A PLEA to help starving livestock in the Upper Murray has been answered by a Rotary Club and the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners.
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Ongoing fires across land from Walwa to the Nariel Valley have wiped out fodder and stirred appeals for hay.
The Rotary Club of Belvoir Wodonga's Rod McRae heeded the call of Thologolong Murray Grey breeder Gina Sutherland who called for help in Thursday's Border Mail and then spoke on ABC radio.
"I heard a desperate plea by a woman on the news this morning and just had to do something," Mr McRae said.
"The animals haven't eaten in three-and-a-half days and they are on paddocks which are completely burnt.
"We just started ringing people who knew people and the landscape up there and were able to organise this hay run.
"It isn't nearly enough for what they need but it is hopefully going to be the first of many."
Mr McRae said the club bought some hay and other bales were donated.
Five trucks laden with about 170 bales left Wodonga for Corryong after 4.30pm on Thursday.
Also answering the call was the region's charity hay champion Brendan Farrell, the founder of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, a group that has transported fodder to drought-stricken communities in recent years.
"We're taking hay from the drought run up to the fire front," Mr Farrell said.
He issued a call out to hay suppliers across the region to attend his property on Thursday night and load up for a run to the Upper Murray on Friday.
Up to 30 to 50 trucks were anticipated to be part of the convoy.
Mr Farrell said the run would put pressure on his planned Australia Day hay mission to Armidale in northern NSW, but he expected to be able to replenish hay taken to the fire zone.
"At the same time our donation funds needed to be picked up to subsidise what we've got," he said.
"We're not government-funded so we need donations to go through the Rotary Club of Sydney to go towards the cost of fuel for the trip to Armidale."
Details of how to donate are on the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners' Facebook page.
The Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said the state government was working with the Victorian Farmers' Federation to get fodder to stock.
She urged those who need fodder to phone the VFF on 1300 882 833 or email the organisation at the address fodder@vff.org.au to seek support.
Information about other recovery aid is available by phoning Agriculture Victoria's customer service centre on 136 186.
