Grazing - TOMORROW

Leaving Nature Conservation To The Professionals

If grazing animals are the key element in creating and securing species-rich landscapes, why not leave Nature Conservation to these professionals?

Conservation grazing is fundamentally different from conventional grazing operations: The number of grazing animals is limited, no supplementary feeding occurs on the grazing areas, animals are only treated with medication when necessary, and the grazing areas are not fertilized. The use of different grazing animals is intended to create high structural diversity in the area, and the grazing period will extend from early spring into late autumn or early winter.

The winter quarters and "home base" of our herd is in Ernstbrunn. The initial financial investment is very high, extensive investments are required, and planning for 2025 and beyond is in full swing. Starting in 2025, a base herd of 50 sheep, 4 horses and 8 cattle will be responsible for maintaining 62 hectares of grazing land. However, this is just the beginning. If everything goes according to plan, both the number of grazing animals will increase, and the grazing areas will be gradually expanded. Initially, the focus will be on smaller, but ecologically significant dry sites that have been restored for grazing in recent years. Small herbivores, such as sheep and goats, are often used for this purpose, as many of the protected areas do not have enough space for large animals.

Depending on availability, the grazing areas will be gradually scaled up and expanded. A vast network will be created that will not only serve as a stepping-stone habitat but will also house sustainable populations of species once more common, such as the hoopoe.