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The use and management of woodlands for the out-wintering of farm stock

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BorissowNG_1963redux.pdf (53.95Mb)
Date
1963
Author
Borissow, N. G.
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Abstract
 
 
1. The objects of this work have been to review as wide a field as possible relating to the practice of out - wintering farm stock in woodlands in order (1) to establish the actual and /or potential value of woodlands for out - wintering livestock, (2) to explore methods of regeneration for these woodlands, and (3) to discover the problems involved in the management of such woodlands.
 
2. The field work was carried out in two parts, the first being preparatory to the second. The first consisted of touring much of Scotland to inspect areas of woodland being used for out -wintering purposes and obtaining information on this practice. From these sites, six were select ed for detailed study (comprising the second part of the field work) for the purpose of investigating the possibilit of integrating out -wintering with forest management and suggesting methods of achieving this.
 
3. It is apparent from touring much of Scotland that productive, well- managed hardwood and conifer stands, as well as the semi -productive and unproductive woodlands, are being used for out -wintering farm stock. Of the latter type, birch and oak are common and it has been found that ,many of the birch areas are in urgent need of regeneration if a tree cover is to be maintained.
 
4. It is clear that the out -wintering of cattle is often an economic necessity, as the provision of buildings for in- wintering and the purchase and storage of extra food supplies are expenses beyond the means of most farmers. It was found that shelter for out -wintering cattle was valuable and in many cases essential. Shelter for sheep is desirable but not indispensible.
 
5. The shelter requirements for out -wintering farm stock have not been clearly defined by the agriculturist, although there is general agreement that protection from cold winds and a combination of wind and precipitation is desirable, and there is some difference of opinion as to whether over -head shelter or side shelter is preferable. It is apparent, however, that local climatic conditions will partly influence this choice for it has been found that in the generally colder and more rigorous climate of the east of Scotland, shelter is of prime importance for out- wintering purposes, whereas in the somewhat milder climate of the west the provision of adequate grazing during the winter months is more desirable. All gradations between these two extremes have been encountered.
 
It is also evident that the intensity of land use influences this choice. In regions of high fertility, where land use is intensive, it is uncommon for woodlands t be accessible to livestock, and only side shelter is available in the lee of fenced plantations and shelterbelts.
 
6. Woodlands provide valuable alternative wintering grounds as the arable land can be "rested" during the winter and this prevents the soil from being poached. Yet there is a tendency for farmers to regard such woodlands, particularly unmanaged ones, as "waste" ground, with the result that these areas are commonly overstocked with animals and the trees suffer accordingly.
 
7. Although existing tree shelter is considered valuable for out -wintering farm stock, few farmers are prepared to carry out regeneration. In most cases this is due to a ack of capital for long -term investment. Any surplus revenue is devoted to improvements which will yield a elatively quick monetary return, such as reseeding hill land o increase the head of livestock.
 
8. Woodlands which are easily accessible to man, livestock and machinery are likely to be of most use for out - wintering, but the loss of dung for arable land and increased fencing costs are disadvantages tending to dissuade farmers from using them.
 
9. Field studies have shown that the type of damage to be expected from allowing livestock into woodlands is browsing; barking of tree trunks by cattle horns, gnawing and rubbing; barking of surface tree roots by hooves; treading in of ditches. On the other hand livestock can be beneficial in reducing a fire hazard by breaking up and distributing litter and slash and preventing an accumulation of inflammable vegetation.
 
Damage to soils was not investigated in this study but there is ample evidence, from a review of the literature, that it occurs. This important subject will need Considerable attention before recommending or deprecating out - wintering in woodlands. In the meantime, it would be wise to restrict, as much as possible, the access of livestock to woodlands and discontinue the present, and generally unnecessary, practice of yearlong use.
 
10. Observations on the effect of a tree cover on the quantity of vegetation produced under it suggest that, during the growing season, the canopies of many hardwoods have as significant an effect as those of conifers in suppressing ground vegetation. Notable exceptions are larch and birch. There are also indications that coppice supports a greater quantity of ground vegetation than high forest. These observations are broadly similar to results obtained by workers in other countries but it would be useful to confirm the present findings by quantitative experiments.
 
11. Exploratory experiments on the quality of grasses in woodlands, compared with similar vegetation on open ground, suggest that there is little significant difference in chemical composition between the two. This is in agreement with Frangois (1953) and Ovington (1956) but contrary to results obtained by Guise (1939) and Hawley and Stickel (1959). Further information on this subject is desirable with particular reference to the nutrient content of the grasses during winter and their palatabilities.
 
12. Regeneration will need protection from livestock, entailing a reduction in the area available for shelter and grazing. In small woodlands this reduction will be serious and a silvicultural system is indicated which involves small regeneration areas. Larger woodlands can be more easily sub -divided for regeneration and rotational use, for which the silvicultural system will probably be selected according to the intensity of future management.
 
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/28521
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