RAINFALL in the west of Victoria has done little to help graziers who have already destocked properties due to a lack of surface water.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said a low-pressure trough had developed over South Australia and formed a low, bringing falls of up to 25 millimetres in some parts of the west.
Last year was the third-driest on record, prompting graziers to say the rain was "too little, too late" to fill dams.
Ararat grazier Charlie de Fegely said there had been heavy soaking rain in the area on Tuesday morning but any feed on the ground was likely to be "shot".
Mr de Fegely said some graziers had lost perennial grasses because of the ongoing dry.
Rodwells, Wimmera, manager Wayne Driscoll said the Wimmera had not experienced such falls for a long time.
"From a paddock-pasture point of view it is not ideal, but which way do you go?" Mr Driscoll said.
"Do you go with water levels or feed levels?
"People are certainly rejoicing from a water point of view."
BOM said the rain was a result of a low-pressure system south-east of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, which deepened overnight.
An associated surface trough moved across western and into central Victoria on Tuesday morning and was expected to pass to the south-east of Tasmania on Wednesday.
Senior Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources research scientist Steve Clark said the December 2014 rainfall was below average.
"The month's rain brought the year's final total to 475.6mm compared to the long-term average of 686.3mm," Mr Clark said.
"It was therefore the third-driest year we have had after 1967 (378.4mm) and 1982 (431mm).
"The total for the period from August 1 to December 31 was only 146.6mm - the lowest ever."
The previous low was 152.4mm in 1982 while the average for the period was 318.4mm.
But Rabobank Hamilton rural manager Dion Brook said it was unlikely the rain would result in much run-off into dams.
"In the short term it will settle the dust, keep a few crops going and top up a few tanks," Mr Brook said.
"There will be no run-off at the moment after the way the paddocks have blackened out; it will run off the topsoil."
He said a significant amount of destocking was taking place and was likely to continue, given the attractive prices for cattle and bulls.
It was likely there would be another spike in the cattle market after a flush of surplus stock from this and last week's rain events.
