Living on the Land - Spring Pasture Safety Check

welcome to living on the land an

award-winning source of useful

information for eastern oregon country

living

brought to you by your oregon state

university extension service

spring means fresh green pastures for

your animals but how you manage your

pasture in the spring can make a big

difference in growth and health of both

your pasture and your animals

each year before you turn out your

livestock you'll want to walk your

pastures to make sure they are safe for

your animals

check fences for downed wires and breaks

old barbed wire should be replaced

preferably with a safer option

especially for non-cattle species

look for weeds

and watch for toxic plants

ask your local extension office if

you're not sure what toxic plants to

look for

scout for dangerous debris that winter

floods might have carried onto your

pasture

look for holes that animals could step

in and injure a leg

finally keep an eye out for and remove

any old wire

watch for scrap metal

or other man-made items that could be

dangerous to your livestock

good planning and a little preparation

before spring turnout will reap

long-term rewards and keep your animals

healthy and safe

this has been another episode of living

on the land

for more information on preparing your

pastures for spring

contact your local osu extension agent

natural resources conservation service

or soil and water conservation district

technical and financial assistance is

available for landowners wishing to

address resource concerns on their

property