Cattle numbers halved on some Victorian farms due to drought

Farmers across western Victoria are making tough business decisions that will have ramifications for many years to come.

WVLX saleyards manager and Pomborneit farmer Jake Last said throughput at the yards had skyrocketed. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Many producers across the Western District have halved their breeding herds as severe drought runs towards another cold, dry winter without a break.

WVLX saleyards manager and Pomborneit farmer Jake Last said throughput at the yards had skyrocketed, with more lighter and dairy type cattle coming onto the market as the dry autumn drags out.

In the 2023-24 financial year WVLX saw 169,000 cattle sold at the Mortlake facility, while the current financial year’s tally was already at 220,000.

“It is the driest on record here, but some of the old boys say the 1967 drought was worse,” he said.

“A big percentage of what we are seeing sold now is dairy cows – I think there could be a milk shortage with the numbers of dairy cows being slaughtered from Victoria.”

Mr Last said many producers had reduced their herds to 60 per cent of their core numbers. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Mr Last said many producers had reduced their herds to 60 per cent of their core numbers, and in some cases, down as low as 40 per cent.

“It is feeding costs and also water – if you don’t have any water left it is a pretty easy decision, they have to go.

“It is bad right the way through (to Wagga in NSW), there has been some rain in certain sections, but northern Victoria and southern NSW are not much better off, it certainly is a widespread area.

“We cap our market numbers as we haven’t got the physical room to hold them, but numbers (sold off) have grown exponentially, that’s for sure.”

Looking to next year, Mr Last said he expected throughput at the yards to “probably drop by half”.

“We are not going to replenish numbers overnight, and the prices will skyrocket, even if producers do have money to buy (in cattle).”

He said the farm community needed more government support to “help prevent a catastrophe happening down the track”.