Managing animal welfare after fire

Following a bushfire, affected landholders can call Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 to request animal assessment and welfare assistance, veterinary advice and, if needed, euthanasia.

Assess your livestock

When assessing your livestock, burns are the most common and immediate animal health concern. It is important to seek veterinary advice for assessing and managing burnt livestock as damage may be difficult to detect in the early stages.

The following signs can be an indication that livestock have been affected by fire or smoke and need veterinary assessment:

• livestock that are down and unable to rise
• severe charring or swelling of limbs, face or mouth
• laboured breathing, frothing at the mouth and/or coughing
• severe burns to udders, vulva, testicles and prepuce
• burns to the feet causing separation of the hoof at the coronary band
• singed wool (but sometimes these sheep can be otherwise unharmed).

Power outages can cause additional problems for dairy cattle, as mastitis can develop in lactating dairy cattle that are not milked regularly.

Make sure to continue monitoring your stock in the weeks that follow as concerns like respiratory and secondary health issues can take several days to appear.

Ensure access to feed and water

Make sure your animals have ongoing access to good quality feed and water.

Check your infrastructure for damage, including pipes, pumps, tanks and troughs. Be aware that your water may be contaminated by ash or soil following a fire.

Livestock feeding is a significant consideration following fire. The quantity and type of feed required will depend on numerous factors.