PowerPointPrsentation

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Does low-intensity grazing on large pastures
support restoration goals? Lessons learnt from
recent grazing projects in Central Europe.
Gert Rosenthal (University of Kassel)
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• Def. extensive grazing
• habitat complexes
• grazing density adjusted to seasonal fodder
  shortages
• selective grazing
• typical herd behaviour
• either large integrated pastures or pasture
  networks connected by trails

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The aims restoration and conservation
of... ... high valued semi-open
landscapes in Central Europe ...
structural, habitat species diversity on
different spatial scales ... target
species target communities
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Aurochs drawings from mesolithic caves
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Pasture livestock substitutes wild animals
Grazed forest during 16th century
Französisches Stundenbuch
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Historische Weideland-schaft im Alpenvorland
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Distribution of Common Pastures (Allmende) in the
19th century
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Extensive grazing systems in Germany
Legend WCE-1Cattle grazing of atlantic
lowland WCE-2Sheep grazing of atlantic
lowland WCE-3Cattle grazing in subcontinental
lowland and submontane region WCE-4Sheep grazing
in subcontinental lowland and submontane
region WCE-5Mixed grazing in subcontinental
lowland and submontane region WCE-6Floodplains
of limestone gravel WCE-7Cattle grazing in
montane region WCE-8 Sheep grazing in montane
region WCE-9 Mixed grazing in montane
region ALP-1 Mixed grazing in the mountain
region of the Alps ALP-2 Mixed grazing in the
alpine und subnival region of the Alps
Ref. Lederbogen et al. 2005
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History of common land in Upper Bavaria
Seasonal drift of young cattle, indoor housing of
milk cows
Every day drift of young cattle, indoor housing
of milk cows
Every day drift of all livestock
Example Urspringer Viehweide
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Spatial scales of ecological processes and
grazing effects in extensive pastures
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Reference Areas
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Reference areas
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Grazing induced micro structures in extensive
pastures
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Sheep trails on calcareous dune
grasslands (August-Euler-airport Darmstadt),
Schwabe et al. 2004
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Species predominantely occuring on trampling
trails (as compared with adjacent dry grassland,
plt0.05) Schwabe et al. 2004
Sheep pastures, Upper Rhine valley
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Common large pastures, Upper Bavaria
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Study area Common pasture Urspring, Upper
Bavaria 53 ha, 80 cows, May - October
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Grazing rotation and study design
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1 m
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Regeneration by means of stolons
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Invasion probability depends on distance !
Logistic regression model N287 micro plots that
were Apium-free in the beginning of resting
periods Nagelkerkes r20.439
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Apium repens habitats created by extensive grazing
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Succession of transition mires, Upper Bavaria
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abandoned 50 years
extensively grazed
Sphagnion-community
Carex lasiocarpa community
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Effects of large- scale grazing on floristic
diversity of transitional mires?
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Habitattypes of the Mühlberger Viehweide
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Long-term succession in old common pastures gt 500
years S-Germany, pasture Mühlberg, 54 ha
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IV1
IV2
II
III
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Fallow
Intensive grassland
Common large pasture
Litter meadow
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Large scale grazing creates soft border lines
I small sedge comm.
II small sedge comm. with Alnus
III Alnus forest with open places
IV dense Alnus forest

• Small scale mosaics of different succession stages

• transitions (ecotones) between forest and open
  land

Decreasing grazing intensity
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Impact of grazing on landscape structureBorder
line lenght between habitats and/or succession
stages, pasture Mühlberg, 54 ha
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Extensive grazing on large pastures creates
structurally rich landscapes Upper Bavaria,
Mühlberg
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Colias palaeno
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Gradients of grazing intensity in large pastures
Grazing intensity
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Grazing resistant plant species in large
pastures

• Betonica officinalis
• Serratula tinctoria
• Gentiana lutea
• Galium boreale

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Plant species diversity (vascular plants
mosses) increases due to large-sale grazing !
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Grazing pattern controlled by stocking
rate Eider valley (N-Germany)
Low stocking rate (0.6 cattle/ha)
High stocking rate (1.1 cattle/ha)
Grazing intensity ()
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Extensive grazing results in an increase of
landscape heterogeneity Eider valley,
N-Germany 2000 - 2004
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Re-introduction of low-intensity cattle grazing
in the Eider valley Effects on species diversity
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Dominant plant species of intermediate succession
stages in extensively grazed pastures
Source 1 Schwabe et al. 2004, 2 Putfarken et al.
2004, 3 Schrautzer et al. 2006, 4 Rosenthal 1992,
5 Lederbogen et al. 2004, 6 Wittig 2002
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Control of dominants by extensive grazing
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Factors governing animal behavior on large
pastures
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Does extensive grazing support restoration goals?

• Advantages of extensive grazing
• It supports restoration processes (e.g.
  establishment, seed dispersal)
• It creates manifold micro structures on patch
  scale (germination, establishment )
• Persistent intermediate succession stages can be
  displaced
• High structural and habitat diversities guarantee
  a high g-diversity
• Combined effect of efficient seed dispersal and
  creation of micro sites

• Problems of extensive grazing
• Acceleration of progressive succession on wet
  soils high risk for light demanding plant
  species
• Dispersal of seeds of non-target plant species
  into target communities
• Low rate of nutrient impoverishment of soils

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Thank you
for listening