Renovating and maintaining a cow track

We outline the tell-tale signs that may indicate problems with your track and suggest how to maintain it to ensure it continues to aid cow flow and comfort.

A cow track is only as good as its performance on its worst day in the worst section. Good management of your track is key to its long-term success.

Here are the warning signs to look out for that may indicate a problem with your track:

• High or rising lameness during the grazing period
• High levels of sole bruising, foul in the foot, white line disease or sole damage that can be linked to stone damage during track use
• Ridges and gullies forming on the track, which indicate water run-off and erosion
• Bottlenecks in cow flow during herding
• Cows raising their heads during herding
• Cows jostling for position and therefore pushing against others in the herd
• Excessive dunging in certain areas of the track
• Cows tending to walk along the verges or in single file
• Cows walking slower than 3 miles per hour on the track

If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to carry out some maintenance on your track.

It’s crucial to maintain your cow tracks to ensure they continue doing their job of ensuring cow flow and comfort for your herd. Here are some considerations:

• Top or cap the surface with fine stone or a soft organic material. Mechanically crushed stone is a good replacement surface
• Always compact the new surface with a heavy vibrating roller to remove rough edges and build the required camber into the surface
• If your original track is made from woodchips, you’ll need to ensure it’s properly drained and has suitable fencing along the sides to prevent soil contamination
• Identify problem areas such as gateways, and look at options such as rotating the field entrances and exits, or making openings wider