Cows in the pasture at Moarhof
HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

Grazing meadows in spring?

HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

Grazing meadows in spring?

Spring grazing on cut meadows is often recommended as a cost-effective method for cleaning up undesirably weedy areas. Meadows are grazed in early spring for a period of time that varies depending on the farm.

Spring grazing of cut meadows is viewed by companies as positive and a sustainable improvement in the plant population is assumed. This method was tested as part of a four-year study at the Bio-Institute of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein.
This experiment showed that short-term spring grazing of cut meadows for 1-2 weeks cannot completely restore grassland areas that are overgrown with problem plants. The duration of the measure is too short for that.

In principle, renovation measures in permanent grassland are always a long-term affair and require frequent repetition. However, spring grazing can be viewed as an element of a large-scale renovation concept, as well as an inexpensive and easy-to-implement measure.


Link to press release: Grazing meadows in spring?

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