NSW floods killed at least 1370 animals, Agriculture Minister says

Shocking new figures reveal just how massive the impact of the NSW floods has been, as the fallout from the deluge continues.

More than 1300 animals have died in the northern NSW floods, it has been revealed.

Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders told a budget estimates hearing his department officials had undertaken massive amounts of work to help affected animals.

Government officials have received 168 requests to dispose of dead livestock, totalling 1370 animals.

A cow and tractors are surrounded by flood water in the Northern Rivers area of NSW, near Casino. Picture: Bruno Ros via NCA NewsWire

The flood waters killed at least 1370 animals. Picture: Bruno Ros via NCA NewsWire

However, pets have fared better than livestock, Mr Saunders said.

“There were actually less numbers of pets than maybe was expected that have been impacted,” he said.

“Those that are moving out are taking their pets with them as their companion animals.”

Mr Saunders said officials had received 1215 requests for animal assistance, and 749 requests for emergency fodder.

Sixty per cent of the assistance requests had been responded to, and 429 fodder requests had been dealt with.

A group of 306 government officials has contributed to the response, which involved dropping two million tonnes of emergency fodder.

Last week, the Minister responded to criticism his officials had responded too slowly to help animals affected by the flood.

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said pets had fared better than livestock. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles. POOL for NCA NewsWire

Many cattle have drowned in the floods, while others have starved because the dirty water has contaminated their pastures.

NCA NewsWire spoke to a Northern Rivers veterinarian who claimed the response had been “slow and uncoordinated” and that measures like a helpline for reporting animals in trouble was ineffective.

“It’s a significant effort, and it will continue over the coming days,” Mr Saunders responded at the time.

“Everyone is doing their very best to make sure that the resources are getting to where they need to go. It can always be better, but you can’t have a perfect scenario when it’s a flood situation.

“I appreciate the fact there’s been frustration and I feel like I’ve been in that situation myself, where you feel like you’re helpless.”

Mr Saunders also said resources had been primarily directed towards saving human lives.

The floods have killed at least 22 people in NSW and Queensland.