Sheep grazing in winter - in search of synergy between agriculture and nature
This autumn, INBO, ILVO, Odisee Hogeschool and the Vlaamse Schaaphouderij join forces on the project ‘Sheep grazing between nature and agriculture, towards a profitable and circular business model’.
Often, sheep are stabled during the winter and feed has to be bought or grown yourself. This can be accompanied by high costs. With this project, we are looking for alternatives that can be beneficial for both agriculture and nature. Among other things, we see opportunities in winter grazing of grasslands, verges, standard orchards, nature areas, fields with green cover and cereal fields. For instance, winter cereals stand out better after light grazing. The quality of grasslands can also be enhanced by grazing them into winter.
The project is a preparatory project for an operational group, in which sheep farmers, farmers and nature managers together test winter grazing in practice. Thus, together we look for opportunities to bring agriculture and nature closer together. This is a European Innovation Project (EIP), funded by the Agency for Agriculture & Marine Fisheries, co-financed by the European Union.
In December, we will bring together our findings at a hands-on study day. Those interested can send a message to amaury.sonneville@inbo.be.
Amaury Sonneville, Myriam Dumortier & Kurt Sannen
Image above: Yves Adams - Vildaphoto
