Influence of off-stream watering systems on cattle behaviour adjacent to Lower Little Bow River in Southern Alberta

Off-stream waterers (OSWs) located in upland pastures may be effective in reducing livestock impacts on riparian areas and rivers, but little research has been conducted on the impact of OSWs located closer to rivers. We studied cattle behaviour over four years (2012–2015) for a portable OSW at two sites (18–25 m from river) along an unfenced reach, and two permanent OSWs (41–68 m from river) located adjacent to the fenced reach with restricted cattle-access along the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta. The number of cattle drinking from the OSW versus river or restricted access site, as well as number of cattle on the bench-terrace or riparian zone with and without OSW, was determined. Significantly (P ≤ 0.10) greater (15-fold) number of cattle per day preferred to drink from the OSW compared to the river at the first location (Site 1) along the unfenced reach in June of 2012, but there was no significant difference at the second location (Site 2) along this same reach in July–August of 2012. Significantly greater (1.7–3.4 fold) numbers of cattle were present on the bench-terrace than the riparian zone when the OSW was present along the unfenced reach. Similar number of cattle preferred to drink from the OSW and restricted river-access site along the south side of the fenced reach in 2013 and 2015, and greater (2.7 fold) number preferred to drink from the river than OSW in 2014. In contrast, the permanent OSW on the north side of the fenced reach had significantly more (2.7 fold) cattle preferring to drink from the OSW than river-access site in 2015. Our results generally supported the hypothesis that OSWs located closer (≤68 m) to rivers were effective, but there were some exceptions.