Thousands of #cattle dead after #storm in #Pilbara, #Australia

Tropical Cyclone Veronica delivered much-needed rain to WA pastoralists, but it also had the heart-wrenching effect of big cattle deaths.

Bettini Beef, which runs five cattle stations in the Pilbara, close to Port Hedland, lost at least 1500 cattle, including 1000 breeders.

Stations in Bettini Beef’s portfolio include De Grey, Mallina, Sherlock, Warambie and Pyramid, which received from 130mm to more than 500mm of rain.

Owner Mark Bettini said as well as the deluge of rain there was strong winds and most cattle likely died of hypothermia, but some would have drowned.

Mr Bettini said finding the dead cattle was heartbreaking, and a big clean-up effort was under way which would take some time, with many areas still too wet to get to.

“I would say 1500 dead cattle is a conservative estimate and it is likely more would be found,” he said.

Courtesy of perthnow.com.au

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