Pasture
A willow (also: pasture ) is a herbaceous plants (mainly grasses ) vegetated agricultural area, are available on the farm, where this vegetation serves as the main food. The Eroding will " graze " or " graze " called, so that you also may speak of " grazers " with the animals.
Grazing animals are ungulates such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goat, horse or camel, as well as some types of poultry such as chickens birds, goose or ostrich. They are held for different purposes, but especially for animal production ( production of food and raw materials from farm animals ).
In a narrower sense is a pasture created from human, agricultural grassland, which is used for intensive inpatient livestock ( pasture management).
In a broader sense also grazed forests ( Hutewald ), as well as natural steppes, savannas and tundras are referred to as pastures, which are used for extensive livestock farming. The grazing of natural open land biomes is called pastoralism. Especially in arid regions pastoral grazing areas are used with different forms of remote pasture.
One is cherished by fencing or other barriers escape pasture were formerly known as coupling to highlight the contrast to the non fenced pastures. The term pasture is also associated with wildlife, bees ( honey bees ) and birds ( Vogelweide ) used.
After 2008 published model of Anthrome the two American geographers Erle C. Ellis and Navin Ramankutty make all pasture species together ( Residential, Populated and Remote Rangeland ) today about 27 % of the terrestrial land surface.
- 5.1 Mechanical Maintenance
Etymology
The term pasture from the Germanic root " * weidja " back, which originally meant " hunting ". Also in Old Norse and Old English sources, the importance of still more to " hunt, catch, walk" ( anord. veiðr, aengl. WAD ). Was only in Old High German ( weida ) uses the word in the sense of 'feed, feeding place, etc. " be used. Only in the New High German language, the meaning has only changed for the " feeding place for cattle ".
Forms of use of pastures
In contrast to the meadow pasture land is not used for forage ( mowing for conservation as hay or silage making), but her nursery is eroded by the animals ( grazing, grazing ). Transitional forms are Mähweiden whose growths are occasionally grazed within a year both, as can be mown for hay and or silage. The higher frequency of use of pasture as opposed to the meadow leads to a predominance of the " sub- grasses " (for example, red fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass ) and to an increased incidence of rosette plants ( such are types of plantain, dandelion and others). The agricultural use of the pasture is divided into regulated and unregulated forms of use. For controlled use of form include permanent pasture ( continuous grazing ), rotational grazing or strip grazing. From unregulated grazing one speaks, for example, in rough pastures. A special form is the Alm
Unregulated grazing
From an unregulated grazing is when the use is regulated neither in time nor in space. A form of unregulated use is for example the " Hutung ", where a Germany, this type is only for the few migrant shepherds who primarily use their flocks of sheep to the " countryside". It takes place on land without fencing. Another form is the so-called "stand grazing ". Here to beweidende surface is divided into a few (one to three ) coupling. The animals remain for a relatively long time in an area, which can lead to various problems, such as seasonal over-or under grazing, very selected feed intake at the beginning of the growing season.
Controlled grazing
In the controlled grazing grazing duration and to beweidende area is precisely defined. Food surpluses are skimmed off by mowing and conservation (hay and silage ). This results in a constant, always grazing mature forage supply. However, the prerequisite is a time limit of grazing Ganges and a regular busy life of the animals to other areas. On surfaces with controlled grazing, the stocking densities are higher, the grazing periods but lower than in the unregulated use. The number of coupling depends on the number of animals and the herd size.
Paddock pasture, permanent pasture
In a paddock pasture, the total grazing area is divided into four to eight paddocks. The feeding times are long ( about ten days), the rest periods between the individual grazing periods relatively short. This form of grazing is beneficial in under grassy scars and large herds, as well as in animals that have a high demand on the outlet (eg horses). The nursery of these pastures is usually quite low, which limits a selected feed intake by the animals. The disadvantages are high pasture residues, a relatively low yield potential and usually high nutrient costs ( fertilization).
- Stocking density: ten cattle livestock units ( Rigv ) per hectare ( ha),
- Allocated feeding area per Rigv: circa 1000 m²,
- Sectional area ratio: 25%.
Rotational grazing
When Umtriebsbeweidung the total in more than eight paddocks is divided. The feeding times each coupling are approximately one to three days of rest periods ( periods of growth of the aufwuchs ) between the Beweidungen are sorted by vegetation time of about three to six weeks. The short space allocation results in less food selection, a higher treading on the surface, a greater risk for turf injury, and higher maintenance on the individual surfaces. For the animals, the rotational grazing usually means a greater unrest in the herd. The paths to the water supply of the animals and for the Umtrieb are longer. The pasture residues are low on these surfaces, the yield per unit area is relatively large.
- Stocking density: about 25 Rigv / ha,
- Allocated feeding area: 400 m² / Rigv,
- Shear surface: about 50 %
Strip grazing
The strip grazing is also Rationsweide, Full - or half-day pasture called (division of the total in more than twenty paddocks, less only at daily or half-day allocation of forage area ). The allocation of forage area is done once or twice per day. It is the most intensive form of grazing. The pasture residues are very low, the feed intake per animal is very high. Use as a strip grazing is particularly advantageous in small pastures and scarce pasture. For larger herds, this form is not suitable because of the increased stress. The maintenance required is high, as is the nutrient effort. The use of " manure " is ideally suited to these surfaces.
- Stocking density: about 100 Rigv / ha,
- Allocated feeding area: 100 m² / Rigv,
- Shear surface: about 75 %
Pastures / Alps
Pastures are pastures in the high mountains, which are mainly used for cattle rearing. They are autonomously managed by the main plant area. A distinction is made in light pasture and forest grazing. The double use ( grazing and orchard cultivation or grazing and wood decomposition ) is relatively widespread, but also problematic here.
