Description of practice
Avoiding animal grazing on wet soils minimizes the structural damage (or pugging) that is easily caused by treading and trampling. Soil pore space is destroyed, reducing infiltration rates, increasing waterlogging, compaction and erosion and degrading the pasture quality.
| Examples of how to avoid pugging of paddocks | Further information (see Note below) |
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Sacrifice paddockA sacrifice paddock (usually one with a run-down pasture) is selected to move cows onto during wet conditions. After the winter, summer fodder crop may be grown to level and restore the soil, and pasture is re-sown the following autumn. |
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On-off grazingIn on-off grazing, cows are allowed to graze in 1-2 short periods (2-4 hours) per day and are then moved off the pasture to a stand-off area. Grass of good length and density is needed to reduce susceptibility to pugging. |
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Selecting pasture with tall grassesWhen soils are wet, pastures with tall fescue and other sod-forming perennials are grazed. Tall grasses have a flotation effect and greater root mass that help limit soil damage and expedite regrowth. Cows need to walk less far to obtain enough grazing, reducing pugging. |
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Slow pasture rotationA slow pasture rotation is used. If the rotation is too fast, pasture cannot reach optimum growing height, more supplementary feed is needed in winter and livestock will return to the wet paddock sooner, causing greater damage. |
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Block grazing with temporary fencingGrazing in square or rectangular areas is used instead of elongated strips to help avoid cows walking up and down the fence line. Shifting fences and back fencing are additional strategies to avoid trampling. |
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Stand-off padA purpose-built, drained stand-off pad is constructed where livestock can be held for long periods when it is not suitable for them to be on pasture. |
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FeedpadA feedpad is used for regular supplementary feeding and loafing of cattle on an area of land that is either formed with a solid foundation and/or concreted to establish a permanent facility. |
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Visual soil assessment of pugging to support managementVisual soil assessment, monitoring of soil moisture and weather forecasts are used to decide on grazing management. |
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Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.