Longhorn cow shows researchers where it prefers to graze
Longhorn cattle movements are being tracked by University of Hertfordshire researchers to better understand their preferred places to graze as part of a research project to optimise grazing for meat consumption.
Longhorn grazing project
Alert visitors to Pishiobury Park in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, might spot one animal in a group of Longhorn cattle wearing a neck collar with a small GPS tracking device. Although it doesn't realise, the Longhorn is taking part in a study at the East Herts Council park to show researchers where it chooses to graze and which are its preferred places.
Alla Mashanova, from the University of Hertfordshire's Human and Environmental Sciences department is working on the project with John Phillips of Maydencroft Farm which manages the Pishiobury herd on the council's behalf.
Grazing behaviour
Dr Mashanova explained: "If we learn more about grazing behaviour, we can better design grazing patterns to control vegetation in particular ways, for example to increase patchiness which improves biodiversity. We can also use this knowledge to optimise grazing for meat production.
"Longhorns are calm animals so there is no problem with putting on or retrieving the collar. We chose a particularly docile animal that's not even aware of the device which weighs just 40 grams."
Recording preferred grazing locations
So far Dr Mashanova has carried out two recordings – one in May and one in July. The May data showed that the cow spent more time in central areas and near the park entrance. In July it preferred the edges. It might have been choosing areas where there were less people each time and where the vegetation was at its best.
The device records the animal's position every minute for a week. At the same time she surveyed the vegetation for height and types of species.
This month the team will be making another recording to look at whether animals will return to central areas where there will be less people again and more lush vegetation.