Drought forces Styrian cattle farmers to sell livestock

Drought and extreme heat have left cattle farmers in Styria without enough feed, forcing some to sell part of their herds in emergency sales, ORF reported.

Martin Siebenhofer, who took over his farm at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres in 2004, said neither his parents nor he could remember conditions like this year’s. His meadows and pastures have turned brown. Winter and spring were already too dry, followed by an exceptionally dry summer.

The losses have been severe. Siebenhofer said the first cut of grass produced 60 percent less than usual, the second 40 percent less and the third 50 percent less.

He said he had hoped to sell some of his young cattle for breeding or use them in his own herd. Instead, he now has to reduce the size of his herd and try to sell breeding animals in a market where supply and demand do not match. As a result, he said, he may have to sell them for “half their value.”

Some farms are also selling steers at 750 kilograms live weight instead of the planned 800 kilograms because of the lack of feed. The lower weight means less income.

Siebenhofer expects an oversupply when all the animals return from the alpine pastures in autumn, which could put heavy pressure on prices. “The worst is not yet foreseeable,” he said.

The situation is threatening the existence of many cattle-breeding farms, including those that have to buy basic feed. Prices are currently extremely high because little or none is available.