Silvopasture Water and Fencing Systems for Cattle

Authors

Sid Brantly, United States Department of Agriculture, NRCS

Date of this Version

February 2005

Document Type

Newsletter Issue

Citation

National Agroforestry Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Station, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lincoln, Nebraska

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

Silvopasture is an agroforestry system that combines grazing livestock with growing trees for a timber product. Creating small, fenced paddocks and rotating cattle builds in "recovery periods" for the forage and protects the soil and trees. In a silvopastoral system, grazing recovery periods can only be achieved when well-designed livestock water supplies and cross fences are used. Fortunately, technological advances in livestock water system design and fence materials have helped to create a feasible working environment where rotating livestock from one silvopasture paddock to another can be both convenient and affordable. However, some special considerations must be given to water and fencing in a silvopasture system.