Grazing drainage ditches

[Fen Farm Dexters]

We want to join 2 grass fields together and leave the intervening dyke/ditch open rather than fence round it. Being Dexters, doubtless they will explore every square inch of the field. It is a typical Fenland heavy clay land ditch about 300 m long,

5 foot deep with steep sides, and rarely holds any water except in a very wet winter, when cattle would be indoors. Will Dexters get stuck? One end of the ditch slopes up to ground level

Roger Goy

[Mark Bowles]

Personally I would not risk it, post a photo on here and we can have a look.

[Saffy]

My neighbours have just lost an in calf dairy heifer in a deep ditch, very expensive for them...

[Boofarm]

can you get into it and walk along the length of the ditch to the exit slope without too much difficulty during your proposed grazing period? If you can then sounds ok - if not then your cattle would have a similar struggle - if in doubt then a temporary electric fence might be an option

[SteveM]

A paddock we rent has a along one side, with fence on far bank, but its around 45 degrees max angle, you can walk down intoand back out of it without any aids. only problem is its at the opposite side of field to gate so regularly have to walk across field to find cattle hiding grazing the bottom

[monica a waltho]

Like Mark says post a pic the danger could be cattle getting knocked over and falling if they start fighting or bulling if its really steep

[Jac]

If they don't come to grief falling in you will spend the rest of your life clearing ditches as they skid down them filling them in as they go.

[Darachbeg]

Our wee herd spends the Summer up a hill cut through by incised ravines and deep bogs. A hoof in the wrong place would spell disaster but no mishaps even when dexters are introduced from gentler topography! They soon work out where to cross the burns safely and are very cautious crossing soft ground. This Autumn we had the young stock in a field bounded on one side by an unfenced canal with very steep banks - no mishaps unlike the Dutch freisian starring in one of our kids' bedtime books!