Cattle grazing at a nature reserve in the Yorkshire Dales has increased plant diversity by over 40% according to research by the University of Leeds.
Allowing native cattle breeds to roam large areas of the landscape at Ingleborough has also led to a five-fold increase in the number of butterflies.
Researchers conducted two studies into the relative effects of cattle and sheep grazing on the 1500-hectare landscape restoration project. The area is made up of nature reserves managed by Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust who are working together on what is known as the Wild Ingleborough project.
Landscape scale restoration is needed in our uplands and grazing animals such as cattle have a key role to play.
Almost all of the site was previously grazed by sheep but in 2004 Natural England began the switch to cattle grazing, using hardy breeds such as red polls, shorthorns and belted galloways to try to increase the diversity of vegetation.
Robyn Wrigley from the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment, who was a co-author on both studies, said: "Grazing management in the uplands is a complex and often sensitive issue.
"What our research adds is long-term evidence showing how different grazing regimes influence biodiversity. That evidence can help inform discussions about restoration."
Crucial role
Cattle graze by wrapping their tongue around and pulling taller vegetation, helping to reduce the dominance of grasses and allowing wildflowers to thrive. Cattle also play a crucial role in spreading seeds across sites in their hairy coats and in their dung. Disturbance by their trampling also creates the right conditions for plants to germinate. Sheep graze much more selectively, and their jaw allows them to target specific plants.
The scientists used data collected through long term monitoring at the site to carry out two separate studies – one into the effects of different grazing management on butterfly abundance, and the other looking at the impact on the restoration of vegetation. Both were published on 5 March in the academic journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
The diversity of plants on these important limestone grassland habitats was shown to have increased by 41% after 18 years of cattle grazing, with wildflower species such as Eyebrights, Bird's-foot-trefoil and Fairy Flax among those thriving.
Cattle grazing at Wild Ingleborough was also shown to benefit butterfly populations which have experienced substantial declines in recent decades due to changes in land use, intensification of agriculture, and climate change.
Rare species
The research showed that their abundance on sites grazed by cattle was almost five times higher than those grazed by sheep. There was also a positive effect on the diversity of butterflies, with rare species such as Northern Brown Argus found to be thriving because of the restored vegetation.
Sheep grazing is common across most of the UK uplands. As a result, areas are dominated by grassland with trees, shrubs and wildflowers being unable to regenerate.
Sheep numbers in Great Britain increased from nearly 18 million in 1950 to 41 million in 1990. Despite reductions in recent decades numbers are still higher than they were before agricultural intensification. Efforts are now underway in many areas to try to restore vegetation through the reduction of sheep grazing. Extensive cattle grazing in the uplands can boost biodiversity as well as the profitability and resilience of farm businesses in a way that fits well with local cultural heritage.
George Porton from the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere & Forest (LEAF) Centre, who co-authored the research, added: "Landscape scale restoration is needed in our uplands and grazing animals such as cattle have a key role to play.
"These findings support the ongoing management at Wild Ingleborough, and we hope they will help other upland restoration projects looking to make evidence-based land management decisions."
