This summary has been compiled from various sources by John Ross, in response to a thread on the Castlemaine Bushfire Help FaceBook group page.

Moving stock and pets – plan, and start early!

If you intend to move stock, planning ahead and allowing plenty of time is essential.

It is far too late to move stock when a fire is approaching.
Stock may become more difficult to handle as conditions deteriorate: everything, even just floating a horse, catching a few chickens, or rounding up the cat will take longer than you expect.
Roads may be dangerous, closed or blocked by fallen trees: imagine being stuck on a minor road, blocked by a fallen tree, with two horses in a float behind you, fire and smoke, and no way to turn around. You really don’t want to be in that situation.

Stock can survive on the property

One or more well-fenced bare or well-cropped paddocks with a water supply should enable stock to survive. Fire needs fuel – dirt does not burn.
Flame height is the killer. The shorter the grass, the lower the flame height. Smaller animals are therefore at more risk than larger animals.
Cutting internal fences is generally not a good idea, unless there is a specific need to do so AND you have time to tidy and secure any loose wire. Loose wire can be a hazard to stock and emergency workers.
Never leave animals tethered – they have no chance to escape.

Horses

(this section prepared in consultation with Galena Debney of Taringa Stud, Glenlyon)

Remove any synthetic tack such as halters, rugs and fly-masks. Use only leather or cotton.
Long tails can be trimmed to hock level to prevent them trailing in burning grass
Never leave horses shut in a stable
Provide water but not flammable feed
If possible, identify your horses in case they do escape – spray painting your phone number is one way

If needs must, horses can survive in a burning paddock provided the grass is well cropped: they will skirt the edges of the fire, or run through the fire into the black where they are safe. Likely they will only suffer minor burns. I saw this first-hand in the Daylesford fire a few years ago: a number of horses, apparently unharmed, in a fairly small, burnt-out paddock.

Cattle

Basically the same advice as horses: give them room to move in a bare paddock with water and they should do quite well.

Sheep and goats

Their flocking instinct may prevent them moving away from an oncoming fire. A large sheep yard surrounded by bare area is best – they will not do well in a grassed paddock. Goats do a bit better than sheep because they are more agile.

Sheep and goats in full wool have some insulation and do better than shorn animals.

Pigs

Pigs are clever, but subject to heat stress. Release them from pens so that they can seek shelter on the property.

Poultry

Really depends on your setup. Unless the hen-house is really well located and safe, you should either release them to find their own shelter on the property, or shut them in a room in the house.

Dogs and Cats

Confine them to a room in the house if you are staying.

Road safety

Never leave gates open such that stock are able to roam at large on the roads or in the bush. They will be a hazard to themselves and to emergency services. If you allow animals to roam you may be legally liable for damage and accidents that they may cause.