UPPER Murray veterinarian David Hall still gets emotional at the thought of destroying stock after bushfires.

He was thrown into the thick of it last December when bushfire swept through the region killing sheep, cattle and horses.

The Walwa vet has emerged from the ordeal with timely advice on dealing with burnt stock.

The fire, which started at Jingellic, killed 4000 sheep, 500 cattle and three horses.

"On that day I was working at Koetong when I received a text message regarding the fire," David Hall said.

"My instructions were to shoot all animals that wouldn't get up.

"I had never experienced fire before so had no idea what to expect to see."

Accompanied by another vet and a shooter, David headed straight to fire-affected farms.

"It was quite a shock - even the stock owners were disorientated so we had to find our own way around properties," he said.

"We destroyed animals that were lame or had swelling.

"The hardest decision was the best one because cleaning up burns afterwards was soul destroying."

David said grassfires could be devastating to livestock, with severe injuries to lower limbs.

"There are usually greater mortalities on gullies and slopes," he said.

"Yarding is often the safest option and remember, smoke inhalation can kill stock.

"The decision to move stock must be made early and methodically.

"Consider refuge paddocks or heavily graze paddocks around the house."

Paddocks close to yards, laneways and dams should be considered for stock during a fire.

These paddocks need to have the pasture or crop harvested or mowed.

David said evidence suggested smothering was just as much an issue as burning in mobs of sheep.

He recommended cutting fences and opening gates to allow stock movement away from fire.

Priority stock, including heifers, weaners, bulls and horses, should be moved to a safe location away from the fire front.

David said initially bulls appeared to have survived last year's fires well.

He said smoke inhalation was a major problem, causing fluid on the lungs.

Cows trapped by flames had badly damaged teats and heifers were particularly affected.

"Cattle hooves often recovered quite well after being burnt around the coronet," David said.

"We saw a lot of corneal burns which looks like severe pink eye and they recovered quite well."

In ewes, the undersides were most affected.

David treated six severely burnt horses which suffered tissue damage to their lower limbs.

All horses remained on their feet and continued to eat during treatment.

David said swelling along the horse's belly was an indicator of severe burning.

A year on, most of the cases are still receiving treatment and are unsuitable for riding or breeding.