Chewsing the best grazer for the job

Like humans, cows, sheep, ponies and goats each have their own preferences when picking what to eat for dinner. The different ways these animals graze creates unique grassland habitats. That's why it's important to choose the right grazer for the job!

Picture the English countryside and it probably includes cows, sheep or ponies, lazily chewing away on a grassy field or hillside. These amazing grazers are so commonplace in our landscape but a wiry Hebridean sheep, or a herd of charismatic Highland cows on our grassland nature reserves are especially eye-catching. And as with many things in conservation, there’s often more happening than what first appears.

A quick history lesson

Long before humans tamed the land, Yorkshire’s hillsides, grasslands and forests were kept in check by imposing animals like tarpan horses, boars and aurochs (the ancient precursor to modern day cows). These landscape architects would have wandered prehistoric Yorkshire in large herds, eating grasses, shrubs and saplings, churning up soil and creating micro habitats for smaller creatures to feed, nest and thrive.

Conservation grazing follows this same principle, but using more traditional breeds of sheep, cows, goats and ponies as grassland architects, to re-create the same quality of natural habitat found in Britain during the 19th century.

Choosing the right grazer

Not only is conservation grazing sustainable and low impact, it’s also one of the most natural and effective ways to ensure the health and diversity of our meadows and grasslands. But it’s not as simple as putting a herd of cows on a field and hoping for the best.

Cows, sheep, ponies and goats all graze in different ways and each have their own preferences when selecting which plants to eat. By considering the grazing traits of each species, we can select the best animal for the job - at the correct density - to create optimum conditions for endangered or sensitive wildflowers and wildlife.

Sheep

Unlike larger grazing animals such as cows, sheep have small feet and are comfortable grazing on steep slopes, which make them ideal animals for hilly areas. They use their thin, muscular lips to eat close to ground and tend to nibble on shorter grasses.

Sheep are fussy and rarely eat, tall or dead vegetation but love flowers and have been known to gobble up desirable plant species. We therefore usually graze them after flowers have seeded, in low numbers, or after hay has been cut to keep grass low for wading birds in springtime.

A highland cow itching it's with its horn whilst sticking its tonuge out

Cows

Cows use their giant, dexterous tongues to wrap around grasses and pull them in to their mouths. This leaves longer tussocks of grass, which are beneficial micro habitats for invertebrates and small mammals. Unlike sheep, cows are not picky eaters and will happily graze on dominant grassland species, which leaves room for sensitive wildflowers to grow! They ‘poach’ the ground with their bigger feet which creates the ideal bare ground for seeds. Manure attracts flies and beetles which the birds love!

Goats

Goats are incredibly agile, and are able to jump over conventional fences, which can make them difficult to contain. However, they are an excellent choice for grazing hilly or steep areas. Unlike their distant sheep cousins, goats aren’t at all fussy and will eat scrub, willow and ash.

Exmore Pony, laydown and chewing on grass. Photo by Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Like sheep, ponies graze close to the ground, sometimes leaving bare patches of earth, which, when wet creates ideal hunting grounds for worm eating birds like blackbirds. Horses are also selective grazers, often leaving certain areas untouched, creating a patchwork of short and longer grassy areas. Ponies often need more food per animal, so small sites can become overgrazed if they’re over stocked.

How you can support Yorkshire’s ancient grasslands

Our vision is for species-rich grasslands on all of our main sites, supported through low intensity grazing. In 2022 our aim is to boost out livestock numbers by several more animals, so that we can graze on more of our reserves, creating essential, micro habitats were sensitive wildlife can thrive.

Will you join us and our supporters across Yorkshire to realise this vision?