Over wintering cattle in a forest.

[Mrblue5000]

I'm a farmer with a small piece of forestry (12 acres approx). My trees are coming up on 20 years old and I have just got a felling licence to start thinning.

I have a good bit of inspection paths cut already and I've noticed a bit of small ivy plants. I'm thinking of putting 4 or 5 young cattle about 250-300kg live weight into the forestry to control the ivy and graze off long grass in clear areas. But will they damage the tree roots or eat bark? It's mostly Sitka and Norway spruce with some Alder. Has anybody else tried this?  

[Stubby]

5 hours ago, Mrblue5000 said:

I'm a farmer with a small piece of forestry (12 acres approx). My trees are coming up on 20 years old and I have just got a felling licence to start thinning.

I have a good bit of inspection paths cut already and I've noticed a bit of small ivy plants. I'm thinking of putting 4 or 5 young cattle about 250-300kg live weight into the forestry to control the ivy and graze off long grass in clear areas. But will they damage the tree roots or eat bark? It's mostly Sitka and Norway spruce with some Alder. Has anybody else tried this?  

I saw this done on a TV program a while back . Can't remember where though ...

[MattyF]

I would not of thought so .. I had 4 in an 8 acre meadow that has about 20  pines and sycamore in and they only liked rubbing there horns on one of them… they would not touch Sitka or Norway though if I let them in the top plantation. 
I believe it’s actually a thing now this conservation woodland grazing , I have a friend in the FC who specialises in these projects and is charging for putting his highland cattle in woods, Paid grazing!!

I’ve seen and worked along long horns in park woodland and could not recall any damage. 
 

[Patrick goulding]

Hi there a farm I do a bit of game keeping on put there cows to the wood this year it was during the heat wave they didn’t half clear it they cleared everything but to be fair they didn’t damage the trees but I’m guessing next year the cover will come twice as thick. I think 🤔 it would probably be a good idea to put them in just before you start felling I think come spring it will be thick with groth. Cheers thanks. 

[Dan Maynard]

I felled some fairly young ash and lime which had been ring barked by cattle on a farm, so they can cause damage. However the cows in this case were really hungry as they weren't being fed enough in summer while grass not growing - the guy renting the land was kicked off due to the general mismanagement so in more normal circumstances I'm sure not a problem.

[slack ma girdle]

Cattle are good for clearing brambles. The only issue that I have had is they tend to congregate in one place when not feeding, which can get a bit poached with minor root damage .

Check the felling licence,  normally have conditions about keeping livestock out for a minimum of 10 years .

[Stere]

Don't think its that likely trees will be damaged unless there is no grazing left.

 

Also it is though barking  might be because they  are after some minerals ( certain trees like willow seem to get barked more often). Mineral  blocks etc might make it more unlikely to happen?

 

I duuno if spruce is a tree species they  tend to go for?

 

Seem a apple orchard  where cows had barked the whole lot, but might of being no grass left at the time.

 

Also know several old hazel coppice areas with cattle  under the overstood stools that are heavily grazed. They don't seem  like hazel bark but do eat the leaves  & new shoots. (browse line visible)

Edited October 22, 2022 by Stere

[Stubby]

2 hours ago, MattyF said:

I would not of thought so .. I had 4 in an 8 acre meadow that has about 20  pines and sycamore in and they only liked rubbing there horns on one of them… they would not touch Sitka or Norway though if I let them in the top plantation. 
I believe it’s actually a thing now this conservation woodland grazing , I have a friend in the FC who specialises in these projects and is charging for putting his highland cattle in woods, Paid grazing!!

I’ve seen and worked along long horns in park woodland and could not recall any damage. 
 

That's a great picture Matty . Dunno why but its kinda comforting . 

[Mrblue5000]

Thanks for the replies so far. I think the bark eating is due to phosphorus deficiency. My brother kept a few horses on another part of the farm and they destroyed ash and holly trees. I will have a look at the small print in the felling licence and hopefully try it in about a month.

[Paul in the woods]

I know it's obvious but it might be worth checking your fencing is ok. I don't own any cattle but one of my neighbours has then in her woodland and they often escape into mine. They seem used to roaming free and now just tend to wander through mine literally to pastures new.

 

I don't really mind them there but they do make a mess of the paths and slopes.