Develop a livestock fire plan
It’s that time of year when farmers need to be thinking about the stock safety measures that need to be in place for the fire season.
Market report for 13th and 14th December, 2017 Wednesday Fat Sale 474 head. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 49 bulls, 238 cows.
This week’s fat sale on Wednesday contained a few less head with 474 yarded. Bullock numbers remained steady and sold to stronger demand. Heifer numbers dropped by around 60 per cent giving buyers less to bid for which eased prices across this section of the sale. Steer numbers were slightly down but stronger demand and good quality drove up the top price. This trend carried on into the vealer pens, which recorded a good lift in the average. This week’s yard average rose 5 cents to 274.8. 7.21 bullocks made to 272.2, up 4 and averaged 253.9, up
25 heifers topped at 262, back 23 and averaged 237.1, back 12.
52 steers made to 295.6, up 9 and averaged 244.9, back 7.370 veal made to 330, firm and averaged 287.1, up 3.
Bull numbers increased to 49 head on Thursday. Good quality saw the top lift to 286.6 cents. The average rose 9 cents to 241.8. Less cows were yarded with 238 on offer. The best sale this week was 233.6, with the average slipping 4 cents to 201.8.
One of the key factors in minimising risk to stock is to identify the safest areas on the farm.
The area you choose will depend on the type of livestock you are farming and their likely behaviour during a fire as well as the likely behaviour of a fire.
On days of extreme fire danger or when there is a fire alert in the area, stock should be moved into these lower risk areas.
You should also listen to weather forecasts and observe your own environment to help you decide when to put your plan into action.
Safe areas include paddocks with green summer crops or Lucerne; bare paddocks with no dry feed; or a ploughed paddock.
Areas where there are dams and swamps are also safer. Stockyards have been known to successfully hold stock during a fire.
If this is your preferred option consider using a sprinkler system as stock held together on a hot day can suffer heat stress. Firebreaks are imperative. Bare laneways and ploughed breaks can be effective firebreaks, as can heavily grazed paddocks with low fuel levels.
Horses should not be locked up in small areas or stables, but rather be moved into an open paddock with minimal vegetation so they can move freely.
Horses are good at moving themselves to safe open areas and suffer minimal burns if left to do so.
If equipment such as rugs, halters and flyveils remains on horses the plastic may melt and the buckles may burn the animal.
However, a halter will leave a horse easier to manage. Therefore, some discretion is needed depending upon the circumstance.
Do not let stock onto public roadways, as in smoky conditions they will be a hazard to vehicles.
Having an action plan that can be quickly established during a fire would ensure the risk to stock is minimised.