Conservation district warns about issues with livestock, erosion-control devices
WAYNESBURG — The Greene County Conservation District is warning farmers and livestock owners to carefully monitor the placement of certain types of erosion-control devices on their properties.
Certain devices, such as blanketing and survey flagging tape, may pose a hazard to livestock when used in grazing areas.
Although biodegradable, the materials are not meant to be consumed and can cause serious intestinal damage, blockages and even death.
Several cases of animal injury or death apparently due to the ingestion of those materials have been reported to the conservation district office.
The conservation district said it urges landowners who have pasture areas used for grazing purposes to keep their animals off the site until full vegetative cover is established, and the controls either have been removed or completely vegetated.
In areas where pasture animals tend to graze intensively, it is advised to ensure that the erosion-control blanketing is completely degraded before letting livestock enter.
The animals can still pull the blanketing from under the roots and ingest the material.
Landowners involved in projects currently in the planning stages should make any company performing work on their land aware of their livestock and the intent to graze areas after their work has completed.
Other controls can be used where the blanketing is to be placed. Landowners can and should request alternative controls that are safe for livestock.
Companies should be able to fulfill these requests without any complications, the conservation district office said.
For more information, call the donservation district at 724-852-5278, or e-mail gccd@co.greene.pa.us.