Cattle on Road...
Submitted: Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 10:54
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Member - Royce
As I tour about Oz, many areas are unfenced and have stock grazing across the road. I've spent a few 'hairy' hours getting to
places I needed to be looking out for looming shapes ahead as the sun sets.
That's all good.
Down our road sections of the roadside are lightly fenced off with electric tape and cattle put out to graze during the day. Yesterday a lovely shorthorn cross cow wandered across the road ahead of me as I drove. The tape had dropped too low.
Okay... I knew to look out for them. There are no signs. Not good.
My other concern is that the roadside areas are the last strips of native grasses growing in this area. Kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, tussocks, blowfly grass. I'm not sure that it's appropriate for this area to be grazed.
Well... maybe I'm feeling the pinch as the feed drops off for my stock and I look at my roadside grass.... but I won't graze it.
I guess the day will come when stock on roads is no more? Thoughts?
Reply By: Member - John and Val - Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 11:13
Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 11:13
Hi Royce,
WE nearly collected a frisky cow somewhere in the
Pilbara last year - a timely reminder to always keep a
lookout for them (and others).
Theres a bit of a paradox around this issue. Some more remote areas are increasingly being fenced off - makes it harder to find a
bush camp. Meanwhile in more closely settled areas many of the travelling stock routes are being sold off as they are no longer used for that purpose. But they are often good areas of remnant vegetation and good
camping spots, so it is a shame to see them let go. But I guess the days of droving cattle are pretty much gone thanks to road transport. But it really gives a true outback flavour when you do come across the occasional mob of cattle with drovers.
Cheers,
Val.
| J and V
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AnswerID:
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Reply By: Motherhen - Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 17:23
Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 17:23
It is not just cattle, but native wildlife and even camels, depending on where and when you travel. We never travel after dark in unknown territory, or in areas where any of the above are a risk, whether there is any signage or not. Don't trust electric fences as the power can go down at any time due to something as simple as a small branch landing on the wire or any number of different causes.
Several times we have had camels come without warning onto the road in front of us to stop or amble up the road in front of us, during the day. At
Alice Springs, a caravan came in; a large Roadstar and the front corner had been stoved in when hit by a camel during the day.
It is important to keep grassy verges grazed or otherwise cleared as they are a fire risk, particularly from the inconsiderate who may throw out a cigarette butt.
Motherhen
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Follow Up By: Member - Royce- Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 17:44
Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 17:44
Hmmm now there's a dilemma... how to reflective tag the wildlife.... maybe darts.
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 19:23
Friday, Jan 08, 2010 at 19:23
Mmmm - pehaps reflective eyes on the drivers
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