JFHMS Quality Assurance Practice Exam

If you have a stream in a pasture that is not needed as a water source, what is a recommended method to keep cattle away from it?

1. Create a mud pit nearby

2. Fence off the stream

3. Plant trees around it

4. Install a water trough next to the stream

The correct answer is: Fence off the stream

Fencing off the stream is a highly effective method for keeping cattle away from it. This approach directly limits access to the area, preventing cattle from wandering into the stream and potentially degrading its water quality or causing erosion along the banks. Fencing creates a clear boundary that cattle can be trained to respect, ultimately protecting the stream's ecosystem. It also reduces the risk of physical harm to the animals from slipping or falling into the water. By implementing proper fencing, you also create the opportunity to manage a safe distance for livestock, encouraging them to graze in other areas of the pasture. Other methods, while they may have some influence, do not provide the same level of control or effectiveness. For example, creating a mud pit nearby might attract cattle rather than keep them away. Planting trees around the stream could help provide some natural barriers over time, but may take a long time to establish and has less immediate impact. Installing a water trough next to the stream could actually attract cattle to that area, defeating the purpose of keeping them away from the stream itself. Thus, fencing stands out as the most reliable solution.