WORST FOR YEARS

Evening Star, Issue 25170, 9 May 1944, Page 5

WORST FOR YEARS

DROUGHT IN N.S. WALES GRAZIERS HAND-FEEDING SHEEP WITH FOLIAGE (Reel p.m.) SYDNEY^Iay^.. The drought prevailing in New bouta Wales is considered by graziers to bo the worst for 42 years. Stook buyers say the drought may lead to oiuvor the most severe stock famines in the history of Australia. , ' n ■ <■ ' Recent rains in the State have been confined to the coastal belt. In inland areas the -weakenedsheep are being attacked and eaten by \wild pigs and dingoes, and crows are picking their eyes out as thev lie dying, la soma parts the ground is so barren that the sheep are nuzzling the dust in search of food. ,' „ , - . The shortage of substitute fodder .13 so acute that station owners have their employees cutting down all foliage•bearing trees and scrub with which to hand feed the sheep. They have been doing this for an average of 20 hours daily for the past three weeks. In North-western New South Wales 1,250,000 sheep are being kept, alive by this method. . ~ '. ' ■■ Graziers fear the possibility of continued heavy rains, which would make the soil boggy and cause the weakened sheep to die in thousands.