Digital Presentations

Riparian Areas and Grazing Management – The Principles

– By Cows and Fish

There are many strategies for incorporating riparian areas into a grazing system but they can only be successful if four key principles serve as the foundation. Remember B.E.A.D and you’ll be on your way. Learn more about Balance, Effective rest, Avoidance and Distribution in this segment.

Riparian Areas and Grazing Management – Distribution Tools

– By Cows and Fish

Improving distribution is about drawing livestock away from the sensitive riparian area permanently or for parts of the year as well as guiding them to other parts of the pasture or operation. Salt placement and off-stream water development are two of the more common distribution tools being used by Alberta producers but there are others discussed here too. How can you tweak these to fit your operation?

Riparian Areas and Grazing Management – Rotational Grazing

– By Cows and Fish

If you have two pastures you can have a rotational grazing system. The trick is closing the gate! The idea is to create periods of rest for pastures including riparian areas so plants can regrow shoots, leaves and roots and recharge their energy reserves, and any damage to the soil can recover after use. There are a few different ways to do it so check out how it’s working.

Riparian Areas and Grazing Management – Riparian Pastures

– By Cows and Fish

Riparian areas have unique plants and soils because of the strong influence of water at or near the surface; and they are often wider than we think. For that reason, they can offer unique grazing opportunities if managed appropriately. To achieve flexibility in your grazing system, “fence like with like” so you can graze (and rest) the riparian area when it is suitable for the land and you.

Riparian Areas and Grazing Management – Corridors and Holding Pastures

– By Cows and Fish

Sometimes you have no choice! If you’re parking livestock in a small riparian field for a period of time be sure to supplement feed, water away from the banks and provide a long rest period once the animals are out of there. Corridor fencing can protect the streambank but what about the rest of the floodplain (riparian area)? Maybe go a little wider and make it grazeable.

Four Principles of Good Range Management

– By Kristi Stebanuk

Healthy upland pastures and riparian areas are a foundation for any livestock operation. Sustainable riparian grazing relies upon implementing the 4 range management principles to build and maintain that foundation. This video describes these principles and makes the link between good range management and healthy pastures and riparian areas.