Can off-river water and shade provision reduce cattle intrusion into drinking water catchment riparian zones?

Kaucner, Christine; Whiffin, Vicky; Ray, James; Gilmour, Martin; Ashbolt, Nicholas J.; Stuetz, Richard M.; Roser, David

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.08.012

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In smaller paddocks in rangelands (20–32 ha paddocks), the percentage of time spent near water sources (troughs and ditches) in warm seasons is double the time than in cold seasons, with some exceptions under higher temperatures in winter [ 31 ]. On the other hand, the supply of additional off-stream water sources shows inconsistent results in its effect on cattle’s use of riparian areas [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 32 ], whereas fencing streams decreases the time cattle spend grazing in riparian areas [ 5 ].…”

Section: Effect Of External Factors On Site Use Preferencementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Site Use Preference of Grazing Cattle Studied from 2000 to 2020 through GPS Tracking: A Review

Rivero

Grau-Campanario

Mullan

et al. 2021

Sensors

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Understanding the behaviour of grazing animals at pasture is crucial in order to develop management strategies that will increase the potential productivity of grazing systems and simultaneously decrease the negative impact on the environment. The objective of this review was to summarize and analyse the scientific literature that has addressed the site use preference of grazing cattle using global positioning systems (GPS) collars in the past 21 years (2000–2020) to aid the development of more sustainable grazing livestock systems. The 84 studies identified were undertaken in several regions of the world, in diverse production systems, under different climate conditions and with varied methodologies and animal types. This work presents the information in categories according to the main findings reviewed, covering management, external and animal factors driving animal movement patterns. The results showed that some variables, such as stocking rate, water and shade location, weather conditions and pasture (terrain and vegetation) characteristics, have a significant impact on the behaviour of grazing cattle. Other types of bio-loggers can be deployed in grazing ruminants to gain insights into their metabolism and its relationship with the landscape they utilise. Changing management practices based on these findings could improve the use of grasslands towards more sustainable and productive livestock systems.

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Section: Effect Of External Factors On Site Use Preferencementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Site Use Preference of Grazing Cattle Studied from 2000 to 2020 through GPS Tracking: A Review

Rivero

Grau-Campanario

Mullan

et al. 2021

Sensors

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“…; Kaucner et al . ), as well as the removal of riparian wood to reduce shade that cattle seek (e.g. Briggs et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A before‐and‐after assessment of patch‐burn grazing and riparian fencing along headwater streams

Larson

Dodds

Whiles

et al. 2016

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Fire and grazing are common in grasslands world-wide to maintain grass cover and cattle production. The effects of fire, cattle grazing and riparian fencing efficacy on prairie stream ecology are not well characterized at catchment scales. 2. We examined alterations to stream water quality and biology from patch-burn grazing (PBG) in tallgrass prairie during a five-year, replicated, catchment scale experiment that used a Before-After/Control-Impact (BACI) design and was analysed by mixed-effects models. Treatments included two patch-burned control catchments (fire but no grazers) and PBG in two riparian-fenced and two unfenced catchments. We assessed the effectiveness of riparian fencing for mitigating potential water quality impacts by monitoring water quality and riparian usage by cattle via Global Positioning System. 3. Riparian fences effectively excluded cattle; however, in unfenced pastures, cattle aggregated along streams 10-20% of the grazing season. 4. After initiation of PBG, we detected large increases in some nutrients, Escherichia coli, algal biomass, primary productivity and community respiration in all catchments with PBG. Some water quality variables, such as E. coli concentrations, recovered quickly after cattle were removed from pasture, which indicated resiliency. 5. Riparian fencing moderately reduced the impacts to stream variables, indicating either overland flow and/or subsurface flow allowed nutrients and bacteria to enter the streams. 6. Synthesis and applications. Patch-burn grazing is a measurable disturbance that can alter the ecological condition of streams. Riparian fencing lessened the degree of impact, yet some water quality variables still exceeded regional reference conditions. Managers will need to assess the costs of riparian fencing compared to the moderate benefits that fencing provides to water quality.

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“…However, the effects of off-stream water on cow distribution in previous studies are inconsistent (Franklin et al, 2009;Schwarte et al, 2011;Kaucner et al, 2013) Shade is used by cows to reduce exposure to solar radiation and reduce body temperature during high ambient temperatures (Blackshaw and Blackshaw, 1994;Tucker et al, 2008). However, the effects of off-stream water on cow distribution in previous studies are inconsistent (Franklin et al, 2009;Schwarte et al, 2011;Kaucner et al, 2013) Shade is used by cows to reduce exposure to solar radiation and reduce body temperature during high ambient temperatures (Blackshaw and Blackshaw, 1994;Tucker et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pasture size effects on the ability of off-stream water or restricted stream access to alter the spatial/temporal distribution of grazing beef cows1,2,3

Bisinger¹,

Russell²,

Morrical³

et al. 2014

Journal of Animal Science

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For 2 grazing seasons, effects of pasture size, stream access, and off-stream water on cow distribution relative to a stream were evaluated in six 12.1-ha cool-season grass pastures. Two pasture sizes (small [4.0 ha] and large [12.1 ha]) with 3 management treatments (unrestricted stream access without off-stream water [U], unrestricted stream access with off-stream water [UW], and stream access restricted to a stabilized stream crossing [R]) were alternated between pasture sizes every 2 wk for 5 consecutive 4-wk intervals in each grazing season. Small and large pastures were stocked with 5 and 15 August-calving cows from mid May through mid October. At 10-min intervals, cow location was determined with Global Positioning System collars fitted on 2 to 3 cows in each pasture and identified when observed in the stream (0-10 m from the stream) or riparian (0-33 m from the stream) zones and ambient temperature was recorded with on-site weather stations. Over all intervals, cows were observed more (P ≤ 0.01) frequently in the stream and riparian zones of small than large pastures regardless of management treatment. Cows in R pastures had 24 and 8% less (P < 0.01) observations in the stream and riparian zones than U or UW pastures regardless of pasture size. Off-stream water had little effect on the presence of cows in or near pasture streams regardless of pasture size. In 2011, the probability of cow presence in the stream and riparian zones increased at greater (P < 0.04) rates as ambient temperature increased in U and UW pastures than in 2010. As ambient temperature increased, the probability of cow presence in the stream and riparian zones increased at greater (P < 0.01) rates in small than large pastures. Across pasture sizes, the probability of cow presence in the stream and riparian zone increased less (P < 0.01) with increasing ambient temperatures in R than U and UW pastures. Rates of increase in the probability of cow presence in shade (within 10 m of tree drip lines) in the total pasture with increasing temperatures did not differ between treatments. However, probability of cow presence in riparian shade increased at greater (P < 0.01) rates in small than large pastures. Pasture size was a major factor affecting congregation of cows in or near pasture streams with unrestricted access.

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Can off-river water and shade provision reduce cattle intrusion into drinking water catchment riparian zones?

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Factors Affecting Site Use Preference of Grazing Cattle Studied from 2000 to 2020 through GPS Tracking: A Review

Factors Affecting Site Use Preference of Grazing Cattle Studied from 2000 to 2020 through GPS Tracking: A Review

A before‐and‐after assessment of patch‐burn grazing and riparian fencing along headwater streams

Pasture size effects on the ability of off-stream water or restricted stream access to alter the spatial/temporal distribution of grazing beef cows1,2,3

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