Fire rebuild: How new research could help farmers in future

Recovering from a bushfire can take months, or even years, as producers work to get back on their feet again. But new research is being undertaken to help remedy the affect of intense bushfire on farms. Here’s how.

Beef cattle in Cobargo, NSW on 6 January 2020, after a devastating bushfire passed through the area on 31 January 2019. Picture: Sean Davey.

RECOVERY after the devastation of a bushfire is not a short-term endeavour, with many producers taking months or years to rebuild their farms and their livelihood.

Now researchers are working on a new manual designed to guide livestock producers through post-bushfire recovery, with animal welfare and on-farm productivity a key focus.

University of Melbourne lecturer in veterinary epidemiology Caitlin Pfeiffer said before the harrowing impact of the 2019-20 bushfires, industry had a “reasonably good understanding” of what needed to happen after a fire when it came to looking after livestock.

“Fire recovery is not something that’s over in the first months of the initial emergency situation. There are ongoing effects on the farm that producers continue to navigate,” Dr Pfieffer said.

Dr Pfieffer said the severity of the 2019-20 bushfires across southern Australia was “unlike what we’ve seen previously”.

“And with the climate change we know is occurring, it’s entirely possible these kinds of fire seasons might become more common in the future,” Dr Pfieffer said.

Interviews with more than 40 fire-affected farmers have taken place, but Dr Pfieffer is calling for more livestock producers to participate in the survey.

The research is being conducted by the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney and Ausvet Pty Ltd, and is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

“We’re making this information for producers to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support farming. Fire is part of the Australian farming experience, it’s difficult to get away from it,” Dr Pfieffer said.

“The team driving this research are looking at it from a wholistic perspective. It’s about the health and welfare (of animals), biosecurity on the farm, and how farm biosecurity ties back to potential farm profitability, meat quality, and also looking at the farming business in recovery, such as livestock having to be sold or unfortunately dying or being destroyed.”

“What does a return to normal look like for these farms?”

To participate in the survey visit bit.ly/beef-sheep-bushfire

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