January 17, 2007:
A key component of any winter grazing strategy is knowing the regulations, says Ryan Davison, a Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) lead with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (AAFC – PFRA). Regulations for cattle wintering fall under the jurisdiction of the Alberta Operation Practices Act (AOPA), which dictates the minimum distances of seasonal feeding and bedding sites from water bodies and neighbouring residences.
"A key thing to remember is that the cattle should not be within 30 m (100 ft) of a water body. This helps minimize the possibility of contamination from runoff," says Davison.