# Livestock Farm Recovery Following Bushfire in South-Eastern Australia: Impacts on Cattle and Sheep Health and Management

## TL;DR

This study examines the health and management challenges faced by cattle and sheep surviving bushfires in South-Eastern Australia, offering insights for future farm recovery.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into livestock health and farm recovery following bushfires, focusing on post-fire management and health conditions not previously widely documented.

## Key findings

- Low-frequency health issues like respiratory disease and eye disease were reported in surviving livestock.
- Post-fire management changes, not direct fire exposure, likely caused many health conditions.
- Farmers faced biosecurity and management challenges during recovery.

## Abstract

Severe bushfires in South-Eastern Australia during the summer of 2019/2020 (“Black Summer”) killed tens of thousands of livestock, and many more survived on fire-affected farms. At that time, there was little known about the impact of fire on the surviving livestock or farm recovery in the aftermath of a bushfire in Australia. This study aimed to describe the impacts of the 2019–2020 bushfires on the health, welfare, and management of the cattle and sheep to inform recommendations for future fire-affected farmers and guide further research. Fifty-eight fire-affected farmers participated in either a face-to-face interview or an online survey to collect information about their bushfire experiences, observations of livestock health and welfare following the fire, and farm recovery activities. A range of health conditions were reported at low levels in surviving livestock, including respiratory disease, eye disease, ruminal acidosis, lameness, and plant toxicities. No single disease was observed widely across participating farms, with many conditions likely associated with management changes post-fire rather than direct fire exposure. A variety of management and farm biosecurity challenges were described by farmers. Strategies for the prevention and treatment of health conditions in livestock following a bushfire include supporting effective farm management through the challenges of recovery and early detection for treatment as needed.

Severe bushfires in South-Eastern Australia during the summer of 2019/2020 killed tens of thousands of livestock, while many more survived on fire-affected properties. At the time, the literature on bushfire and livestock in Australia primarily described animals with burns. The mid- to long-term health effects, if any, of fire exposure and the effectiveness of recovery activities for surviving animals and farm enterprises were rarely reported. This study aimed to describe the key impacts of bushfire exposure on the health, welfare, and management of surviving cattle and sheep to inform recommendations for future fire-affected farmers and to guide future research. As part of a broad research programme, data on bushfire experiences, consequences for the livestock and the farm enterprise, and lessons learnt were gathered through face-to-face interviews and an online survey, collating information from 58 fire-affected farmers. A variety of health conditions at low frequency were reported in livestock surviving bushfires, including respiratory disease, eye disease, ruminal acidosis, lameness, and plant toxicities. No single disease was observed widely across participating farms, with many conditions likely associated with management changes post-fire rather than direct fire exposure. A variety of management and farm biosecurity challenges were also described by farmers. Key strategies for the prevention and treatment of health conditions in livestock post-bushfire include supporting effective farm management through the challenges of post-fire recovery and early detection for treatment on a case-by-case basis.