By Monique Steele of RNZ An industry leader in livestock transport has described price hikes for freight crossing Cook Strait as coming at the worst possible time of year for farmers. Late autumn marked a busy seasonal period for the movement of livestock between the North and South Islands, particularly for cattle, as dairy farmers approached the end of the season and autumn bulls were sold and moved. Farmers already struggling with extra fuel and fertiliser costs due to war in the Persian Gulf would face even higher livestock transport bills for crossing the strait. KiwiRail increased its monthly fuel adjustment factor (FAF) for commercial operators using its Interislander ferry to 54 percent to cover increased fuel costs. Bluebridge's FAF was currently at 37 percent, after peaking at 48 percent last month. A number of South Island transport companies moving livestock, apples and wine that spoke to RNZ were wincing at the new fees they expected to have to absorb.…