Figure 17. A cattle rub well worn on the lower end where most use occurs. The rub can be reversed to extend use.

Figure 18. A well managed four paddock grazing unit where the tool, and all other attractants, are out into the paddock away from the water points and each other.

Figure 19. A model of the tool positioned too close to a shade tree and thus causing cattle distribution problems (top) and the tool located out into the paddock away from the shade trees and the lane to water at the far end and thus encouraging excellent cattle dispersal (bottom).

Figure 19. A model of the tool positioned too close to a shade tree and thus causing cattle distribution problems (top) and the tool located out into the paddock away from the shade trees and the lane to water at the far end and thus encouraging excellent cattle dispersal (bottom).

It is essential to realize that much of the basic function of the properly-managed cattle rub is to prevent external parasite buildup. The degree of fly and other parasite buildup is far-ranging and the precise economical threshold is ambiguous. However, when populations of flies increase they can be brought back to low levels with the rub. Lice and tick problems are best prevented, but the cattle rub offers some control. If they are not prevented, and populations are severe, another control procedure will likely be needed.

In order for the tool to be effective, cattle must use it. All cattle of a given herd may not frequent the cattle rub, although they may be at the area or the feeder. It is wise to have an animal that knows the tool to teach others. However, cattle that use the rub, in turn, rub on other cattle as they herd, bunch together, go to water, frequent shade, trail, breed, fight or have other contact. Thus, the tool is effective directly and indirectly. A herd that never adapts to the tool is extremely rare.

In order for the tool to be effective, the cattle rub must be wetted with the proper material. A palatable salt and mineral supplement must be used to bait the cattle to the wetted cattle rub. The rub should be wetted at the early onset of spring fly season, each time a slight fly population increase is observed, when a population reaches 50 to 100 flies per side of given cattle, after a rain spell, and in anticipation of fly population increases and the lice and tick season. In the case of lice and tick problems, additional control measures may be needed. If the lice and tick problem is already present, they should be controlled with other more effective and immediate measures and then the cattle rub used to prevent renewed populations.

The cattle rub is worn by use and exposure to the environment (Figure 17). Moisture and ultraviolet rays apparently hasten the deterioration of the rub. When the external parasite season is over, it is wise to store the rub inside a shelter out of the weather and sunlight. In our experience with herds of about 150 head or less, the rub lasts two to three years. The lower portion gets worn first and the rub ends can be switched to extend rub life. Covering the cattle rub with a layer of burlap or cotton ducking material during use may extend the rub life.

The fact that cattle use the tool gives the manager the option to use the tool to help facilitate pasture management as a separate consideration to the salt/mixed feeder and cattle rub function of the tool.

One of the considerations in rotational stocking management is to keep all cattle needs dispersed within a paddock, and on the whole of the unit, to capture as many of the benefits of animal impact of rotational stocking as feasible. Thus, animal impact advantages are spread as uniformly as possible within the paddock and within the whole grazing unit. In general, water points, corrals, feeding areas, salt/mineral locations, shade areas, loading location, and any other attractant should be located separately to help disperse cattle impact (Figures 18 and 19). The tools portability helps the grazier disperse cattle impact. Non-essential items to forage management should be outside the paddock. These items include such things as permanent corrals and loading facilities.

The tool aids in the dispersal of cattle on the paddock. It can be parked at the opposite end from water or in other different paddock locations during successive grazing cycles or moved to different paddock locations during a given cycle (Figure 19). This contributes to grazing uniformity (less spot grazing), better nutrient recycling distribution and other benefits in the paddock. The tool can be used to attract cattle to somewhat under-used areas to enhance use of those areas (Figure 20). In addition, more than one tool in a paddock for large herds adds to cattle dispersal. This is especially helpful in larger paddocks with herds more than about 150 head.

The tool can be used as an aid in rotating cattle. Cattle soon learn that when the grazier starts to move the tool, they can follow it to the next paddock, which is usually a better grazing area. The tool has, in effect, a lead animal influence (Figure 3). This use of the tool can be extended to baiting cattle to new gate locations, across creeks, rough paddock areas, ditches, through trees and other obstacle areas, into a corral location and other areas as needed.

The tool can be used to encourage nursing calves and newly weaned calves to creep graze (Figure 4). It can be parked close to the creep grazing access in the paddock fence or close to a grain creep feeder to facilitate creep grazing or creep feeding. The tool baits the cow/calf herd to the location, the calf sees the creep access and learns to use it more quickly. Once creep grazing is learned, the calf will continue without the tool being close by at all times. When the calf is retained for a time after weaning, continued creep grazing can be enhanced by again using the tool to bait the calves to a creep grazing access.

In grazing units using the tool, cattle often gather and bunch around water points. That causes destruction of pasture and ground cover, resulting in more water point and water point equipment damage and then added maintenance. The tool, parked away from the water point, attracts cattle to that point and reduces equipment and land damage at the water point (Figure 18).

Many of the pasture management implications and uses of the tool are also quality of life benefits for the grazier. Proper use of the tool in grazing management and management of grazing livestock makes things easier, faster, safer, and less costly relative to other more paradigm oriented means.