Producers are being urged to remain vigilant for increased animal disease risks as floodwaters continue to recede across the Mid-North Coast, North Coast and Hunter regions.
Livestock exposed to prolonged wet conditions can be susceptible to a range of health issues and diseases, including lameness, mastitis, botulism and toxicities due to poisonous plants.
Livestock post-flood are also more susceptible to insect borne diseases, such as Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), commonly known as three-day sickness.
Additionally, prolonged wet conditions can lead to significant feed shortages, higher stocking densities and intermingling of groups of animals that would not normally be kept together.
Animals are often physiologically stressed, leading to reduced immune system function and have softened feet and skin as a result of prolonged wetting.
Steps that producers can take to minimise the risk for these conditions include:
- prevent access to animal carcasses
- always provide access to clean, fresh drinking water
- consider moving stock from pasture with heavy soil contamination where possible
- testing cattle for intestinal worms and fluke and then treating if required
- ensuring that all 5-in-1 and 7-in-1 vaccines are up to date in cattle or that 5-in1 or 6-in-1 vaccines are up to date in sheep
- the use of a botulism vaccine is highly recommended for all cattle producers
- monitor paddocks for new weeds that may have come in with floods or feed.
