Volcanic eruption
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Volcanic eruptions pose a risk to dairy farm animals due to toxic ash containing fluorine. Hungry animals grazing short pastures are especially at risk, but rainfall can reduce the danger as fluoride is soluble. As a dairy farmer, you should be aware of the need to provide good quality feed supplements, shift animals to long pasture with low stocking density, offer plenty of uncontaminated water, and consider relocating animals if conditions are severe. Stay informed through local Civil Defence and radio channels to protect your livestock from these risks.
In the event of a volcanic eruption farmers need to be aware of the risks to animals from ash - particularly at-risk are hungry animals grazing short pastures.
Fluorine is particularly toxic and is present in many volcano eruptions, as it attaches to the ash and can travel with the wind to farmlands around the volcano. However, rainfall helps reduce the risk, as the fluoride in ash is quite soluble.
Any dairy farmers concerned about their animals should:
- feed good quality feed supplement that has been covered
- shift animals to long pasture and graze at a low stocking density
- provide plenty of uncontaminated water
- if conditions are particularly severe, consider shifting animals out of the region.
It is important to keep up-to-date with information from Civil Defence, particularly via local radio.