Information and Advisory Note Number 13 Back to menu
1.1 This information and advice aims to provide farmers with guidance on the
environmental impact of supplementary feeding in extensive livestock systems and
how it can be minimised.
1.2 Supplementary feeding is a fundamental part of livestock management. In
extensive systems it is aimed at maintaining stock condition through winter
months (and other periods of harsh conditions) when there is little available
grazing, or where the available grazing is of poor quality and requires
supplementing.
1.3 Feeding frequently takes place in or
around buildings or away from buildings. It is
winter feeding away from buildings that has
the most significant direct impact on the
natural heritage, particularly on or adjacent to
semi-natural habitats. It is this aspect that the
information and advice note covers. Mention
is also made of water provision for livestock.
2.1 Supplementary feeds consist principally of carbohydrates and minerals. Winter feeds used outside include,
Feeding of hay or silage is sometimes termed "fothering", and is distinct from
the use of roots, concentrates, feed blocks and licks.
2.2 Preferred supplementary feeding sites
tend to be those that are,
2.3 As a consequence of these criteria, farmers frequently select sheltered
woodlands or hard, thin-soiled, dry rocky outcrops. These are often of
ecological (and sometimes archaeological) interest.
2.4 The method of feeding affects its environmental impact. Feeding hay or silage
in bales or ring-feeders and feeding hay in net racks can concentrate livestock,
increasing the potential for environmental damage. Scattering feed (e.g. hay or
turnips) spreads the impact - though for hay there is a risk of fouling and
trampling of the feed. Bagged concentrates are fed in troughs which are readily
movable. Mineral blocks or licks can be distributed easily and require no
troughs or racks.
2.5 Feed sites fall into 3 categories:
Be aware of adjacent sites of interest onto which stock may also drift, causing
poaching or over-grazing.
4.4 Consider the types of feeding site outlined at 2.5 above. Wherever possible
choose sites which can be rotated frequently enough to avoid damage before it
occurs, or sites which can be sacrificed with minimal damage to the natural
heritage. Rotate sites as often as is feasible during or between years.
4.5 Never put supplementary feed on or in the immediate vicinity of archaeological
features.
4.6 If hay is fed on a semi-natural habitat,
sacrificial areas may be more desirable due to
the risk of cross-dunging which might
introduce seeds of aggressive species, to the
detriment of the natural herbage. Whether
feeding areas should be sacrificial or rotated is
determined by climate, nature of the ground,
and whether hay or silage is being fed.
4.7 Change the site of feed blocks each time a new block is put out. When a feed
block is replaced it should be at least 100m away. Where hay is provided the
distribution point should be moved at least 250m from the feed block.
4.8 Where the feed site has to be amongst heather, blocks should be placed in
vigorous heather. Avoid very young or old, degenerate heather which recover less
successfully from intense grazing and trampling. Avoid reusing sites until
heather cover has been restored and the heather is growing vigorously, usually a
minimum of 5 years, ideally aim for a 10-12 year rotation.
4.9 Once vegetation has been exhausted and
the well-being of livestock is dependent on
supplementary feed, consider in-wintering
stock in sheds rather than degrading the
vegetation further.
4.10 Supplementary feeding provides a mechanism to manipulate stock and to move
them away from over-grazed sites towards areas in need of grazing. For example,
the use of blocks to redistribute grazing on heather. This leads to more even
utilisation of the vegetation.
4.11 Winter feeding of cattle on dense stands of bracken will assist with the
control of the bracken which is susceptible to trampling,
particularly where followed by frost. This technique is valuable as long as:
4.12 Where practicable, feeding sites should be located away from footpaths in
order to avoid poaching and fouling of the route.
4.13 Silage wrap should be recycled wherever possible. Packaging of bought-in
feedstuffs needs to be disposed of carefully to avoid littering the countryside.
5.1 Sheep do not have a significant requirement for water, but cattle do. Water
provision can be from natural watercourses or waterbodies, ponds and troughs.
5.2 Water provision at troughs can result in problems similar to the poaching and
fouling caused by supplementary feeding. Hard-standing sites should again be
sought as an ideal. Clearly water troughs are fixed, so there is no option of
rotation to minimise impact. Site selection is therefore very important.
5.3 Natural water supply or ponds for stock-watering are also susceptible to
poaching and collapse of margins. This can cause,
5.4 Limited stock access to pond sides and
watercourse margins can result in benefits
such as
Be aware of adjacent sites of interest onto which stock may also drift, causing
poaching or over-grazing.
4.4 Consider the types of feeding site outlined at 2.5 above. Wherever possible
choose sites which can be rotated frequently enough to avoid damage before it
occurs, or sites which can be sacrificed with minimal damage to the natural
herifage. Rotate sites as often as is feasible during or between years.
4.5 Never put supplementary feed on or in the immediate vicinity of archaeological
features.
4.6 If hay is fed on a semi-natural habitat, sacrificial areas may be more
desirable due to the risk of cross-dunging which might introduce seeds of
aggressive species, to the detriment of the natural herbage. Whether feeding
areas should be sacrificial or rotated is determined by climate, nature of the
ground, and whether hay or silage is being fed.
4.7 Change the site of feed blocks each time a new block is put out When a feed
block is replaced it should be at least 100m away. Where hay is provided the
distribution point should be moved at least 250m from the feed block.
4.8 Where the feed site has to be amongst heather, blocks should be placed in
vigorous heather. Avoid very young or old, degenerate heather which recover less
successfully from intense grazing and trampling. Avoid reusing sites until
heather cover has been restored and the heather is growing vigorously, usually a
minimum of 5 years, ideally aim for a 10-12 year rotation.
4.9 Once vegetation has been exhausted and
the well-being of livestock is dependent on
supplementary feed, consider in-wintering
stock in sheds rather than degrading the
vegetation further.
4.10 Supplementary feeding provides a mechanism to manipulate stock and to move
them away from over-grazed sites towards areas in need of grazing. For example,
the use of blocks to redistribute grazing on heather. This leads to more even
utilisation of the vegetation.
4.11 Winter feeding of cattle on dense stands of bracken will assist with the
control of the bracken which is susceptible to trampling,
particularly where followed by frost. This technique is valuable as long as:
4.12 Where practicable, feeding sites should be located away from footpaths in
order to avoid poaching and fouling of the route.
4.13 Silage wrap should be recycled wherever possible. Packaging of bought-in
feedstuffs needs to be disposed of carefully to avoid littering the countryside.
5.1 Sheep do not have a significant requirement for water, but cattle do. Water
provision can be from natural watercourses or waterbodies, ponds and troughs.
5.2 Water provision at troughs can result in problems similar to the poaching and
fouling caused by supplementary feeding. Hard-standing sites should again be
sought as an ideal. Clearly water troughs are fixed, so there is no option of
rotation to minimise impact. Site selection is therefore very important.
5.3 Natural water supply or ponds for stock-watering are also susceptible to
poaching and collapse of margins. This can cause,
5.4 Limited stock access to pond sides and
watercourse margins can result in benefits
such as
Jeremy Roberts, Agriculture and Woodland Environments Branch (AWEB).
Daniel Gotts, AWEB
Scottish Natural Heritage
Research & Advisory Services Directorate
2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh, EH6 5NP
Tel: 0131 447 4784