Divisions of the grazing area even after the Viehart as Pasture possible and useful, as set in dependence of the uses and site conditions, different plant communities: horse pasture, and grazing horses, sheep pasture.
Pastures are developed for pasture care with a Weideweg. The paths that provide particularly the livestock access and exchange between individual pastures, called Triftweg.
Horse pasture, paddock
On a horse pasture or paddock to horses can not only move around but also eat grass. If in the pasture no natural accommodations are available, for example, larger groups of trees or sheltered valleys, a shelter must be erected at least. Horses pulling not only during thunderstorms, heavy rain or strong winds go back there, but even at high temperatures, as they can overheat.
Winter pasture
Even a winter grazing is possible and leads to certain conditions, to cost savings and over the winter stabling improved animal health.
"Wild willow "
As a "Wild Willows" are in conservation since the 1990s referred to large-scale, unregulated and thus extensively used year-round pastures that are grazed by wild animals or robust (less domesticated " semi-wild " feral or " back bred " ) domestic animal breeds. The aim of this pasture form is to ensure that future development to a natural state as possible.
This idea is based on the so-called Megaherbivorenhypothese, stating in principle that large herbivores, such as aurochs, bison, deer and wild horses in the prehistoric natural landscape lived not only in the climate-related open landscapes ( steppes, tundra ), but large by browsing and impact areas of forest landscapes kept open. In this respect, now also the animals is given an important role in the natural succession, which has not occurred in the concepts of potential natural vegetation. Wild grazing animals were also in Central Europe an essential part of natural ecosystems. Set dynamic processes in motion that are existentially for many endangered plant and animal species. For years, therefore, new approaches in nature and species protection are discussed (eg, process protection, wilderness development areas). "Wild willow " in this respect are a very promising approach that could become a backbone of every local and regional habitat network planning.
As a replacement for the extinct wild animals are robust breeds of domestic animals such as Heck cattle, Galloway and Highland cattle or horses Rugged as heck horse Exmoorpony, Iceland pony or fjord horse in question. It takes an average of more than 30 livestock units per 100 ha for sustainable forest holding open a free pasture: the equivalent of more than 30 adult cattle, or about 40 horses.
History of cattle grazing
In settlement remains of the Stone Age are found today beetles, pollen and plant remains that indicate that parts of Central Europe had a relatively densely populated landscape with fields and pastures already more than 7,000 years. Heinz Ellenberg but judged these occupied by other sources grazing but as " not scheduled ". The management could have been similar to the shifting according to him.
Until modern times, the three-field system was used in Central Europe, in essence, in the wastelands were grazed ( fallow pasture ). The hallway forced the Middle Ages was aimed at the longest possible use of the land " general pasture ," the commons, in which the fields between harvest and stem elongation ( Halmbildung ) of grain were included. The plant communities of arable corridors at that time had a significantly higher proportion of grasses and were also much richer in species than today.
The doggedness of accrued cereals promoted the tillering and the grazing of the then raging similar vegetation after harvest helped to control weeds and to feed the cattle. The feces of animals fertilized the fields, especially during the night penning. Only when bolting the grain the cattle were kept away from the fields. The parcels that Zelge and later champion, were fenced with thorn wood, walls and ramparts, from which emerged partly as coppice forests managed hedges and hedgerows.
Outside these Brachzelgen the three-field system of the Middle Ages, there were of course the wood-pastures that have emerged in the Middle Ages from the fact that one has driven the cattle for fattening in the woods. The animals damaged the plants sustainably. Finally, the transhumance played in areas with light and infertile soils play a role, as in the Lüneburg Heath or the Lechtalheiden.
Grazing and drift paths
The paths that lead to the various business areas of the peasants, mostly open possessions several owners. In the whole of the Alps are this way - if they had not been passed in community property - the public domain. Therefore, maintaining this way the Gemeinschaft.Um incumbent to prevent the cattle leave the pasture provided about the ways grazing paths are frequently interrupted by cattle grid, cattle and other livestock gate locks.
The term " Triftweg " is used in particular for the long cattle drive trails in the transhumance ( climatic, seasonal remote pasture ) ( see, for example → drift paths in Spain).
Willow Care
Without pasture maintenance plants are favored to pasture land that taste the cattle less well, for example, thorny or poisonous species; by pasture care whose propagation is prevented. In manicured pastures such plants are therefore to be found, the frequent browsing and entering by the animals well tolerated (perennial ryegrass or white clover ).
Mechanical maintenance
Ecology
In general, the grazing affects the composition of the plant stand. As factors can be frequency of use, cite species, used fertilization and care. Be species specific by selecting and browsing certain plant species promoted or suppressed. Accordingly, it is to be regarded as ecological location factor for grassland generally in addition to the natural and the usage. For example, pastures with high usage frequency and high nitrogen fertilization are dominated by only a few plant species that are acceptable and regeneration occurs happy - Hauptbestandsbildner here is often the German ryegrass. Sheep grazing promotes the thinning of the grassland inventory rather herbaceous plants.
Due to the grazing of green spaces, it comes through the constantly -cropped grass to higher moisture loss through evapotranspiration than in meadows. When plants are exposed for too long, or without sufficient recovery phase of a grazing too many animals, so the nursery lot lower for a longer period than the feed requirements of the animals, one speaks of overgrazing. Also too little grazing (lower grazing ) can lead to an undesirable change in the plant composition and thus to increased maintenance effort.
For the ecology and the type of enclosure plays an important role, for example hedgerows or ditches in the Fens.
The habitat Pasture was from 2004 to 2005 was proclaimed by the Nature Conservation Centre Hessen as a biotope of the year to draw attention to the danger of this habitat.