Beef cattle – promoters of biodiversity

Anita Siliņa, Head of the LLKC Livestock Farming Competence Centre, “Latvijas Lopkopis”, January 2025

In beef cattle farming, proper grazing is of great importance
for management purposes – to move cattle between grazing areas, thereby improving
pasture management practices. This can boost sward productivity, pasture
the efficiency of land use and the health and productivity of grazing cattle.

“More than 60 % of the European Union’s soils are unhealthy
”are in this condition and require fertility treatment,” she said at a seminar on
sustainable livestock farming practices, organised in December by Latvia’s
Nature Fund in collaboration with the “Latvijas liellops” Cattle Breeders’ Association, it was reported that
Airi Kulveta, a farmer from Puutsa Farm, located in Terves, Peltsama Parish
in the village, and is a member of “Liivimaa Lihaveis”, Estonia’s largest meat producers’ cooperative. She was invited to share her experience and knowledge of meat
in cattle farming, managing a 300 ha holding and rearing 170 beef cattle breeds
Angus, Hereford, Simmental and Wagyu cattle.

1. Minimum tillage. The soil contains microorganisms
systems, a labyrinth of fungal and microscopic air-access systems, which
envelops the aggregate of soil particles. If this is disturbed carelessly, by compacting or
if ploughing is carried out without due consideration, or if inappropriate doses of fertiliser are used, then the system
will be hampered or even blocked.

2. It is preferable for the topsoil to remain undisturbed, as crops
A layer of straw or stubble will protect the soil from the sun, wind and other environmental factors
impact.

3. It is essential to keep the roots of crops in the soil. Live roots
Soil ecosystems are important for sustaining the organisms present in the soil: bacteria
and fungi, which provide food for single-celled organisms, insects and higher organisms,
which are further down the supply chain, thereby ensuring that the crops are supplied free of charge
fertilising and watering.

4. A diverse range of crops. Ideally – just like in a meadow. Successful
may involve the cultivation of several crops (two crops are grown at the same time
and removed after harvest). Ensuring soil cover (crop
crops that are not harvested but help to protect and nourish the soil) also
will promote the absorption of sunlight during periods when the plants are not growing.

5. To develop progressive grazing systems for livestock. Comprehensive
the introduction of pasture management and grazing regimes will alter the soil and, consequently,
will create plant communities that will re-establish themselves in natural grassland habitats.

Pasture plants that we regard as undesirable or weeds are often
as indicators of soil problems. An example of this is
horse sorrel, which tends to grow in places where the soil has become compacted – it is no coincidence that this
The plant is also commonly known as the dense sorrel.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ROTATIONAL GRAZING

Historically, herbivores moved across the meadows in herds, avoiding
for predators – from one place to the next, returning to the previous place after
over a longer period of time. In herbivores, this instinct has developed genetically as a means of avoiding
from predators. When cattle are grazed in one spot for a short period, the vegetation
vegetation has the opportunity to recover, whereas an intense load over a short period of time
has a positive impact on both the plant species growing in the pasture sward and on these plant species
coexisting species. When grazing takes place over a longer period in the same place, the sward deteriorates
the botanical composition changes, pasture productivity declines, and after grazing
The sward is unable to regenerate quickly. In contrast to the traditional grazing system,
where grazing takes place for a long period in a single field, or where fields are grazed on a rotational basis
gradually, by dividing the grazing area into small plots or paddocks. Research
The results show that, by practising rotational grazing, the grass yield can
increase by 15–45 % compared with traditional grazing, and there is also an improvement in
the quality of the soil.

THE BENEFITS OF PLANNED GRAZING

The root system of grasses continues to grow if they are grazed 50 % from
the plant, but if 70 % of the plant is consumed, then after 17 days 50 % of the plant’s root system
continues to grow, with 90 % – 100 % roots ceasing to grow for 17 days (see 2.
(image).

In the rotational grazing area: 50–60 % plants are eaten, 30 % are trampled
and 20–10 % plants remain untouched. Rotational grazing means that, on a single grazing patch,
graze for no more than 1–3 days, after which the pasture area recovers within 30 days –
regrowth. If animals eat plants to a height of less than 5 cm above the ground, then not only will
not only will the grass regrow more slowly, but the animals will also be at risk of parasites, because
Parasites found in pastures are located in the part of the plant closest to the soil. A plant that
If mown to a height of less than 5 cm, regrowth will be very limited. The same applies when mowing
When mowing roughage, the grass should not be cut to a height of less than 10 cm.

FEEDING CATTLE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS

It is important to feed cattle roughage whilst they are grazing,
when the grass is not growing. By continuing to supplement the cattle’s diet with roughage
on pasture, during the period when the volume of sward decreases, soil health is restored,
Experts cite this as a good solution for reducing moss in pastures. Nutrients
are returned to the soil in the best possible form, and nitrogen losses are prevented.
Soil also needs animal hair, manure and saliva.

CATTLE HEALTH

Cattle eat better if they can graze on the ground – that is their natural way
method of eating.

When unrolling the rolls, ensure there is sufficient space.
The feed should be spread in a different place every day so that the animals do not trample it, but
They spend their time evenly across the pasture areas, moving about them. As cattle tend to
exercise, as this has a more positive effect on udder health and the calving process.
Cattle need to be able to lie down in a clean and dry place; they must not be allowed to lie in the mud
and manure. Cattle should be kept clean; they may sometimes be wet, but
It must not be muddy or soiled with manure.

THE IMPACT OF WINTER GRAZING

Studies have shown that rotational grazing can
to have a positive effect on the micro-water cycle by improving soil structure and increasing
soil water retention capacity (Teague et al., 2016).

Rotational grazing improves the soil’s organic matter content and
soil erosion and increases the availability of water to plants. This was particularly evident
In 2023, when there was a severe drought.

In beef cattle farming, using batch, rotation or
There are many benefits to a precision grazing system, but the main thing to bear in mind is –
The electric fence or electric herder should be moved regularly every 1–3 days. Cattle
In a herd, all animals must have equally good access to the feed line (in winter
(for fodder) or for grass for grazing – (during the growing season), there must be no overlap
competition for the best spot at the feeding trough, at the water trough, but that means,
that the herd should not be too large.

The most suitable breeds for a year-round grazing system are British breeds
breeds:

Aberdinangus, Hereford, Highland and Galloway breeds. British
These varieties have been bred primarily for use as forage, adapting to
harsher weather conditions, and therefore – for meat production on a more extensive scale, yielding
moderately muscular carcasses. Here in Latvia, too, their numbers are increasing year on year
the number of farms that choose to rear Aberdeen Angus beef cattle.

For this system to work accurately, it is important for the farmer to manage
and to organise the management of the herd precisely, by assessing the pasture paddocks
location and geographical characteristics.

Article with illustrations here: Galas_liellopi_biolog.daudzveidibas_veicinataji_Latv.Lopkopis_01%202025.pdf