But between now and then stand many hours and thousands of dollars to keep them alive.

And there are other, even more deadly challenges, according to Murrurundi sheep farmer Brian Hunt.

Mr Hunt said this drought was on a par with the worst he can remember in 1965-66, but he and wife Annette were “battling along – yes, we’re battling along”.

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“The thing with sheep: the wool market is the best it’s been for many years, and if we can keep them alive, we shear in early December,” he said.

“We hope they’re producing enough to help balance the books when it does break.

“They seem to think the wool prices will hold till then; everyone’s reducing their numbers, so in 12 months I don’t think wool’s going to be about, much.”

Mr Hunt said his 1200 sheep were going through two tonnes of pellets and at least one 650kg bale of oaten hay per week.

At a cost of about $1120 per week, not to mention the four hours a day it takes to feed out, shearing can’t come quickly enough.

Water is not too much of a problem, as the property has three wells, but it has to be carted to the sheep about every third day.

Apart from keeping the food, nutrition and water up to the stock, the other risk to them is wild dogs.

“Our stock are in good, strong condition – not fat by any means – but the dogs have been very active here in the last four to six weeks,” Mr Hunt said.

“We are in a wild dog area, but last year things were fairly quiet – but … we would have lost 20 sheep in  the last four weeks.

“It’s not good, not good at all.”

Mr Hunt said they had a professional trapper coming through Local Land Services.

“We’ll see what happens.”