![Richard Braham, "Wallamumbi", Armidale. Richard Braham, "Wallamumbi", Armidale.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2074461.jpg/r0_0_1024_683_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
SOME farmers in the north of the State have received less than half their average rainfall for the year to date.
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"Jeogla station" and "Wallamumbi" station managers Richard and Katherine Braham, will have to supplementary feed their livestock through the winter for the first time since 2002.
The couple run an Angus and Shorthorn breeding herd on 13,354 hectares near Armidale.
With an average rainfall of 950 millimetres a year, the Brahams have only received 168mm so far.
This year, feeding breeding stock towards the end of winter and the start of spring in time for calving will be a must.
Cattle numbers usually sit at 16,000 head during the summer and about 11,500 head during the winter, but this year the Brahams will destock to 7500 breeders for the colder months.
Mr Braham said the load had already been lightened to make room for spring calving.
"We sold weaners earlier than we would have liked late last year, due to seasonal conditions," he said.
With one bad year in every seven to 10, they will always budget for fodder at "Jeogla" and "Wallamumbi", growing hay most seasons to reduce the cost of buying it in.
"Sorghum provides a good amount of roughage while pelts provide protein as does cottonseed; it's a good combination of both roughage and protein."
Mr Braham said they based their decisions about what feed to use on would get them the most for their money.
"Ideally cottonseed is preferable but due to price, and what else is available, that changes."
Mr Braham said when they last fed in 2002 cottonseed cost between $200 and $230 a tonne, but export demand had driven the price up to more than $500/t.
Earlier in the year, the Brahams tried grape marc because it was cheaper than cottonseed, and while it kept the stock going Mr Braham said in the long run better quality feed was preferred.