Cattle take over pasture areas on Hundsheimer Berg: a new nature conservation approach

Cattle take over pasture areas on Hundsheimer Berg: a new nature conservation approach

The picturesque landscape around Hundsheimer Berg will soon change. From May 2025, the flock of sheep will no longer graze, but cattle. This decision, as Hundsheim's mayor Gerhard Math explains, is based on the need to change grazing. The reason is in the water supply, which must be regulated differently for cattle than for sheep. Sheep has already been brought into the paddocks, while the water supply for the cattle is only in the works.

But why this change? The answer lies in the preservation of the unique flora and fauna of the region. The Hundsheimer Berg and the associated Braunsberg have been designated as a nature reserve since 1965 to preserve biodiversity. Here, for example, the rare Hainburg feather nelke, which only occurs in this region of Austria, grows here. Over 1,300 species of butterfly, which corresponds to about a third of the local spectrum of species, have been proven here. Constant grazing is necessary to keep the increasing vegetation in chess, explains the nature conservation department of the state of Lower Austria.

necessary infrastructure for cattle

However, the changeover from sheep to beef grazing requires extensive plans and adjustments in the infrastructure. In contrast to sheep, cattle need special fixed fences to secure the pastures and thus the animals. The planning for this was carried out under close cooperation with various interest groups, including municipalities and landowners. Mayor Math also designed fences and paths in close coordination with the authorities concerned.

The recent renovation work in the hiking area of the Hundsheimer Berg, however, have led to confusion among the visitors. A hiker reported unexpected electric fences that blocked the usual circular route. According to Mayor Math, however, signage is installed promptly in order to make it easier for hikers to orientate it and to provide clear information about the current situation.

With the changeover to cattle pasture and the associated infrastructure associated with it, another step towards nature conservation and biodiversity is taken. This is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to make the changes positively and to secure the Hundsheimer Berg natural area for future generations. For more detailed information about these developments, we refer to an article by www.meinbezirk.at .