But that is exactly what a sixth generation farming family at Yeoval has had to do to try to keep their Red Angus cattle herd alive.

The Haycocks have been building the breed’s genetics for decades and if they are forced to sell their entire herd all of that work will be lost.

They’ve already been forced to sell half their prized herd and many of them were slaughtered because nobody wanted them. 

The drought has continued much longer than they expected. In the beginning they had sheds full of hay and silos full of grain, but the drought in the Central Tablelands has long passed 18 months and their supplies are gone.

Read more: toll of drought leaves cattle farmers across NSW in strife

They are buying in feed to keep their animals alive, at exorbitant prices, and it’s becoming harder and harder to source. 

The calves were weaned from their mums at six weeks - it was the only option to give the cows a fighting chance. Now the calves are being sustained on a special pellet diet that’s costing $11,000 a week.

The Haycock family have started an Adopt Our Cattle program to raise money to help feed their stock through winter.

It will cost them $1000 to feed each cow (they have 200 cows), $700 to feed each weaner (they have 300 of them) and $500 to feed each calf (they have 50 calves) between now and spring. 

The family have revealed these sums as an indication of the scale of their plight and will be grateful for any contribution.

Donations can be made to name: C J Haycock; BSB 932 000; account 38441. 

Donors should email their details to chris22250@hotmail.com so they can receive a picture of the herd and updates showing how the donation has made an impact.