B.AHE.2102-Health, welfare and biosecurity of livestock exposed to Australian bushfires

Summary

Bushfires are increasing in frequency globally, especially as a result of longer fire seasons, including in Australia. In the spring and summer of 2019, Australia experienced a severe bushfire event, now referred to as the black summer bushfires. Little research has been conducted on the impacts of bushfires on livestock in any part of the world. This limits understanding and the ability to plan for bushfires or manage bushfire affected stock in an optimal way.

This research sought to improve understanding of how red meat producers can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from bushfires. A case control study of burnt cattle and sheep farms was conducted in south eastern Australia. These farms were investigated for risk and protective factors. Samples from cattle from the farms were assessed in the laboratory for immune function, biosecurity markers and micro and macro minerals. Industry data describing meat and carcase quality were analysed and expert workshops and online surveys were conducted.

Objectives

The objectives of the research were to:
1. Synthesize current understanding of bushfire impacts on livestock through a comprehensive literature review.
2. Characterise how bushfires affect livestock in terms of pathology, immune fitness and association with reproduction and production, welfare, biosecurity, and meat quality.
3. Identify and describe mitigation and recovery strategies associated with positive producer outcomes.
4. Presentation of the results as a livestock bushfire preparedness manual for producers.

Key findings

This project progressed basic understanding of the pathology of bushfire injured livestock, how to manage injured livestock and how to enhance government assessment and management of injured livestock. Factors were identified that protect livestock from bushfire injury. There were indicators of reduced immune fitness in animals that lived through bushfires, and carcase and meat quality were affected by proximity bushfires. However, this lessened in stock retained post-fires.

Preparedness and recovery activities were associated with better outcomes, for example adequate insurance and carefully planning recovery activities. Recommendations include moving stock to safe paddocks, or when that is not possible opening all internal gates. An evidence-based bushfire preparation and recovery manual was produced that will assist livestock producers in preparing for and responding to bushfires.

Benefits to industry

Benefits to the industry as a result of this project include:
1. Mitigation of livestock injury and deaths due to bushfire.
2. A resource to enhance preparation and recovery from bushfire for southern livestock producers.
3. Enhanced understanding and mitigation of meat and carcases quality issues.
4. An understanding that long term immune function impacts due to bushfire are evident, though cattle recover as time passes, hence attention to herd health management and biosecurity considerations should be a high priority during the recovery phase.

MLA action

Extension and promotion of the Bushfire Preparation and Recovery Manual amongst producers and communities .

Future research

The main recommendation is that appropriate extension of the Bushfire Preparation and Recovery Manual content must occur. Due to the La nina event during the time of this project, it may be one or more years before preparation for bushfires is considered a priority by producers in southern Australia. Therefore, alongside community extension strategies, stand-alone and self-guided materials that support the manual should be prepared for access just in time before the next severe bushfire season.