The 63-year-old has wrestled a series of hard knocks since moving to the property, from Manilla, in January.

With 65.9 per cent of the state now in drought – a 2 per cent jump since August – it is not a good time to be running stock.

Robert and his partner, Christine, have had to turn to the “long paddock” – droving the stock routes – to keep their 200 cattle alive.

Robert’s daughter, Debbie Burgermeister, told The Leader she had been shocked to discover what the couple were going through when she visited for Father’s Day on September 8.

“Dad has been a farmer his whole life and now he is seeing his love of cattle and the land crumble before his eyes,” Mrs Burgermeister said.

She said times were tougher for her dad now than ever before.

“There is no light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Robert and Christine normally run their 200 head of cattle on a property at Delungra, near Inverell.

“It is bare with no feed as a result of the drought,” Mrs Burgermeister said.

“Dad has been forced to drove the cattle out on the roadside for a number of weeks.

“Now it is coming into the worst possible time to have to do that – their calving season.”

Mrs Burgermeister said her father was continuing to pay lease on the property and rental to use the side of the road and night paddocks.

“During the droving some cattle have fallen down as a result of weakness,” she said.

“Some have been unable to get back up, or dad has been unable to get them back up on his own.”

During the droving, Robert has had to hand-feed and water cattle each day in various spots, in both night paddocks and on the side of road.

He has also had to induce some of the in-calf heifers and then assist the calving.

When the mothers have no milk, Robert hand-feeds the calves to keep them alive.

Mrs Burgermeister said 35 cows in calf had already died, effectively meaning 70 head had been lost.