Cold snap puts freeze on livestock

FARMERS in some of Tasmania’s driest areas have been dealt a major blow as last week’s freak weather caused significant stock losses.

Freezing cold winds and torrential rain caused thousands of livestock deaths in the Midlands and some elevated areas.

It is peak shearing time for many producers, which can make sheep more susceptible to wet and windy conditions.

However, some sheep that have been lost were shorn a number of weeks ago.

Don Fish, who farms near Oatlands, said while he had lost stock in bad weather conditions before last weekend’s event was extreme.

“The rain was absolutely freezing and it went on for two days,” he said.

“If you have a day of rain they cope with it OK, but it just didn’t stop and it was basically sleet here. I’ve seen this before, but not this bad. I’ve never lost this many before.”

Mr Fish said he lost about 1500 sheep in a major blow and there were other farmers in the area who had also lost significant numbers.

“A lot of the ones we lost are mature ewes, but luckily their lambs are old enough to be weaned so they’ll be OK.

“It’s very frustrating, but apart from that it was a good rain, it will definitely help.”

As well as widespread rain, which in some areas totalled over 100mm, the weather system also bought strong winds and snow to the highlands.

Brian Fish, who also farms in the Oatlands area, said while he had not suffered stock losses it had been a very unusual weather event.

“It was so hot here earlier in the week and then to see that rain come in like it did and it get so cold, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.

Many farmers in the district had been selling off livestock because of the extremely dry conditions.

“Some people have said it is too late, but it’s not too late for water holes and the creeks,” Brian Fish said.

“It will help grow something, even if it’s weeds, at least the sheep will have something. If people have got fodder crops in it will definitely help them.

“It means we’ll be able to keep stock and get rid of them when we want to rather than having to.”