Our Visitor Warden, Sharon, tells us all about the benefits of grazing on our sites.
If you have visited any of our sites, you will have noticed that from time to time, we host cattle and sheep in certain areas of the nature reserves. This is called targeted grazing and it is not quite as simple as you may think.
Before grazing was reintroduced, weeds and grass were mowed, or herbicide was used however this was not good for the environment or wildlife and it was realised that we had to reduce our reliance upon herbicide. It was noticed that land which was grazed had more biodiversity than land which was not, and so targeted grazing began.
Before any kind of grazing takes place, a plan must be formulated with a clear objective and includes specific detail relating to the “why's and when’s” and considering the quantity and quality of the forage for the grazing animals health along with the impacts upon other species such as pollinators, availability of water, number of grazing animals and for how long they will be able to graze the area. This plan then needs to be communicated to and by the grazier so that ultimate goals are achieved, and the welfare of the grazing animals is priority.
The timing of the grazing is essential, a time needs to be chosen after all ground nesting birds have moved on, the foliage attractive to pollinators has stopped flowering but the seeds have not yet started to spread (especially if this is an invasive species such as Ragwort which should be removed prior to any form of grazing) The vegetation needs to be of a sufficient amount to be able to cause the livestock no harm and fulfil the dietary requirements.
So what are the benefits of grazing as an alternative to mowing and use of herbicide? Grazing is less of a problem upon the environment as livestock can move across rocky and steep slopes without too much of a problem, these places would be very difficult to access with mowing equipment. Also, the cost implications of using cattle rather than a mower would be significantly less, by the time you factor in any costs associated with the movement of the equipment to the site and then the cost associated with the operator using the mower, once the livestock are in place, there is very little cost associated with grazing.
As for the use of herbicides, we have all heard the implications of herbicide on wildlife such as bees on other pollinators, we need pollinators to continue to increase in numbers rather than decline, in order to continue to produce food. Then there is the cost implication of buying herbicide, the cost of using herbicide (operators pay) the costs associated with the storage of the herbicide and the potential for an environmental disaster, such as that caused by spillage or incorrect usage.
We also need to consider soil conditions; livestock should not be herded onto land which is sodden as the large amount of hooves passing through can cause physical damage to the condition of the ground. We also need to make sure that the plants are in vegetative state and are palatable to the livestock.
Timing is critical when it comes to grazing, graze too early and there will be negative consequences for insects, amphibians and birds, while grazing too late will see the spreading of seeds from the foliage resulting in less space for species of wild orchid etc. It is a fine balancing act and needs a well-trained eye to monitor the situation.
A whole host of animals are used for targeted grazing, from horses/ponies to sheep and cattle. Each has its own merits, and this is another reason why a management plan for grazing must be established, it would not be wise for either the livestock or the landowner if the incorrect livestock was chosen for an area.
Grazing doesn’t just end with the livestock going onto the area. The livestock are continually monitored whilst they are grazing, to ensure that they are safe and dietary needs are being met, but so too is the land on which they feed. The land needs to be checked for hazards to the livestock (for example litter) and whilst it is not advisable to go into the enclosure to retrieve it, sometimes the danger is too large, and you are left with no alternative but to contact the grazier and get permission to enter the area and conditions such as surface water and foliage availability also needs to be assessed regularly to ensure that the dietary needs of the livestock are being met along with no permanent damage to the ground, making growth difficult during the following growth season. Environmental issues also need to be assessed each day and especially after heavy rains or storms when land may become flooded or trees fall and destroy the fence, allowing the animals to escape.
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