Get reliable science

Cattle can damage streams and surrounding vegetation (riparian areas) by over-grazing riparian vegetation, breaking down banks, decreasing water quality, which can reduce fish populations and wildlife numbers. Suggested solutions to this problem have traditionally ranged from the cost prohibitive - constructing fences along waterways – to the extreme – removing livestock completely from rangelands. Using the principles of livestock behavior offers a third, often more cost-effective solution: Using riders to train animals to leave riparian areas and graze on uplands.