Suitability of two sheep landraces (Skudde and Bentheimer Landschaf) for extensive farming on fen grasslands

Abstract

AbstractSheep landraces are an invigorating element in terms of the biodiversity of the cultural landscape. The present study focused on the question of whether the Bentheimer Landschaf breed, which is a representative of a large sheep landrace, is equally as well‐suited for the maintenance of extensively farmed fen grassland as the smaller, hardy Skudde breed of sheep. For each breed, two flocks with 10 ewes and their lambs were included in a 3‐year grazing trial on long‐standing, extensively used fen grassland paddocks. Our study revealed no major differences between Skudde and Bentheimer Landschaf regarding feed preference, endozoochorous dispersal potential and reproductive performance. The food intake of both breeds was not only limited to high‐quality forage grasses, they also chose more crude fiber‐rich plant species. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) was preferably selected. A relevant problem under set stocking conditions with alternate hay cutting was the spread of creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) on the paddocks of both sheep breeds. The majority of the germinable seeds found in fecal samples were contributed by the small‐seeded grass species Poa trivialis L. and Agrostis stolonifera L., which were the most abundant in the vegetation of the paddocks. Juncus spp. seeds were found at above‐average levels in the fecal samples compared with the vegetation percentages of these species. Among the weed species, only stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) showed a higher endozoochorous dispersal potential. The greater slaughter weight of Bentheimer Landschaf lambs has a positive effect on the efficiency of sheep farming. Considering all of the studied characteristics, we concluded that large landrace Bentheimer Landschaf sheep as well as Skudde sheep may be only recommended for the maintenance of drained fen grassland if additional control strategies against the spread of thistles accompany grazing management.