|
Natural grazing is a new concept in Latvia as well as in big parts of the European Union. Nevertheless the concept of year-round grazing was accepted by involved farmers and nature organisations quit easily, especially for use in marginal and abandoned agricultural Lands. By contrast, for the public especially close to large cities mostly needed some time to accept the idea that the animals are kept outdoor all winter. Year-round grazing was accepted by involved farmers and nature organisations quit easily, especially for use in marginal and abandoned agricultural Lands. By contrast, for the public especially close to large cities mostly needed some time to accept the idea that the animals are kept outdoors all winter. However, the most important problem for those who are working with this concept is compliance with the requirements under Rural Development Programme. Year-round grazing would be much more attractive for landowners if the Ministry of Agriculture would recognize it as farming practice with its own specific set of rules. Now landowners using year-round grazing have to comply with the same rules as seasonal grazing, this can lead to serious contradictions. For instance, in seasonal grazing, meadows have to be grazed off at the end of summer, while for year-round grazing the animals still have to find their food there till early spring. The area will be grazed of all the same only at a later date! The majority of year-round grazing sites are within Natura 2000 sites and majority of them are found to be Biologically Valuable Grasslands. This means that the main goal for these areas is nature conservation. However, farming here has to comply with rules based on agricultural production. This leads to frequent contradictions and consequently, inefficient nature However, the most important problem for those who are working with this concept is compliance with the requirements under Rural Development Programme. Year-round grazing would be much more attractive for landowners if the Ministry of Agriculture would recognize it as farming practice with its own specific set of rules. Now landowners using year-round grazing have to comply with then same rules as seasonal grazing, this can lead to serious contradictions. For instance, in seasonal grazing meadows have to be grazed off at the end of summer, while for year-round grazing the animals still have to find their food there till early spring. The area will be grazed off all the same only at a later date! The majority of year-round grazing sites are within Natura 2000 sites and majority of them are found to be Biologically Valuable Grasslands. This means that the main goal for these areas is nature conservation. However, farming here has to comply with rules based on agricultural production. This leads to frequent contradictions and consequently, inefficient nature management. |
| Details: |
|
| Country |
Latvia, LV |
| Location |
25 areas through out Latvia and one in Estonia |
| Species |
Horse |
| Management |
feral |
| Population size |
Total 561 (count 2011), f/m ca 50/50 |
| Morphology |
Colour: the hair coat is blue dun, often called mouse-gray, Height: 130 to 140 cm, Chest circumference: +-170 cm, The breed is short in height, with a strong and stocky build, light head with a straight profile, the neck emerges low out of the chest. The Konik has a deep chest, a thick mane |
| Need for Action |
Three major problems make it hard to fit year-round concept Three major problems make it hard to fit year-round concept in to the current regulations: - procedures applied to control quality of grassland management are carried out in inappropriate season.. In a year-round grazing scheme the areas are well grazed at the end of winter or start of spring, - when year-round grazing is used for nature conservation, grazed areas can be (or even aimed to be) a mosaic where meadows are interspersed with bushes or even are wooded meadows. However, these heterogeneous and highly biodiverse types of landscape are not eligible for support under Agri-environmental schemes. For instance, the vegetation can be well-managed Biologically Valuable Grasslands, but it cannot be included in support schemes because according to the regulations there are too many trees. Allowing almost none trees on grasslands to be eligible for support under Agri-environmental schemes significantly reduces farmers' interest to manage mosaic grasslands. - since large areas (more than 1000 ha) can be managed by natural grazing the herds living under these conditions become shy and it becomes close to impossible to catch an animals for ear tagging and for blood sampling. This requires special regulations, for instance, animals could be administrated as wild animals in captivity. That approach could ensure that herds have status similar to the status of game instead of domestic animals. Thus, individual animal registration would not be needed. |
| Remarks |
The aim for all herds is to have them totally wild In some areas we are very close to that! Others are still developing (50/50 feral or semi-feral) |
| Source of information |
Ark Foundation, Jan van der Veen, Spodras Rucavas Nov. LV3477 Latvia, Tel.: +37128814405, Email:jan.vanderveen@ark.eu, www.ark.lv and www.ark.eu |
| Hyperlink |
http://www.balticdeal.eu/farm/veksi/ |
|
| |
Konik Hose Poland: |
| 
|
| Maya Sirvide , http://www.balticdeal.eu/farm/veksi/ |
|