Conservation grazing
The notion of being able to positively manage a landscape through grazing is a controversial topic in farming, environmental and political circles.
Simply put, Conservation Grazing is grazing that benefits wildlife, landscape and cultural heritage. Conservation grazing is livestock grazing that meets nature conservation objectives and includes everything from extensive, low-intervention grazing schemes that meet the nutritional and welfare needs of livestock while allowing natural processes to occur right through to grazing on improved grassland managed to optimize sward structure for invertebrates, small mammals and birds. While there is no golden rule, conservation grazing generally involves less intensive land management techniques on areas that are less commercially productive. The type of livestock is a primary consideration for conservation grazing and land managers need to assess the differences in breed requirements in and impact on their own piece of country. Animal feeding preferences, physiology and behaviour will affect their suitability for different sites. Due to their hardiness and ability to cope well on unimproved grassland rare and heritage breeds of livestock are frequently used in conservation and extensive grazing systems and represent an important part of farming cultural heritage.
Nutritive value of native pasture Native grasses as a group should not be considered to be low nutritive value. Grazing animals actively select better quality components of a pasture and especially hardy heritage breeds do well on native pastures. |