Be prepared and save your livestock
The Country Fire Authority has some simple recommendations that can improve the chances of your livestock surviving a bushfire. Here’s how.
It’s a miserable reality for many farmers who ply their trade in a fire zone – while they can ultimately choose to flee a bushfire to safety, their livestock aren’t going to be so lucky.
But the Country Fire Authority has some simple recommendations that can improve the chances of your livestock surviving a bushfire.
Number one – plan ahead by preparing a low-risk area on your property where stock can be moved during an emergency. Or, if you have a large number of animals, several.
A low-risk area could be a green paddock, cultivated paddock with no vegetation, a bared-out paddock with minimal vegetation or even a laneway. Whatever it is it should be centrally located, well away from any scrub or bushland, easy to access, have access to water and available at all times during the fire season.
In addition to protecting the animals within it, a strategically located low-risk zone can also act as a bushfire barrier to protect other parts of your property.
Ahead of high fire-danger days or very early on the day, move stock to low-risk areas and leave at least five days’ supply of feed and drinking water.
Make sure you remove any synthetic or metal equipment from animals (rugs, buckles, etc) that could burn, melt, heat up or otherwise cause injury.
Even if you’re not planning to evacuate your property, prepare instructions for animal care and related equipment that can be left behind if you do have to flee.
You should also think now about how you might care for and contain your stock after a fire has passed through your property.
Identify possible post-fire containment areas and develop plans for feed, water and temporary fencing.
You should also make sure first-aid equipment is easily accessible so injured animals can get prompt emergency treatment.
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