Quality in pasturing semi-natural meadows. Case: Kiltsi Meadow, Estonia
Results from summer 2011
Annika Michelson, HAMK Biotalous, 2012
KnowSheep. Interreg IV A 2007-2013 Archipelago and Islands Sub-program. WP 3 and WP 5
Applied Research for Farmers
Kiltsi Meadow size is ca 8 ha. Sheep moves freely, fenced areas used little. The sheep can also go into the forest.
Changes in the heard size during summer 2011
1.What is sheep doing at the pasture?
This information help to understand the needs of sheep. By the help of this information we can also improve the wellfare of sheep wintertime.
Sheep:
It was not possible to measure how much time is spent on walking as the Estonian native sheep walk all the time when they graze. It is difficult to decide then the sheep start to play and end to play. Summer 2011 these two issues were not measured separately.
Time spent on grazing is easy to measure
Digesting / resting was done in 3 different ways: out other place than close to the animal shed, close to the animal shed or inside the animal shed
2011
2011
2.Sheep droppings at semi-natural meadows
Is extra fodder on a semi-natural meadow harmful to biodiversity?
Less than 6 months old lamb
About 1 year old sheep
Old ewe, more than 10 years old
Ram more than 3 years old
To the left manure more than 3 days old and it has been raining. To the right more than 4 hours old manure.
Manure pile more than 24 hours old
Manure pile about one week old
This is what is left for plants when the bugs have got the inner part
Sheep going out in the morning from the night shelter. First the leader ewe and each lamb beside its own mother. Also manure dropping is done "in an order", lambs do it after their mother have done it.
Sheep normaly drop manure in two-three piles if it is not stressed (older than 1 year old sheep)
Manure is collected daily both inside the shelter and outside on the meadow. From 10 sheep comes about 10 l daily manure. In the start of the summer about 7 liters, in the middle 10 and in the autumn less.
Average
May: 3,69 kg
June: 3,00 kg
July: 2,06 kg
August: 1,33 kg
Summer 2008
Influence of how you place the night shelter for the animals and where droppings are done.
Red = shelter�Blue = droppings�Yellow = outside this area sheep have not gone
Summer 2010
Shelter = red, changed place compared to 2008. Blue = droppings, yellow = outer boarder of grazed pasture.
Summer 2011
3. What plants do sheep eat at a semi-natural meadow and what do they not like?
Likes to eat
Kirkiruoho, brudsporre, harilik käoraamat, Fragant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)
Kissankello, liten blåklocka, Bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
Kurjenkello, stor blåklocka, Peach-leaved Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia)
Kevätesikko, gullviva, Cowslip, harilik nurmenukk (Primula veris) Eat young leaves in the early spring and seeds later.
Voikukat, maskrosor, võililled, Dandelion (Taraxacum) Eat young leaves in the early spring, and seeds later
Ruisvirna, luddvicker, Fodder vetch, põld-hiirhernes (Vicia villosa)
Likes to eat
Valkoapila, vitklöver, valge ristik, White Clover (Trifolium repens) ��Metsäapila, skogsklöver, Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium) ��Puna-apila. rödklöver, Red Clover(Trifolium pratense)
Likes to eat
Syövät mielellään
Tuomi, hägg, toomingas (Prunus padus). Do not like to eat
Sudenmarja, ormbär, Herb-Paris, harilik ussilakk (Paris quadrifolia)
Kielo, liljekonvalj, Lily-of-the-valley, maikelluke (Convallaria majalis)
May eat
Ketosilmäruoho, ögontröst, silmarohi (Euphrasia stricta). Flowering in the autumn, do not like to eat.
Mäkimeirami, kungsmynta, wild marjoram, pune (Origanum vulgare). Do not eat
Sikoangervo, brudbröd, Dropwort, harilik angervaks (Filipendula vulgaris). Do not eat at least much
Ratamot, kämpar, teeleht (Plantago). Do not eat at least much.
Siankärsämö, röllika, raudrohi, Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium) Do not eat.
Two vegetation plots were established in order to follow that plants they graze.
Plot 1: 17 plants
Plot 2: 27 plants
4. Sheep movement and guarding
Safety of animals
Predator prevention
Practical guide for new sheep keepers
Could be build the book by using questions?