Livestock owners are reminded to ensure they provide adequate shelter for their livestock if there are severe weather events forecast.
Localised severe weather over summer saw a higher number of deaths in vulnerable livestock in some areas of eastern Australia.
“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,” Agriculture Victoria principal veterinary officer Dianne Phillips said .
She said vulnerable groups of livestock were those which were more prone to the effects of exposure and could include:
– Recently shorn sheep.
– Livestock with newborns or recently weaned animals.
– Livestock with parasitism or other underlying diseases associated with weight loss, anaemia, or low protein levels.
“Farmers are encouraged to also ensure livestock are 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.
“Adequate shelter can include paddock shelter belts (often retained vegetation and tree plantings), sheds or other buildings where stock can shelter on the side out of the wind, and undercover yards like 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.”
If you need assistance with livestock losses associated with severe weather events, contact your vet or state-based agriculture department.
For further information, go to the Agriculture Victoria website and search for sheep shelter guidelines or cattle shelter guidelines.