Australia-Feed Drops for cattle.

AUSTRALIA-FEED DROPS FOR CATTLE.

Fodder drops are urgently needed across Queensland’s far north and Gulf regions to save thousands of starving cattle caught in floods, the State Coalition said on Friday afternoon.

LNP northern development spokesman Ted Malone said the Qld Premier needed to press the Federal Government to make Townsville-based Army and RAAF helicopters and Caribou aircraft available for the fodder drops.

"Thousands of cattle are stranded on small patches of higher land and turkey nest ring tanks…surrounded by flood waters with no feed and are literally starving to death," Mr Malone said..

"We need the red tape cut and every effort made to get fodder drops organised.

"The Premier said she’d get the Army in if needed …well the Army, the Airforce and the Navy are needed and should be playing a role in getting food and supplies to stranded families and fodder to stranded livestock and for that matter starving wildlife..

"This is an absolute emergency and the RSPCA should also be calling for action so that animal suffering is minimised," Mr Malone said.

Flood-hit pastoralists should be offered relief on lease rental payments, the LNP said today.

LNP agriculture spokesman Ray Hopper said farmers and pastoralists across northern Queensland faced enormous crop and stock losses and pastoral leaseholders should be offered relief on lease rental payments for up to three years to help them get back on their feet.

Greg Barnes, Qld Cattle Council president, believes the flood will have a devastating effect on the beef industry, as the situation in many cases is ’beyond human intervention.’

Distressing scenes of thousands of starving or dead cattle have been reported by pilots flying over the flooded lands in recent days.

Tony Raynor, assistant director general of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries said, the welfare of animals is primarily the responsibility of the owners.

They can apply for loans under disaster legislation.