Thursday,
22nd August, 2002 12:00 BST
Forest wildlife - cattle |
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A bull seeks shade near Brockenhurst |
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Grazing cattle and ponies keep the grass short, keep the scrub under
control and are vital to the appearance of the Forest. Without its
wildlife the area would quickly return to a more overgrown state.
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All of the cows in the Forest are owned by Commoners,
who have various rights depending on where they live. Some have
the "common of pasture" which allows them to graze their animals
on about 45,000 acres of open forest land.
There is no specific New Forest breed and in fact a dozen so so
breeds are kept. Among the more unusual are the Highland Cattle,
with their horns and shaggy coat. Keep your eyes open around Brockenhurst
for these.
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| Don't
get too close |
The
Commoners are farmers who keep their calves on the Forest just as
a conventional farmer would keep his in a field, until they are
big enough to be taken to market and sold.
All of the cows are branded for identification purposes.
When a Commoner has made a payment to the Agisters this is indicated
by ear-tags on the cattle.
The New Forest District Council give the same advice for cattle
and ponies - keep at least two metres between yourself and the animal.
Remember that there are byelaws in place which forbid the feeding
of animals in the Forest.
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