Though the total claimed in the storm and floods is likely much higher.

“It would not be unreasonable to think it would be double or triple that,” Hunter Local Land Services general manager Brett Miners said.

“We’re expecting that the total number of deaths will be significant.” 

Tocal-based Hunter Local Land Services focused its assistance to farmers where those dead animals posed the greatest disease risks close to houses and roads.

Service officers worked closely with councils, which could only dispose of a few animals each day in landfill facilities.

Sixty were collected from one property alone, beside a road in Seaham.

Farmers will dispose of the other dead cattle on-property.

The disease risk will fall rapidly now as decomposition sets in. 

An Agriculture Co-ordination Centre was established last week to help farmers with all non-emergency requests, including moving stock out of floodwaters, providing emergency fodder and reporting agricultural damage.

Fourteen tonnes of fodder was delivered to landholders across the Lower Hunter, Williams and Paterson valleys.

This involved more than 40 helicopter drops.

On the busiest day (Saturday, April 25), Hunter LLS conducted 19 fodder drops, involving a helicopter and a flood boat, to 468 cattle, 114 horses, seven goats and 12 camels.

The flood clean-up continues.

Landholders who need help with livestock welfare, transport and fodder as well as damage assessments should contact the Department of Primary Industries Hotline on 1800 814 647.

Farmers with animal emergencies or requiring animal rescues should contact the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500 immediately.