill, west of Trangie in central NSW. “The old-timers will tell you it’s very rare to not get any rain in May to sow at least something. It’s certainly the first time I’ve ever seen it.” June, 2018. Picture: Britta Campion
4/13“This is the worst I’ve seen it,” says Peter Baker on his farm Rosehill, west of Trangie in central NSW. “The old-timers will tell you it’s very rare to not get any rain in May to sow at least something. It’s certainly the first time I’ve ever seen it.” June, 2018. Picture: Britta Campion
Candice Roberts with her dog Tricky on her drought-stricken sheep property Victoria Downs Station in western Queensland. “If we don’t get rain over the summer, things will get very difficult for us,’’ Ms Roberts says. July, 2018. Picture: Lachie Millard
5/13Candice Roberts with her dog Tricky on her drought-stricken sheep property Victoria Downs Station in western Queensland. “If we don’t get rain over the summer, things will get very difficult for us,’’ Ms Roberts says. July, 2018. Picture: Lachie Millard
Longreach grazier Dominic Burden and his dog Ollie. “Everything is perfect, except for the weather,’’ Mr Burden says. August, 2018. Picture: Nigel Hallett
6/13Longreach grazier Dominic Burden and his dog Ollie. “Everything is perfect, except for the weather,’’ Mr Burden says. August, 2018. Picture: Nigel Hallett
Hugh and Tannas Godfrey with their kids Arly, 5 and Rex, 2, with dog Rio on Barrygowanstation, 150km southeast of Cunnamulla. September, 2018.
7/13Hugh and Tannas Godfrey with their kids Arly, 5 and Rex, 2, with dog Rio on Barrygowanstation, 150km southeast of Cunnamulla. September, 2018.
Megan Harrison and her dog Dougie ride on the back of a ute after inspecting paddocks in the Giffard West region of Gippsland in Victoria. February, 2019. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
8/13Megan Harrison and her dog Dougie ride on the back of a ute after inspecting paddocks in the Giffard West region of Gippsland in Victoria. February, 2019. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Charlie Anderson, 6, is joined by his dog Lucy as he stands on top of the dam wall in the Giffard West region of Gippsland in Victoria. February, 2019. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
9/13Charlie Anderson, 6, is joined by his dog Lucy as he stands on top of the dam wall in the Giffard West region of Gippsland in Victoria. February, 2019. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Lewis Perkins with Cass the red cattle dog, on land that normally would have a green crop growing. In Stanthorpe, Queensland in June, 2019 it was still dirt. Picture: Russell Shakespeare
10/13Lewis Perkins with Cass the red cattle dog, on land that normally would have a green crop growing. In Stanthorpe, Queensland in June, 2019 it was still dirt. Picture: Russell Shakespeare
Grantley Doecke, 65, with his dog Max in Sutherlands, South Australia had to sell the last of his sheep as he could no longer feed them. “I know it’s dry out here but the past few years, it’s just been relentless,’ he says. September, 2019. Picture: Brad Fleet
11/13Grantley Doecke, 65, with his dog Max in Sutherlands, South Australia had to sell the last of his sheep as he could no longer feed them. “I know it’s dry out here but the past few years, it’s just been relentless,’ he says. September, 2019. Picture: Brad Fleet
Will Mangan and his dog Charlie, with dead livestock on their property in Bambill, Victoria. “I’d like to take the farm over and keep it in the family name, but at the moment I can’t,” says Mr Mangan, “I’ll have to find another job, wherever that might be, because it’s not financially viable.” September, 2019. Picture: Alex Coppel
12/13Will Mangan and his dog Charlie, with dead livestock on their property in Bambill, Victoria. “I’d like to take the farm over and keep it in the family name, but at the moment I can’t,” says Mr Mangan, “I’ll have to find another job, wherever that might be, because it’s not financially viable.” September, 2019. Picture: Alex Coppel
Cattle Farmer Tom Nixon with his dogs on Devon Court Stud on the Western Downs, Queensland is constantly looking at ways to diversify his farming practices. Picture: Lachie Millard
13/13Cattle Farmer Tom Nixon with his dogs on Devon Court Stud on the Western Downs, Queensland is constantly looking at ways to diversify his farming practices. Picture: Lachie Millard
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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/pets-and-wildlife/our-farmers-best-friends/image-gallery/e7f085480f790d8ebe5d826aa6b024ed