Netherlands: Young stock grazing research in productive herb-rich grassland

A new research project started this week on Dairy Campus with pregnant young cattle grazing on plots with a mixture of Perennial Rye Grass and Narrow Plantain. The research focuses on soil quality and biodiversity, yield and crop quality. The researchers are also exploring the effect on animal health and animal behaviour. With this, the researchers want to get a better picture of the positive contribution of productive herb-rich grassland. On Dairy Campus, two plots were sown with a meadow mixture perennial ryegrass and two plots with the same meadow mixture perennial ryegrass and 5 kilos of narrow plantain. On these 2 x 2 plots, 4 groups of pregnant young stock graze for 2 periods of 6 weeks in a form of rotating pasture. Measurements are performed on soil and crops with regard to above and below ground biodiversity, rooting and production of the grassland. In particular, the heterogeneity of the plots and the effect on the occurrence of insects and the effect on the persistence ...