GLENEAGLE abattoir Highchester Quality Meats, south of Brisbane, is processing up to 295 calves a day as farmers sell off their young stock to survive the dry weather.
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Beef farmers are sacrificing their 2015 income - their calves - to get through the year as the lack of feed and water continues to take its toll on their livelihoods.
Abattoir staff have been flat out as desperate producers try to give their breeder cattle the best chance of survival by getting rid of their calves.
They are booked out for the next three weeks for calves in the 40kg to 120kg dress weight division, with bookings tripling for calves that size.
Highchester has not been this busy since 2007 when the region was last drought declared.
Owner and director Brian Surawski said it was not a good problem to have.
"It's a cycle and we like to see everyone getting their fair share of the pie," he said.
"If the producers, the abattoirs and the butchers are not all making money we'll go out of business. It's better that everyone is viable, because we want that long term viability for the industry."
He said the situation was dire.
"In essence they're sacrificing their calves either to save their cows or get money for the cows while they're still in fair condition," he said.
"It's in desperation. A lot of people are getting on the front foot and predicting that things are going to get worse before they get better so they want to get in and de stock. They're basically selling off next year's income."