I received an interesting email from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust about using collars to keep cattle where they are wanted. These collars would replace electric fences.
I don’t know anything about this subject to say more but I can see the question of collars raises other issues. For example, it could be argued that cattle grazing for biodiversity adds to the amount of methane entering the atmosphere, which in turn could lead to loss of these landscapes through climate change.
I’ve not looked at figures on this issue but my hunch is that the healthier landscapes will absorb more carbon. Besides, if cattle are grazing natural pastures, they don’t need to be in fields, which could then potentially be given over to growing arable crops.
I say ‘potentially’ because not all land is suitable for crops. My local organic farm is, I think, on a flood plain. Certainly, its fields are constantly saturated in winter. Our subsoil is clay which slows down drainage but my garden is towards the top of the hill, so the soil here is only saturated where there is impaction and then only for as long as there is substantial rain.
To be honest, I’m amazed that the farm’s walled garden can be productive but that could be why Jo can grow leeks and I can’t! Still, if you’re like me a diet of leeks and nothing but leeks would soon lose its appeal. So, what could Jo grow in her fields if she didn’t farm animals?
Growing out of chaos 
Fascinating thoughts. I like the pub wilding
Pretty, isn’t it!
The issue of food and climate change is so much more nuanced than Vegan good : Meat bad. And that extends to all the decisions to be made about land management. We have recently been revisiting the plans at Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust where we have 2 old, traditional, species rich hay meadows, because some of the committee are commited vegetarians / Vegans and others of us eat meat – the conclusion was that keeping small numbers of sheep and a cow-with-calf-at-foot made good sense and reduced the amount of fossil fuel requiring machinery to keep them in good heart. Once we have written everything up I will try to remember to post it on my blog – I certainly found it interesting and maybe others would too.
Yes, I would certainly find the plans.
Thank you for your interesting reply.
We have evolved to be meat eaters, just not as much as some people eat. I would say I am evenly split between veggie and meat based meals.But then I’ve not been on a plane for five years!
Yes, it’s important to look at the whole picture!
Fascinating!
😊
A topic we don’t often think about, Helen. Thanks for raising it. Hope you and your loved ones are all well.
Thank you, Cynthia. And you, too.