Prepare your livestock for disaster
Bushfires, floods, heatwaves and other weather events can have serious impacts on people, property and animals. Learn how to prepare yourself and livestock for when disaster occurs.
Prepare a livestock emergency plan
The safety of your livestock is your responsibility. Planning ahead will reduce stress, allow clearer thinking and improve the chances of keeping you and your livestock safe.
Create a livestock emergency plan so you know the actions to take before, during and after a disaster.
Livestock emergency plan
Livestock preparedness steps
Taking simple steps before a disaster can improve the safety and welfare of your livestock. Use these steps to help prepare your animals, property, and emergency arrangements before an event occurs.
- For notifications on severe weather, bushfires, Council’s planned burns and potential flash flooding, register to MoretonAlert.
- Check your property's risk for flooding and bushfire.
- Determine triggers that activate your plan such as fire danger ratings or flood height predictions.
- Have a list of emergency contacts including a local vet and agricultural supply store.
- Identify your animals and register with the National Livestock Identification System.
- Prepare and maintain your property all year round to reduce the impacts of disasters.
- Identify more than one safe relocation site and make arrangements in advance. Include these locations in your emergency and evacuation plan. Make sure you know all the routes to and from your property.
- Set up a ‘safer’ area on your property where livestock can stay away from danger. It should have access to food and water, and if possible, more than one entry point. During flooding, move livestock to higher ground.
- Have stocks of food, water and medical supplies for at least 3 to 7 days.
- Have alternative water and power sources, and backup communication options.
- Make sure the property's biosecurity can be maintained in a disaster event and register as a biosecurity entity.
- Explore the supports available to help you maintain your livestock such as registering for Rural Aid. For extra supports, consider joining the Food and Agribusiness Network.
- Make sure family, staff or neighbours are aware of the plan and can enact it on your behalf.
- Practice the plan regularly to confirm that it works.
Relocating livestock
Have a livestock plan and act early. Do not wait for emergency warnings. It may be too late to move your livestock safely.
Plan in advance which animals you will relocate and ensure you have enough yard and loading facilities with access to suitable transport vehicles.
Remember, animals may behave differently in a disaster, potentially making them difficult to handle or load. Relocating them early will minimise this issue.
Do not risk the safety of yourself, others or your livestock by driving, walking or riding through flood waters or active fire-zones.
Livestock remaining on your property
If you intend to evacuate your property and cannot take your animals with you, ensure that:
- Power sources that may increase risk are turned off.
- Livestock have sufficient and accessible stocks of food, medication and water for at least 3 to 7 days.
- Water is available in heat resistant troughs and containers. Do not rely on automatic systems.
- Livestock are moved to your properties ‘safer’ area as soon as possible.
- Livestock are moved to higher ground if there is a risk of flooding.
- Flammable items are removed from the area, especially near where livestock might be kept.
- Internal fencing is clipped open if a ‘safer’ area is unavailable to give animals the opportunity to escape danger.
- Animals are never tethered outside or let loose on roads.
- Rugs, fly-veils and halters are removed from horses as these can often burn or melt.
- Animals are identifiable, such as with an ear tag or livestock chalk.
- Loose objects are secured around the property.
Displaced and lost livestock
During disaster events, livestock may become displaced or lost when stables, sheds and fences are damaged or destroyed.
Lost animals should be returned to their property as soon as practical. Livestock that are found to be injured must be provided with treatment and care as per the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
For injured, trapped, or distressed livestock contact:
In the event of an emergency, contact emergency services on 000.
After a disaster
- If animals were evacuated, do not bring them back to the property until the area is safe.
- Do a thorough search of the property to assess livestock and assets.
- Be mindful of any hazards that could impact your livestock, including hot or boggy ground.
- Check for injuries and seek veterinarian advice or assistance immediately if required.
- Ensure your livestock are safely contained, which may require temporary fencing or relocation.
- Ensure adequate food and fresh water is available and not contaminated.
- Damaged buildings should be cleaned, aired out and may need to be disinfected.
- Monitor and treat for symptoms of pest or disease.
- Use the experiences gained to continually improve your emergency plan.