What the action involves
This action’s aim is that an annual average of at least 60% of the grazing livestock units (GLU) on the grassland are cattle.
The purpose of this is to:
- create a more varied sward structure
- control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
- increase wildlife diversity
What you must do
Each year, an average of at least 60% of the GLU on land entered into the relevant base action must be cattle.
You must keep a written stocking record for each land parcel entered into this action. The record must include:
- the land parcel reference number and its hectarage
- the dates when grazing has taken place during each calendar month
- the monthly numbers of livestock, including their type and age bracket
To convert livestock numbers into GLU, you must use the following values:
- Cattle over 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 1.0 GLU
- Cattle over 6 months to 2 years old at the start of an agreement year – 0.6 GLU
- Lowland ewe and lamb, or ram – 0.12 GLU
- Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb or hogg or teg – 0.08 GLU
- Goat – 0.12 GLU
- Pony or donkey – 0.8 GLU
- Horse – 1.0 GLU
Read the ‘advice to help you do this action’ to find out how to calculate the livestock density.
How to do this action
It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
- follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
- do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
When to do it
You must do this action each year of its duration.
Evidence to keep
You must keep the required stocking record and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically.
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.
Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read ‘What to do’ and ‘When to do it’ to find out when this action must be done.
Scheme Action or option codes
SFI 2024 actions Same as your selected base action
SFI 2023 actions Same as your selected base action
CS options Same as your selected base action
ES options Same as your selected base action
SFI pilot standards Same as your selected base action
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6 ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
The same action appears in the other schemes under a different code. The work is broadly the same; the rate and the length of the commitment are not.
- CS Higher Tier — CSP6: £59 per hectare per year, over 5 years
Where you can do it
You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land that’s entered into one of the following base actions:
- CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs (or LIG1 and LIG2 in the SFI 2023 offer)
- GRH1: Manage rough grazing for birds
- GRH6: Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland
You cannot do this action on land that’s already entered into the following equivalent base actions in a Countryside Stewardship agreement:
- GS2 (permanent grassland with very low inputs – outside SDAs) or GS5 (permanent grassland with very low inputs – SDAs)
- UP2 (management of rough grazing for birds)
Protected land
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Same as your selected base action.
Historic and archaeological features: Same as your selected base action.
Available area
Same as or less than your selected base action.
Rotational or static
This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:
- move its location around the land entered into the relevant base action for the second and third years of this action’s duration
- do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration