We started our morning in the shearing shed covering off on key components and considerations when deciding to build and utilise stock containment areas during dry periods. This included highlighting the purpose containment areas as a temporary, proactive management tools to protect our soils and pastures, and maintain livestock production and health during drought. After discussing the pros and cons of stock containment, site selection, pen design and troughing decisions to suit your mobs we took the opportunity to check our Matt’s containment area which he established in 2018. Matt’s site walk demonstrated a great combination of features contributing to an effective stock containment area. Key features included close proximity to feedstores, yards, and easy, all weather access via laneways, feed troughing extending along the outside of the containment pens to remove the need to feed in pen, and basic, but effective PVC water troughing designed to prevent dust and ensure clean cool water. For Matt he utilises these areas to protect his pastures during the summer months and through the autumn break to ensure that ground cover is preserved drying dry months and that pastures have quicker recovery post-rain.