“Bovine terraces, micro terracing, terracettes, cat steps”…all names for this hillside phenomenon. It’s widely thought that this familiar pattern is caused by the grazing habits of livestock lazily moving horizontally on slopes. There are also studies that have found this pattern to occur where there has been no animal grazing and may have as much to do with the natural process of erosion. The size and frequency of the terraces are dependent on factors such as soil type, slope, aspect, annual rainfall and plant community. It’s thought that these formations help in the prevention of erosion, soil formation and water infiltration. And…cows tend to like ’em.
