Summary
This field study examined how different grazing regimes on modern cattle farms in Finland affect arthropod communities, a key indicator of farm ecosystem health. The findings demonstrate that grazing, particularly at extensive levels, benefits ground-dwelling arthropod richness compared to no grazing, whilst organic management supported higher arthropod diversity at low grazing intensities. However, the study suggests these biodiversity benefits may come at some cost to production output on high-yield oriented farms.
Regional applicability
The findings are relevant to UK dairy and beef production systems, which similarly operate on temporary grasslands and face pressures to balance productivity with biodiversity. The demonstration that extensive grazing supports ground-dwelling arthropod richness aligns with UK agri-environment scheme objectives, though the trade-off with production efficiency may challenge adoption on intensively managed farms.
Key measures
Abundance, biomass, and family richness of ground-dwelling and aerial arthropods; grazing intensity at farm scale; vegetation structure; organic vs. conventional management
Outcomes reported
The study measured abundance, biomass, and taxonomic richness of aerial and ground-dwelling arthropods across 43 dairy and suckler cow farms under different grazing regimes. It compared arthropod responses between organic and conventional farms, and assessed the role of vegetation structure in supporting arthropod populations.
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