Bracken and gorse management

[The Ruminant]

Is it possible to get on top of a bracken infestation just by using cattle to graze it at certain times of the year? It’s common land so no spraying allowed; flailing is expensive; sheep aren’t available. Any thoughts and suggestions?

Also do cattle eat gorse? What’s the best time to graze it, if so? Presumably when it’s just emerging from the ground. We are looking to reduce not eliminate. Any other tips?

 

[JohnGalway]

Know a guy bought organic Galloways or Blue Grays that removed bracken on his commonage. He thought they ate it, I wonder if it was herd effect/ trampling or a type of self imposed kraaling as it's a bit boggy and the cattle would camp out on the hillocks where the bracken grew.

 

[Crex]

@exmoor dave ?

 

[exmoor dave]

Is it possible to get on top of a bracken infestation just by using cattle to graze it at certain times of the year? It’s common land so no spraying allowed; flailing is expensive; sheep aren’t available. Any thoughts and suggestions?

Also do cattle eat gorse? What’s the best time to graze it, if so? Presumably when it’s just emerging from the ground. We are looking to reduce not eliminate. Any other tips?

I think maybe there's a very small window in the spring when new gorse plants emerge that they would be soft enough to graze, but once up and established I've not seen much evidence if stock grazing except the flowers (by sheep).
Control.... burning and/ or cutting on bigger areas.
Cut and stump treatment or spot spray on smaller areas.

If it was a in-field situation we've had great success feeding cattle in ring feeders on gorse sites (short or cut gorse), 10 cows/ feeder, moved every bale change.

Cattle grazing bracken..... maybe a very small amount, but any more and you'll have cows dropping dead in November with bracken poisoning, no cure.

If there's a good grass under story, then the cattle will trample the bracken to get at the grass but I don't think it will impart much control, unless they were trampling it through out the growing season, over multiple years.

I know you said no sprays, but IMO weed wiping with glypo is extremely effective and very cheap, it will achieve in one year what you could attempt in 10yrs trampling/ cutting/ rolling etc etc.

Have tried wiping gorse, it sort of works but not very well.


Of course both weeds like acidic soils with reduced fertility, so lime and fertiliser of some sort (incl dung) will help alot, but not applicable on common ground


I have often wondered if one of those big roller type aeraters with the blades across the roller, like paddles, would crush the plants and cut roots?