Conservation Grazing: Livestock in Habitat Management

Conservation grazing uses carefully managed livestock to maintain open habitats including heathland and chalk grassland that support high biodiversity and benefit multiple wild species.

Key Facts

Chalk grassland supports over 200 plant species per hectare when maintained by appropriate grazing
Conservation grazing uses traditional breeds such as Belted Galloway cattle and Exmoor ponies
Scrub encroachment on open habitats destroys the conditions needed by many rare invertebrates and plants
Conservation grazing animals provide additional welfare complexity for organisations managing primarily for wildlife
The National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, and RSPB use conservation grazing across hundreds of sites in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Conservation grazing animals occupy an interesting welfare position: they are domestic livestock used as ecological tools, with welfare obligations that must be met alongside conservation objectives. Animals on conservation sites may receive less intensive management than conventional livestock; veterinary care may be less immediate; and overwintering in challenging conditions may be accepted as part of the conservation rationale. Conservation grazing organisations must carefully balance ecological objectives against the welfare needs of individual animals, ensuring that the livestock used as tools of habitat management receive appropriate care.

What You Can Do

Support conservation grazing organisations working to maintain open habitats
Volunteer with organisations monitoring the welfare and ecological outcomes of conservation grazing
Learn about the habitat types that conservation grazing maintains in your region
Donate to conservation organisations using grazing as a cost-effective habitat management tool
Advocate for welfare standards for conservation grazing animals as part of land management guidelines