Renovating and maintaining a cow track

Spotting problems with your track

A track is 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.

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. A specialist machine to do this is available; this consists of a heavy-duty rotavator, followed by a machine to build the camber or appropriate fall across the track. This should then be followed by a heavy vibrating roller which needs to generate 70 tonnes of force
If the original track is made from woodchips, 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