Back fencing to protect grazed pasture

Back fencing prevents livestock from returning to areas they have already grazed and damaging regrowth. Find out how to implement this practice effectively.

Back fencing is particularly valuable in wet conditions, when repeated walking over recently grazed ground can damage regrowth and compact the soil, and when a paddock is grazed over several days.

Without a back fence, animals may revisit previously grazed areas as they look for water, shade or the next grazing break. This can damage emerging leaves and roots, reduce sward density and create muddy areas that become increasingly difficult to manage.

Back fencing is most effective when used alongside a planned grazing rotation, appropriate paddock allocations and well-positioned access points.

Where livestock move to a new, separate paddock each day, the benefits may already be partly achieved through the current grazing system.

• Plan the grazing allocation – decide how much grass the group needs and how long it should remain in the area
• Install a front fence – allocate a fresh grazing break using temporary or permanent fencing
• Move the back fence forward – prevent livestock returning to the previously grazed section
• Provide access to water – ensure the fence arrangement doesn’t restrict access to drinking water or force animals to cross vulnerable ground
• Monitor the sward – check for signs of re-grazing, trampling, bare ground and damage around gateways

Regrowth is vulnerable when plants have limited leaf area and soils are saturated.

Repeated grazing and trampling can reduce the plant's ability to recover, particularly where the sward is already short or damaged.

To protect regrowth:

• Avoid returning livestock too soon
• Increase the time between grazing when grass growth is slow
• Keep livestock off areas that are particularly wet or vulnerable
• Use temporary fencing to exclude wet corners, gateways and other high-risk areas
• Consider a higher post-grazing residual if conditions make it difficult to achieve the usual target without damaging the sward

In wet conditions, protecting the next rotation may be more valuable than achieving a tight residual today.

A simple reel and temporary electric fence may be sufficient, provided the system is safe, reliable and suitable for the stock.

Consider how often the fence will need moving and whether the labour required is realistic.

Check fencing regularly and ensure livestock have continuous access to water and can’t become trapped.

Position water troughs and access routes so that daily fence moves do not create added traffic through vulnerable ground.

Back fencing cannot compensate for saturated soil, excessive stocking pressure or inadequate grazing allocations.

If animals are still causing damage in the current grazing break, reduce the area grazed, change the paddock or remove livestock altogether.

The aim is not simply to prevent re-grazing, it is to manage the entire grazing area so that livestock can feed without repeatedly damaging the soil and sward.