Extreme dry and hot weather has prompted a record sheep yarding at Cooma saleyards, in south-east New South Wales.
More than 18,0000 sheep have been yarded today, the largest number in seven years.
Cooma-Monaro mayor Dean Lynch says deteriorating conditions have forced graziers to sell their livestock.
"We are quite privileged here where we probably haven't experienced the dry conditions up until probably now," he said
"That's the dry conditions they have been having in western districts.
"But, you know, it is just starting to bite here now, where people are probably making the decisions on selling the stock while they still have the condition."
The Bureau of Meteorology says Cooma recorded the driest start to summer since December 2002 and January 2003.
On Saturday, the town recorded its warmest February day with 38.6 degrees and the Monaro is sweltering through the fourth-warmest start to summer since 1973.