Assessing cattle and sheep after fire, agistment, fodder, injured livestock, drought feeding, stock containment areas, disposal of livestock carcasses, and horses affected by fires.
Livestock
Cattle, sheep and other agricultural stock need protection from bushfires.
Plan ahead:
- Create a heavily grazed area where stock can be moved during a bushfire. This could be a grazed or green paddock or a laneway, with access to water.
- Consider having a central laneway to assist moving stock before a fire threatens.
- Identify a possible containment area where stock can be fed after a fire. In addition to containing stock, this also reduces the risk of weed spread across the property following a fire.
A fire plan for your livestock (Western Port Catchment Landcare Network)
Agistment
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) after the 2019/20 East Gippsland and North East fires is publishing on its website offers of agistment including the location, size of property and contact details for those offering agistment. In addition to offers of agistment the VFF has offers of cow parking for dairy herds impacted by the fires in Gippsland.
Go to VFF offers for agistment and cow parking
Agistment of livestock affected by bushfires (Agriculture Victoria)
Agistment for horses (Agriculture Victoria)
Fodder
For the 2019/20 East Gippsland and North East fires the Victorian Farmers Federation is coordinating fodder relief for farmers affected by bushfires in Gippsland and the Upper Murray. The VFF has secured an agreement with the Victorian Government to facilitate the transport of fodder to affected regions. This includes reimbursement of freight costs for transport of donated fodder.
Farmers in need of fodder or agistment should call the VFF on 1300 882 833 or email fodder@vff.org.au to register for assistance. The VFF will release information on fodder depot operating times and transport arrangements once it is finalised.
Injured livestock & animal welfare assessments
Agriculture Victoria staff work with affected landholders to assess injured livestock and losses of agricultural assets and livestock. For information on bushfire recovery: Call 136 186.
Livestock after an emergency (Agriculture Victoria)
Agriculture Victoria is supporting landholders impacted by the 2019/20 East Gippsland and North East fires through animal welfare assessments and assistance, farm impact assessments and the referral of urgent cases of personal need to the appropriate agencies.
If you have any injured livestock, please report it to Agriculture Victoria by phone 1800 226 226 then selection option “0” and then “4” to speak to an operator to arrange for animal health staff to visit and assess livestock.
If you have injured pets, please seek advice immediately from your local vet.
Cattle
Assessing cattle after a bushfire (Agriculture Victoria)
Drought feeding & management of beef cattle - guide (Agriculture Victoria)
Sheep
Assessing sheep after a bushfire (Agriculture Victoria)
Drought feeding & management of sheep - guide (Agriculture Victoria)
Horses
Horses affected by bushfires (Agriculture Victoria)
Horses & livestock in emergencies (Agriculture Victoria)
Horses after 2014 bushfires (Agriculture Victoria)
Drought feeding & management for horses (Agriculture Victoria)
Horses & bushfires (Country Fire Authority)
Disposal of livestock carcasses
Disposal of livestock carcasses during or after bushfire (Agriculture Victoria)
Stock containment areas
A stock containment area is a carefully selected, fenced section of a property which is set up to periodically hold, feed and water livestock. They are primarily used to protect soil and pasture resources during adverse seasons such as after a fire and during droughts etc.
Stock containment areas (Agriculture Victoria)
Stock containment areas - factsheet (Agriculture Victoria)
Stock containment areas - case studies & videos (Agriculture Victoria)