But Naracoorte Lucindale Council says the droving delivery fee - which has risen from 15 cents a head to $1/hd for prime cattle buyers - is necessary.

Click here to view a slideshow of photos from the recent Naracoorte sheep sale.

While the change was effective from the start of the year, only a few buyers have paid the increased fee.

Council operations and economic development director Steve Loane, who is also the Saleyard Operators Australia president, said fees were revised last year and increased to cover costs.

"The existing fee of 15c was bought in with the inception of liveweight selling," he said.

"But the job has grown quite a bit as saleyard throughput has grown and when we did a revision it was evident there was not enough money being recovered for costs."

Mr Loane said on a sale day six drovers could be on site for up to six hours a day, costing $45-$50 an hour for each.

A computer operator and a delivery card person to operate the weighbridge were also required.

"We handle 60,000 liveweight cattle a year and those six drovers are costing us a fair amount of money each sale," he said.

"The $1/hd does not cover all the costs, the council is still subsidising that service."

Mr Loane said the matter was before the council but he was unsure what would happen.

"We are still negotiating with stakeholders," he said.

* Full report in Stock Journal, November 26 issue.