Design, Construction and Management of Flood Refuge Mounds

In early 2019, approximately 500,000 head of cattle, sheep, goats and horses died as a result of a two week flooding event in North Queensland. A large proportion of these deaths could be attributed to the lack of dry land available for stock to escape to. The guidelines presented in the recently launched Design, construction and management of flood refuge mounds booklet, written by Bob Shepherd (Principal Extension Officer), address how places of refuge can be constructed in potentially inundated paddocks ahead of the next flooding rains. The booklet was well received by attendees of the Northern Beef Research Update Conference, sharing sentiments of necessity and appreciation. Hard copies of the booklet were shared widely amongst extension officers, researchers and agribusinesses in attendance.