A group of beef cattle experts discuss the pros and cons of letting cattle have free access to ponds in the summer. Among the concerns were water quality, bank erosion, mastitis and foot rot.
Overall, the risk of health challenges for beef cattle in ponds is low, and when considering investments in the herd, fencing off the pond is a low priority on my list of recommendations for producers.” – Brian Lubbers, DVM
Source: Angus Beef Bulletin Extra, September 7, 2021. Link.
Also see: Ponds may hurt cattle gain, Hay and Forage Grower, June 2019. Link.