Grassland Science in Europe, Vol. 9 590
Technical and economical evaluation of grazing systems for high altitude sheep pastures in Switzerland
Troxler J.1, Chatelain C.2 and Schwery M.3
1Agroscope RAC Changins, Swiss Federal Agricultural Research Station, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland
2Swiss Grassland Society (ADCF), Rte de Duillier, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland
3Service cantonal de l’agriculture, Châteauneuf, CH-1951 Sion, Switzerland
Abstract
About half of the 420,000 sheep raised in Switzerland are summered on high-altitude pastures. There are various interests in the ecologically sensitive zone of the alpine regions, such as those of agriculture and of the protection of the environment. Uncontrolled grazing could be the origin of long-term ecological damage. Little information and data exist regarding the management of high-altitude sheep pastures with fenced paddocks or by a shepherd. A grazing system with paddocks and a strict grazing rotation was studied between 2000 and 2002 on two high-altitude pastures (> 2,000 m). Electric fences were used and tested under difficult conditions. Another study carried out in 2002 on a high-altitude sheep pasture with permanent shepherding revealed that the shepherd needs a great diversity of skills and that his lodging conditions are important. The creation of paddocks and the shepherding lead to a more homogenous grazing intensity. This in turn decreases the grazing pressure on the higher levels of the pasture. The costs of these two systems were compared with the subsidies allowed by the Swiss Government.
Keywords: sheep, grazing systems, paddocks, shepherd, mountain pasture, economical evaluation
Introduction
During the last 40 years, the Swiss sheep flock has increased from 200,000 to 420,000 animals. Half of them are summered at high altitude. Since 1950, permanent shepherding has often been abandoned and replaced by uncontrolled grazing. As a consequence, the pressure on high pastures, characterized by sensitive plant communities, has increased and the vegetation is overgrazed. On the other hand, some of the surfaces in the lower parts are no more visited by sheep. Under-grazing provokes problems with shrub and then forest expansion. The solution to these problems has to be found in a better herd management, whether with permanent shepherding by a shepherd (Chatelain and Troxler, 2004a) or with the creation of paddocks and the starting of a rotational grazing system (Chatelain and Troxler, 2004b). This paper describes and compares these two alternatives and is based on results obtained during several years in the Swiss Alps. It was possible to estimate the cost and the impact of these alternative management systems on the vegetation. The trials led to recommendations for the use of fences and for permanent shepherding in high-altitude regions.
Materials and methods
Trials on the creation of fenced paddocks (rotational grazing) were carried out from 2000 to 2002 on two high-altitude pastures in Valais (Vasevay, 46°01’N, 7°21’E and Niven, 46°21’N, 7°42’E). With 248 and 800 ha respectively, the pastures in Vasevay and Niven were stocked with 750 and 1,100 sheep during 70 and 90 days. Permanent paddocks were built with electric fences on wide pastures, accessible only by foot, at altitudes varying between 2,000 and
Land Use Systems in Grassland Dominated Regions 591 2,400 m asl. In Vasevay, 4 paddocks were enclosed with 2,900 m of fences and by about 3,500 m of natural barriers. In Niven, the 5 paddocks were entirely enclosed with 8,800 m of fences. Fences were composed of two synthetic wires, placed at 35 and 90 cm above ground level, and of two aluminium wires, placed at 20 and 50 cm. Metal posts were fixed every 3 to 4 metres. The electrification functioned with solar captors producing 10,000 V . The botanical composition was observed on permanent plots (12.5 or 25 m2) and the daily increase in the weight of the lambs was measured. All work and costs resulting from the installation, maintenance and removing of fences were precisely recorded.
A further study was carried out in 2002 on a 178 ha pasture situated in the heart of a glaciated valley between 1,500 and 2,500 m asl. (Trient, 46°01’N, 7°00’E). The summering lasted 110 days. A shepherd with the help of two dogs kept 630 sheep from dawn to dusk. He managed the herbage allowance according to the herd's needs during the whole season and cared for animal's health. He stayed in a caravan based below the pasture. At the higher altitudes he made use of a second caravan. However, he had to walk a long distance to join the herd in August.
Results and discussion
The work required for building, maintaining and removing 100 m of fences was almost twice as high in Vasevay (13.5 hours) than in Niven (7.6 hours) because of the uneven ground. On the other hand, thanks to the natural barriers, the required time per sheep was similar on both pastures (respectively 31 and 35 minutes in Vasevay and Niven). The costs of the system were obtained by adding the labour costs (salary: 15 € hour-1) to the cost for the material (depreciation value: 8 years). Costs were situated between 8.7 € (Vasevay) and 10.7 € (Niven) per sheep for fences.
