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Developing A Fire Plan For Livestock

With fire now threatening private land in Gippsland, preparing a livestock fire plan may help protect livestock assets and welfare and your financial and emotional well being.

By Department of Primary Industries - 12th December 2006 - Back to News

It is essential to have a safe, workable plan to protect your livestock that can be implemented quickly and safely, when fire threatens. Never assume that your property is free from the risk of bushfire and always have a fire plan for your stock.

The basis of the plan is to move stock to designated low risk areas when fire threatens. Decisions on when to enact the fire plan will be based on weather, or the immediate threat of fire in your area. Listen to the radio and observe your own environment to decide when to put your plan into action.

Low risk areas have a lower risk of burning and stock on these areas will have less chance of being injured by fire. Low risk areas should be centrally located and easy to access.

Low risk areas can include:

• cultivated paddocks - areas specifically cultivated and kept clear of regrowth,
• bared out paddocks - provided they are well defended by fire breaks,
• irrigated paddocks or paddocks containing green summer crops - green feed does not burn easily,
• stock yards - cattle and sheep can be held in yards with bare or ploughed surrounds, which can be wet in advance, however the yards must be well defended as the fire front passes.

Cattle are adept at moving to avoid fire, so may be kept in low risk paddocks with relative safely.

Mobbing instincts of sheep may prevent movement away from a fire if kept in the open. Utilising sheep yards as a safe area can be useful if time allows, however extra care should be taken in preparation for the coming fire front. Wetting down the surrounds, as well as extensive fire breaks, are a must. If you do plan to move sheep, do it early in the day. Don’t wait until the hot part of the day as sheep often refuse to move once the conditions get very hot.

Horses should be mustered into bare non-combustible yards as they tend to panic and may injure themselves by attempting to escape through fences in the face of a wildfire. Horses should not be locked up in stables. All equipment including rugs, halters and flyveils should be removed as plastic may melt and buckles heat up.

All low risk areas should be further protected by firebreaks and be free of litter build up. Thought should be put into the preferred location of low risk areas and should take into account terrain, accessibility, direction that the fire threat is most likely to come from, prevailing winds in the summer months and location of forests and bushland. Farms with large numbers of sheep and cattle may need to designate and manage several low risk areas on the property. Regardless, low risk areas are only of use if you have the ability to utilise them at short notice.

In the event of fire affecting stock on your property, Department of Primary Industries Animal Health staff will provide expert advice on the need for destruction, or options for treatment.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem.
• Southern Rural Water upgrades over meters across Gippsland to improve accuracy and fair water management
  Southern Rural Water is replacing 1,000+ outdated meters across southern Victoria by 2026, boosting accuracy, compliance, and fair water management under national standards - with no cost to customers.
• Melina Bath slams Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for ignoring Gippsland farmers' struggles under Labor's tax regime
  Melina Bath criticised Agriculture Minister Ros Spence for refusing to advocate for Gippsland farmers, citing VFF survey results showing overwhelming concern over new taxes and Labor's disregard for regional agriculture.
• Baw Baw Shire Council seeks community feedback on draft 10-year open space strategy for future planning
  Baw Baw Shire Council invites feedback on its draft Open Space Strategy, shaping a 10-year plan to guide investment, protect natural spaces, and enhance community wellbeing. Consultation closes Friday 3 October 2025.
• Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving, preventing East Gippsland ratepayers covering government shortfalls
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull urges state government to fund Surf Life Saving Victoria, warning councils face doubled contributions while new Emergency Services levy strains East Gippsland and Wellington budgets.
• Cr Nathan Hersey elected as Mayor and Cr Brad Snell as Deputy Mayor for South Gippsland and other council updates
  Councillor Nathan Hersey was elected Mayor and Councillor Brad Snell Deputy Mayor of South Gippsland Shire for 12 months, marking Hersey’s second and Snell’s first term in these roles.
• Melina Bath criticises Labor government shutting public beekeeping, threatening Victoria's food security and horticultural jobs
  Melina Bath condemned the Allan Labor government's closure of public land beekeeping, warning it threatens food security, pollination, horticultural exports, and regional jobs, calling for policy reversal and support for apiarists.
• Farm fencing grants protect 300 hectares of biodiversity and boost waterway health across West Gippsland
  Over 300 hectares of farmland will be fenced through West Gippsland CMA's farm fencing grants, protecting waterways, biodiversity, and livestock while supporting sustainable farming and revegetation across the catchment.
• Danny O'Brien announces finalised Loch Sport groyne designs, Gippsland Ports to seek tenders before Christmas
  Erosion works on Loch Sport foreshore will begin next year, with designs finalised for new groynes. Danny O'Brien praised the community's persistence and vowed to push for further coastal protection.
• Tim Bull slams Labor's cuts to 'Youth Crime Prevention', unveils $100M Safer Communities Plan
  Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticised Labor's youth crime prevention cuts, promoting The Nationals' $100 million Safer Communities Plan combining tougher laws with prevention programs to improve safety and restore community confidence.
• Wellington Shire Council to update Community Local Law 2021, ensuring relevance, inclusivity, and strong legal compliance
  The Safer Communities Plan includes Jack's Law to clear weapons from streets, Restart for repeat offenders, and Youthstart to support at-risk youth. Mr Cameron says Labor lacks a plan to tackle Victoria's crime crisis, leaving regions vulnerable.
• Danny O'Brien slams Labor's repeated 'Better Roads Blitz' claims as Gippsland roads continue crumbling
  Nationals MP Danny O'Brien has slammed Labor's latest "Better Roads Blitz," saying Gippsland roads remain neglected, unsafe, and underfunded, with locals enduring potholes, hazards, and long-term speed reductions instead of real maintenance.
• From Job expos to farms and sports awards connecting communities across East Gippsland through events and advocacy
  From jobs expos to farm visits, sports awards, and community projects, recent weeks highlighted East Gippsland's talent, resilience, and collaboration, advocacy, and opportunities that strengthen local communities.
• Thurra River bridge and campground reopen for holidays, offering access to Croajingolong's forests, trails, and beaches
  Thurra River Bridge and campground reopen for holidays, restoring access to Croajingolong's forests, trails, and beaches after fire and flood damage, with resilient infrastructure upgrades ensuring long-term safety and community enjoyment.