There is a need to increase biodiversity in Denmark, and a key measure in achieving this is the introduction of large grazing animals such as horses and cattle for year-round grazing in natural areas. However, the first attempts aiming to do this have caused a polarized debate regarding the welfare of the animals involved. The question is whether, and if so, how, the management of large grazers can be conducted in a way that benefits nature and biodiversity without compromising the welfare of the animals.
The overall purpose of the project is to examine the welfare of large grazers within the context of holistic nature management and to propose principles for animal use in nature management involving year-round grazing that considers both biodiversity and animal welfare. A key element of finding socially robust solutions to this challenge is to measure and bring into play the views of key stakeholders. The project is a collaboration between Aarhus University (AU; ANIVET) and the University of Copenhagen (KU; IFRO).
Work Package 1: An interdisciplinary analysis of the concept of animal welfare in relation to animals used in nature management, providing a framework for Work Packages 2 and 3. This work package identifies and categorizes various concepts of animal welfare relevant to animals grazing year-round in nature management contexts.
Work Package 2: Behavior and welfare of year-round grazing cattle. An empirical study of seasonal variations in the behavior and welfare of groups of year-round grazing cattle under various conditions (varying group composition, area size, forage availability, and potential supplementary feeding) within existing nature projects in Denmark.
Work Package 3: Public and professional perspectives on animal welfare and other considerations regarding the use of animals in nature management. This work package maps public and professionals’ perceptions of good and poor welfare among free-ranging animals in nature management, as well as their attitudes toward the use of large grazers in Danish nature management.
Work Package 4: A synthesis based on Work Packages 1, 2, and 3. The synthesis explores the opportunities and challenges involved in combining good animal welfare with a richer natural environment. It examines the opportunities and barriers regarding good welfare for year-round grazing animals within a holistic approach to nature management—one that integrates considerations for biodiversity and the restoration of ecological processes alongside animal welfare and other relevant factors.
