As paddocks dry out, producers in northern New South Wales are looking elsewhere for feed.

Keeping a watchful eye over 200 hereford cows and their calves on a main road in northern NSW is Brian Schalk.

The teenager is a stockman at ‘Queenlee’, Uralla, and has walked the cattle from the property to the road frontage each day for the past two weeks.

“We’ve got to try and get a bit more milk for the calves.

“It we can get some rain they’ll go back into the paddocks, but since we’ve lost all the rain the paddocks have died off. The sheep and cattle are knocking them about now.”

Mr Shalk says the feed beside the Uralla to Walcha road is pretty good.

“This is the best feed we’ve found along the road, just here.”

He says motorcyclists don’t slow down when they see the herd.

“They’re a bit stupid. They go flat out and start revving their bikes.

“Cows will kick a car or anything if you get too close.”