Cows In Trees

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It was actually out of necessity, to begin with. When we acquired Howemill it was half covered with woodland, so in our case, using agroforestry made practical sense: the decision was about working with the land we had. Don’t underestimate the magic potential of these edges! These thriving intersections – a favourite for birds, insects and mammals (such as pine martens and foxes) alike – are: According to a 2017 study from the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri, silvopasture can also extend the grazing season, so that it starts earlier in spring and lasts longer in fall compared to open pasture. Forage also grows better in silvopastures during the hottest times of the summer compared to open pasture, the study found.

In a review paper, researchers Christopher R. Keyes and Matthew G. Keyes examine the economic viability and ecological success of silvopasture in the southeastern United States. Cows in forests, they find, could benefit ecosystems and farmers alike.Silvopasture encourages a thinned forest, which results in both quality trees and healthy growth of plants on the forest floor. You don't have to be an expert in mathematics to know that those odds defy statistical probability. Caledonian pines and Coniferous trees such as Scots Pines: these are brilliant for creating sheltered areas on your farm, especially useful during the colder months. But farmers often need support in getting silvopastures off the ground. Some experts point out that while there is federal funding available to help farmers start silvopastures, it’s often difficult to access because of bureaucratic red tape and the time-consuming application process. Soil is amazing in many ways, and one of those ways is that it contains plenty of useful nutrients, which often cannot be accessed through shallower-rooted grasses or other plants in your farm’s sward. With trees, however, you can access them, thanks to their roots. These reach deep down into the soil profile and draw up these hard-to-get nutrients, which your cows can then benefit from by munching on your trees’ leaves.

Still, the technique is gaining popularity. Chedzoy has been encouraged by the increasing popularity of his courses and trainings and by young farmers following in his footsteps who are committed to regenerating their land with agroforestry. There’s a strong connection between climate change and farming agroecologically, too. We allow our cattle to live the most natural lives possible - gaining their food and shelter from the trees and plants we have positioned around our land - as not only do we think that this helps them thrive, it also cuts down on our carbon footprint. Silvopasture gives cows choice in where to be and what to eat, which Karolini Tenffen de Sousa, a postdoctoral fellow at Instituto de Zootecnia in Brazil who specializes in cattle behavior, says can improve their health. Cows can be in the shade when they want, drink water when they want, and graze when they want. “If they don’t experience stress their physiology will be good,” she said. Considered better for the environment and less emissions-intensive than most other forms of cattle production, silvopasture is seeing a resurgence around the world with major efforts to expand its usage in Canada, Brazil and the Mediterranean. And now, in part through Chedzoy’s work, in the US as well. Ash and rowan trees: Our cattle really like to eat these, and they’re a great source of food for birds and other animals!

A 10 year transition to agroecology

Silvopasture can also extend the grazing season, so that it starts earlier in spring and lasts longer in fall compared to open pasture. Photograph: Heather Ainsworth