Stock shelter
Agriculture Victoria has called on livestock owners to ensure they provide adequate shelter for livestock when severe weather is forecast in the remaining weeks of summer.
Agriculture Victoria principal veterinary officer Dr Dianne Phillips said localised severe weather has seen a higher number of deaths in vulnerable livestock in some areas of Victoria this season.
“Severe weather can include high winds, concentrated rainfall and-or hail and sudden temperature changes, which can impact livestock — even in the warmer months of summer,” she said.
Dr Phillips said vulnerable groups of livestock were those that were more prone to the effects of exposure.
She said these included recently shorn sheep, livestock with newborns or recently weaned animals, and livestock with parasitism or other underlying diseases associated with weight loss, anaemia or low protein levels.
“Farmers are encouraged to also ensure livestock is up-to-date with routine stock health management requirements, such as drenching and vaccination programs, and to conduct regular inspections, monitoring for and treatment of diseases,” Dr Phillips said.
“This will help your animals stay healthy and be able to better adapt to changing conditions.
“Cold weather increases an animal’s energy requirement to keep warm.
“As a result, when storms are forecast, additional supplementary feed before the event should be considered.”
Dr Phillips said adequate shelter included paddock shelter belts such as retained vegetation and tree plantings, sheds or other buildings where stock could seek shelter out of the wind, and undercover yards such as those at a shearing shed.
“Isolated paddock trees can provide some shelter for livestock but can also act as a conductor for lightning strikes in a thunderstorm, which, in some circumstances, can lead to sudden death of livestock sheltering underneath the tree,” she said.
More information is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-andanimals/dairy/health-and-welfare/ cattle-shelter-guidelines and via agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-andanimals/sheep/health-and-welfare/ sheep-shelter-guidelines
People wanting assistance with livestock losses associated with severe weather can contact their private vet, a local animal health team, or Agriculture Victoria’s customer call centre on 136 186. For emergency assistance, phone the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.