Trampling And Cross Compliance
Keith Johnston, Countryside Management Branch
With the recent spell of wet weather, most cattle on Northern Ireland farms are now housed. However, on some farms it is traditional to outwinter a small number of livestock.
Outwintering of livestock is permissible as part of Cross-Compliance, however it requires careful management to ensure run-off of soil or livestock manures does not occur.
Soil erosion by water can occur on sloping fields which are severely poached. Hedges and the small field size in Northern Ireland help to reduce soil erosion, however after heavy rainfall the soils ability to soak up water is reduced. Trampling by livestock increases the risk of run-off and can increase the sediment load of a river especially when combined with animal manures, resulting in poor water quality.
Signs of severe trampling include:
- No visible remains of grass / vegetation
- Deep bare soil trenches caused by vehicle tracks
- Bare soil often mixed with frequent amounts of livestock manure
- Waterlogged soils, livestock “wading in muck”
Livestock should be managed according to the ground and weather conditions to ensure run-off does not occur. Remove livestock from any area which starts to show signs of severe trampling. Some areas of riverbanks may be prone to soil erosion by livestock. If this is likely to lead to severe trampling, the area should be fenced off.
If you require further advice on soil management or any other Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition please contact your local Countryside Management Branch office.
