Extreme weather changes and animal welfare

Veronica Campbell and Morgan Cassell, Animal Health and Welfare, Agriculture Victoria

Although winter is over, extreme weather conditions can happen at any time of the year, including spring and summer. Sudden and dramatic changes in temperature with rain can have more impacts on animal welfare in summer, than in winter.

To aid sheep in their ability to endure adverse weather events, producers should maintain animals in good body condition, provide proper and sufficient feed to meet the animal’s nutritional requirements, ensure effective control of worm burdens, and provide appropriate attention and/or veterinary treatment promptly to sick animals.

Producers should have a plan for extreme weather that includes the actions they will take to provide shelter to their animals.

Guidelines on shelter for sheep can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website as well as additional care information for recently shorn sheep, shelter for lambing ewes, lambing in bad weather and information on stress and metabolic disease in extreme weather.

Being aware and actively checking weather forecasts is essential. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issues weather warnings, including Severe Weather Warnings and Sheep Grazier Warnings. Warnings issued for Victoria can be read on the BOM website. A notification can be set up via the BOM application on a mobile phone to receive Severe Weather Warnings for a location.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 livestock owners and persons in charge of livestock must ensure proper and sufficient feed, water and shelter is provided to livestock. Victoria’s Codes of Practice provide guidance on what is proper and sufficient and are available on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Anyone wishing to make a specific animal welfare complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au

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Page last updated: 19 Nov 2024