As our mob eats and tramples their way along the main creek on our farm I thought I would share our approach to grazing riparian areas.

Farmers are often advised to fence these off permanently - the idea being that removing the animals will allow eroded banks to reform.

We share the aim but take a different approach. In our experience, lot of animals  concentrated in a small area for a day a few times a year will level out out previously steep banks giving grass a chance to establish and thrive, slowing the path of the water. And they fertilise it at the same time!

Of course, leave the animals in place for too long and they will eat any fresh shoots and exacerbate erosion by following the same few tracks in and out of the creek.

Keep it short and sharp!