Thousands of cattle have taken to the dusty stock routes of western Queensland as graziers look to save valuable pasture on their properties.
About 2,000 head of cattle have come from Hilton Park Station near Julia Creek and over the next three-and-a-half months will make the almost-600-kilometre journey from Barcaldine to Roma.
Billy Prow is leading the crew on the long walk, along with 15 dogs, a handful of horses and three drovers.
While it may seem like a long time to be on the road, Mr Prow says over his 29 years of working the "long paddock" he has spent up to a year away from home.
"It'll be a good short trip to Roma," he said.
"Three-and-a-half months is nothing unusual — some jobs are a lot longer, up to 12 months."
Mr Prow said the stock route in south-west Queensland had a good wet season, which made the job easier.
"The way the feed is they can do that 10km [a day] pretty comfortably," he said.
"The routes have plenty of feed on them.
"It makes our job a lot easier, and the cattle should do well."
Grasshoppers cut trip short
Cattle owner, Dave Heslin, had initially planned to drove them to the Roma Saleyards from Julia Creek but said below-average rainfall and a grasshopper plague made it more feasible to truck them to Barcaldine.
"Winton and Longreach shires haven't been maintained well enough," he said.
"We're buying a bit of time, and the cost is much the same."
The crew is on the road for more than three months, but they are packed as if they are heading on a quick weekend away.
The key, according to Mr Prow, is to pack light, so you are not carrying more than you need, and to have a good team on hand.
"All you need is a couple of good young fellas who listen and do what they're told and some meat and potatoes," he said.
