Producers encouraged to stay vigilant on livestock health during flood recovery
3 Jun 2025
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.
If you’re transporting livestock, ensuring your animals are ‘fit-to-load' is essential. Have a read of the Meat & Livestock Australia’s guide for further information or speak with your Local Land Services District Veterinarian via 1300 795 299.
Further resources and advice about livestock health after flood are available on the Local Land Services website – www.lls.nsw.gov.au/flood-recovery.
Flood impacted farmers needing urgent support for stock assistance, including animal assessment and veterinary support, can call the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area emergency hotline at 1800 814 647.
Assistance available through AASFA includes:
- animal assessment and veterinary support
- euthanasia of animals on welfare grounds
- emergency fodder (up to three days where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)
- emergency stock water (where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)
- livestock feeding and management advice
- aerial support for isolated or stranded livestock.
We thank landholders and our partner agencies like the NSW SES for their ongoing efforts and support during the flood response.
Media contact: public.information.e24@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au
