Conservation grazing
Using grazing animals to keep wild habitats such as meadows, heaths and wetlands open.
Also: habitat grazing, nature grazing
Conservation grazing uses cattle and other animals to manage land for wildlife rather than mainly for meat or milk. Many habitats in Europe, such as chalk grassland, heath and wet meadows, developed under centuries of grazing and become scrub or woodland if grazing stops. Hardy breeds that thrive on rough plants and need little care, such as the Highland, Galloway, Belted Galloway, Dexter and English Longhorn, are often used, as are back-bred Heck and Tauros cattle in rewilding areas. Cattle graze differently from sheep and horses, pulling at tall grass and opening patches where small plants can grow.