Grazing cattle are good for the moor

GIDLEIGH moor was surveyed three years ago and was found to be

90% molinia, bracken, gorse and scrub. A survey 25 years previous ly showed 90% grazed hill grasses and 10% molinia. In those days 300 cattle grazed in summer areas where 15 are authorised today!

Nine farms outwintered between East Okement and Meldon which meant molinia was popular as a low feed value and dung beetles were available for biodiversity all the year round.

Supplementary feed was available when welfare required. In Wales any sign of poaching land or remains of feeding has to be gone by July! We now have few cows outwintered and the fuel burden is unacceptable as was shown recently with wild fires.

The herds have been reduced by up to 80% and 500 kg traditional cattle have been replaced by up to 800kg continental breeds inwintered, often with bought in cereals and imported protein for beef high towards omega 6 instead of healthy grass fed beef , a complete protein rich in omega 3 and essential nutrients, iron, selenium zinc, vitamin b12, 3 and 6.

Not surprisingly Kantar have reported 11 % increase in retail beef sales up to Dec 2020 but AHDB is forecasting a shortage in 2021 not a fall in demand but fewer cattle coming forward! Owners of land need to take charge of management with farming leaseholders to reestablish grazing and Heather management as Christina Williams has proved on her Molland moor estate.

Fairfax Luxmoore

Plymouth