Extensive pastures are among the most species-rich areas in Central Europe and thus fulfill an important ecological function.
In extensive grazing systems, the pasture areas are occupied continuously throughout the vegetation period or for extended periods. The pasture is divided into zero to a maximum of three paddocks. Generally, the effort required for pasture management is low.
A particular challenge lies in optimally adjusting the livestock density to the available area. Livestock density on extensive pastures is usually around 1 livestock unit per hectare.
- Too few animals can negatively impact population growth. The area is not grazed evenly, and forage losses also increase.
- If they are constantly underutilized, they lose their biodiversity and undesirable species can proliferate.
On extensive pastures, unwanted plants can spread, and poisonous plants (such as marsh horsetail, autumn crocus, bracken, white hellebore, cypress spurge, yellow rattle, meadowsweet, and ragwort) may also appear. This must be taken into account when managing and maintaining the pasture. Animals should have access to sufficient forage, and a single pasture maintenance visit per year is recommended.
Due to the low yield, extensive pastures provide ideal feed for dry cows, young cattle, heifers and extensively kept suckler cows.
