With summer on its way, now is a good time to prepare for the bushfire season according to Meat & Livestock Australia.
Bushfire researcher and veterinarian Dr Caitlin Pfeiffer said there were steps producers can take year-round to be on the front foot.
“Think about it year-round and integrate it into your overall farm business plan. Doing small things at appropriate times during the year really adds up,” Dr Pfeiffer said.
“All preparation is important.”
Dr Pfeiffer is co-lead researcher on an MLA-funded project that is examining the long-term impact of bushfires on the health, welfare and productivity of sheep and cattle.
The project is a collaboration between The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney and Ausvet Pty Ltd, with assistance from Local Land Services NSW and private veterinarians in Victoria.
A key output will be an evidence-based Livestock Bushfire Preparedness and Recovery Manual for producers, due to be published in early 2022.
As part of the project, researchers interviewed 46 fire-affected producers from the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season.
Producers discussed their bushfire risk management, recovery strategies and any successes, and Dr Pfeiffer said a common theme was the importance of having a fire plan.
“One of the strongest predictive factors for farms that did not lose livestock was having a fire plan in place,” she said.
“Many producers also found they were under-insured and warned other farmers: make sure your insurance is up to date.”
Dr Pfeiffer said the key aspects of a bushfire plan for livestock farms were preparedness, response and recovery.
“Every farm is different, so your plan needs to be specific to your land, your livestock and your business,” she said.
“An important message from the producers involved in this research is that you can do everything right and still have losses. Having a plan that supports recovery is really important, not just for the future of the farm business, but also the emotional wellbeing of the farmers.
“More than half the people we spoke to sought professional advice to support recovery, including talking to agronomists, vets and nutritional advisors.
“Having a fresh set of eyes and someone to bounce ideas off is very helpful, whether that’s a paid advisor or your peers.
“Just talking to friends and neighbours who understand the local environment was also valuable during fire recovery.”