From mid-June to early August, the fenced paddocks were grazed successively during the first grazing rotation. In August sheep were allowed to graze freely on unfenced surfaces above 2,300 m asl Then they spent a second period on the lower paddocks till mid-September. The pasture rotation and the creation of paddocks allowed a better distribution of the stocking density and reduced the risk of over-grazing and under-grazing in relation to the free-range grazing. The grazing pressure on the lower parts of the pasture could easily be adapted to the growth of the herbage and to the quantity of herbage on offer. The grazing pressure decreased on the higher parts of the pasture. With this system of pasture rotation it was possible to achieve an optimum sward state before defoliation began. The number of plant species determined on 93 plots (41 in Niven, 52 in Vasevay) reached 212 in Niven and 249 in Vasevay with an average index of diversity (Shannon-index) of 3.3 and 3.9 respectively. The average daily gain per lamb varied between 110 and 148 g d-1, a correct gain for this type of pasture.
Management with shepherding needed the full employment of one person during the whole summer. The cost for the shepherd was 90 € per day, including social taxes. The transport of the caravan by helicopter to the high altitude costs 930 €. These fixed costs are the same regardless of herd size. In Trient, the cost of a shepherd is 18 € per sheep, including 1.5 € for animal’s care. That means that the supplementary costs for the pasture management reach 16.5 €.
In June sheep grazed the lower pastures, zone after zone, under the control of the shepherd.
Every evening, the flock was grouped in a night paddock. In July, animals grazed day and night more or less freely in three large areas naturally delimited by rocks. In August, the sheep grazed freely on two zones at high altitude. In September, they made a second rotation on the lower pastures.
Grassland Science in Europe, Vol. 9 592
A comparison between forage production and herd requirements shows that the stocking rate in Vasevay was rather low but there is no need to modify it. In Niven and in Trient, the stocking rate should be lower, by -5% and -35% respectively. In comparison with the vegetation development, the grazing started one week too late in Niven, four weeks too late in Vasevay and at the right time in Trient. An earlier beginning of grazing in Niven and Vasevay would require a reduction of the stocking rate.
In 2003, in order to encourage a better management of high altitude pastures in Switzerland, the Government introduced financial contributions to promote permanent shepherding and rotational grazing (Table 1).
Table 1. Subsidies for alpine sheep pasture in relation to pasture system (OFAG, 2002).
Subsidies per sheep (€) Pasture system Subsidies per unit (€)1) and
100 days grazing (PN) Vasevay Niven Trient
A Continuous grazing 80 4.5 5.9 7.6
B Rotational grazing (paddocks) 147 8.2 10.7 14.0
C Permanent guided flock 200 11.2 14.7 18.9
Difference (B - A) 67 3.7 4.8 -
Difference (C - A) 120 - - 11.3
1) 1 PN (‘pâquier normal’) = 1unit grazing during 100 days, 1 unit = 600 kg liveweight, 1 sheep = 0.0861 unit.
For the two systems B and C, summering contributions cover more or less the supplementary costs. But a financial support is also available when animals graze uncontrolled on mountain pastures, so that it does not really encourage rotational grazing or shepherding. Uncontrolled grazing should no longer be supported because it is not ecologically sustainable. Contribution for fencing or shepherding should be differentiated according to the conditions prevailing on each mountain pasture.
Conclusions
Our trials showed that the fencing of large, not easily accessible and sloping surfaces is possible. Fences allowed rotational grazing management on several paddocks. Nevertheless, installation and maintenance of fences has to be carried out with care. In this case, electric wires are as efficient as wire mesh for controlling lambs and ewes. A shepherd can control a large herd with dogs in a difficult environment. However, it’s necessary that the shepherd has a good knowledge of sheep, vegetation and herd management.
Both systems allow a better utilisation of the lower areas of mountain pastures and reduce the pressure on higher areas that are grazed during a short time in August. In any case, the flock’s size and the grazing period have to be adapted to the available forage and to the development of the vegetation.
Fenced paddocks are more convenient for compact and homogeneous surfaces with good productivity. This system does not require permanent supervision. Continuous shepherding is well adapted to mountain pastures with dispersed areas of low productivity. In this case the lodging for the shepherd has to be assured close to the flock.
References
Chatelain C. and Troxler J. (2004a) Gestion d’un alpage à moutons avec un berger dans les Alpes suisses.
Cahier Options Méditerranéennes, (in press).
Chatelain C. and Troxler J. (2004b) Gestion durable des alpages à moutons dans les Alpes suisses grâce au pâturage tournant. Cahier Options Méditerranéennes, (in press).
OFAG (2002) Ordonnance sur la gestion des exploitations d'estivage (RS 910.133.2), état du 24 avril 2002, Office fédéral de l'agriculture (OFAG), Berne.
