Support for flood-impacted livestock owners in the Hunter requiring emergency animal welfare assistance will continue all weekend.

Local producers are being urged to contact the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has also joined forces with Local Land Services, working together as the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) to help with emergency fodder or water supplies, livestock assessment, euthanasia and burial.

Incident Controller Ken Garner urged people not to delay their requests for assistance.

“More than 120 producers from across the Hunter and Greater Sydney regions have already called us this week, seeking feed for stranded livestock or veterinary inspections of impacted animals,” he explained.

“Our team is here to help.

“The AASFA hotline is open 9am-5pm this weekend.

“If you call outside of these times, leave a message so we can respond as soon as possible.”

A number of Animal Safe Places remain open, at Singleton Saleyards, Maitland Showground and Maitland Saleyards, for livestock unable to return to inundated farms.

“It has been good to see so many proactive livestock owners taking steps to evacuate their stock early and making provisions to see them cared for either on agistment or in one of the evacuation facilities,” Mr Garner said.

“These centres will remain open for evacuated animals until it is safe for them to return or alternate agistment has been found.”

There are many potential issues for producers to consider in the aftermath of major flooding.

In the short term, there is the immediate work involved in repairing infrastructure such as fencelines and laneways and ensuring immediate animal welfare responsibilities such as provision of adequate food, water and shelter are met.

“There have been widespread pasture losses across the region, which will further hamper local producers’ ability to manage livestock nutritional needs for the remainder of winter,” Mr Garner said.

“A very important consideration is the increased potential for certain livestock diseases.

“Our teams can provide advice for producers for ongoing management of their livestock health and welfare.”

More information on managing livestock health and recovering from flood is also available at https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/emergency-and-biosecurity/floods/flood-recovery-resources