Caring for livestock after bushfires and during extended dry periods

Recovery After Fire: Practical Steps for Farmers (Ag Vic resource) 

 

Staying connected to advice, tools and local support

 

The impact of bushfires, drought and heatwaves on livestock and farming communities can be long‑lasting, with flow‑on effects for feed, water, infrastructure and wellbeing. The Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub is aware many producers are at various stages of addressing these challenges, so we have pulled together some information and perspectives from researchers and practitioners that may be helpful as you navigate recovery in your own context.

 

Our North-East Node lead, Riverine Plains, also has detailed information on local projects, seasonal resources and decision‑support tools to help build drought resilience across the region – see below. 

 

Water, shade and heat stress

After fire, surviving livestock are often grazing in burnt paddocks with little shade, limited water and exposure to ash and dust.

Dr Danica Parnell, based at Vic Hub partner The University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus, noted in Scimex that continuing heat and current fire conditions place extreme pressure on livestock and the producers who care for them. Heat stress affects animal welfare and productivity, especially when paddocks are burnt and natural shelter has been lost.​

Danica – a Post Doctoral Research Fellow (Animals/Pasture) in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences – highlights that behavioural signs such as rapid open‑mouth panting, restlessness, increased shade‑seeking, drooling and lethargy indicate animals are struggling to cool down. The priority is to keep livestock hydrated with clean, cool water, provide any available shade or shelter, and supplement lost pasture with appropriate hay, silage or grain. She also suggests keeping livestock off burnt areas until no smoke or heat lingers, as hot ash, embers and scorched soils can cause lameness and other injuries.​

 

For more practical information, you can explore the Vic Hub drought tech notes developed with our South-West Node lead, Southern Farming Systems.

 

 

Feed is the first pressure point

When bushfires or drought strip pastures, feed quickly becomes the pinch point for livestock and landholders, and uncertainty around the availability and quality of fodder is one of the biggest challenges producers face following fires and floods. Dr Paul Cheng, Melbourne Uni Senior Lecturer in Livestock Nutrition and Grazing Management, as quoted in Pursuit, highlights that planning ahead with conserved forages such as hay and silage, understanding their nutritional quality, and matching them to animal requirements can help bridge feed gaps in an emergency.​

Producers may find it useful to assess their fodder reserves, test feed where possible, and prioritise high‑value breeding animals and vulnerable stock such as late‑pregnant or lactating females. Where on‑farm feed is insufficient, early decisions about options such as agistment, destocking or accessing donated fodder can help protect both animal welfare and long‑term business viability.​

 

Victorian bushfire support: a summary of current programs, contacts and assistance is available in our Victorian bushfire support update

 

Immediate post‑fire and drought checks

As soon as it is safe to enter, it can be helpful to undertake a calm, systematic check of all surviving stock and paddocks. This includes looking for burns, respiratory issues from smoke inhalation, eye injuries, dehydration and signs of severe heat stress, and seeking veterinary advice to guide treatment or humane euthanasia where necessary. Early assessment of burnt grazing areas also helps identify erosion risks, toxic plants or contaminants that could compromise animal health as pastures recover.

Record‑keeping can be an important tool at this stage: noting animal IDs, treatments, mortalities and paddock condition can support insurance claims, recovery planning and future preparedness. Where infrastructure such as fences, troughs and pumps has been damaged, temporary containment areas with reliable water and shade may help stabilise livestock until repairs are completed.​

  

Planning for recovery and resilience

Both bushfires and drought underline the need for longer‑term feed and risk planning at farm and regional scales. Research into conserved forages is helping build a more reliable supply of quality hay and silage so producers can better manage extended dry or post‑fire recovery periods. Paul Cheng notes that understanding forage yield and quality can give producers more confidence when making stocking and feeding decisions under climate stress.

Danica Parnell emphasises that the resilience of our livestock systems depends on rapid response and coordinated support between producers, veterinarians and emergency agencies to protect animal welfare and farm recovery. Embedding contingency plans – such as trigger points for destocking, fodder budgeting, water security projects and shelter plantings – may help reduce the impact of future heatwaves, fires and droughts on both animals and people.

 

Looking after people as well as animals

Disasters take a heavy toll on the wellbeing of producers, families and communities, not just on infrastructure and stock. The emotional strain of making rapid decisions about animals, managing financial pressures and navigating a long recovery can be significant. Drawing on local networks, support services and recovery programs can help producers maintain their own health while caring for livestock through and beyond the crisis.​

Community‑level coordination around fodder drops, agistment, animal health services and mental health support can help share the load and speed up recovery. As conditions evolve, the Vic Hub will continue to listen, share insights from partners and our regional nodes, and highlight resources that producers may find useful in caring for both their livestock and themselves after bushfires and during drought.

 

Our North-East Node lead, Riverine Plains, also has detailed information on local projects, seasonal resources and decision‑support tools to help build drought resilience across the region: