As feed supplies dwindle, increasing numbers of Victorian dairy cows are being sent to slaughter. Abattoirs across the state are reportedly struggling to keep up with demand, leading to backlogs of up to three weeks.

Around 24,000 cattle were recently sold at markets in Mortlake, Shepparton, Leongatha, Barnawartha and Colac. “These are good milking cows that are being killed at the end of their lactation period, but are pregnant, and would ordinarily go back to being milked within 2-3 months but the cost of keeping them alive for that period is just too much,” according to United Dairy Farmers of Victoria President. Severe hay shortages have pushed prices up $100/t in just the past week.

The Victorian government has announced a $15.9m boost to funding to help farmers through the winter, but farmers have described the package as “nowhere near enough”. At the same time the government announced a 189% average increase to the emergency services tax, further adding to farmers’ stress.