The Impact of Cattle Grazing on Shrub Biomass: A Review on Temperate Ecosystems

Dimitrios Oikonomou, Maria Yiakoulaki (), Yannis Kazoglou, Michael Vrahnakis and Gavriil Xanthopoulos
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Dimitrios Oikonomou: Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, University of Thessaly, 43131 Karditsa, Greece
Maria Yiakoulaki: Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Yannis Kazoglou: Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, University of Thessaly, 43131 Karditsa, Greece
Michael Vrahnakis: Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, University of Thessaly, 43131 Karditsa, Greece
Gavriil Xanthopoulos: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Dimitra”, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Cattle grazing is particularly important to natural and semi-natural ecosystems, having often replaced grazing by smaller domestic ruminants such as goats and sheep. While cattle are mainly considered grazers rather than browsers, the pressures, direct or indirect, they exert on shrub encroachment are significant. Thus, their grazing and browsing activities can often be considered complementary to ecosystem management, especially in landscapes characterized by shrub presence and frequent wildfires. Several factors may influence the impact of cattle browsing, including the stocking rate, the specific breed of cattle, and their adaptation to the respective ecosystem, as well as the particular type of ecosystem. This review examines the impact of cattle browsing on shrubs across various temperate ecosystems. Findings indicate that cattle usually consume only 5–10% of woody forage, but exceptional browsers like Highland cattle can consume up to 45%, making them promising for controlling shrub encroachment. Nevertheless, grazing often negatively impacts shrub richness, especially when combined with management interventions or wildfires, thereby raising concerns about plant regeneration. Future research should prioritize the ecological value of indigenous browsing cattle breeds over productivity-focused goals; however, several studies fail to specify the breeds examined, thereby limiting the ability to draw breed-specific conclusions.

Keywords: cattle; shrubs; browsing; dietary-preferences; forage; indigenous-breeds; ecosystem-management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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