Twelve Droimeann cattle, an endangered Irish breed, have been taken to the Ardtornish estate on Scotland's west coast to help restore a landscape described as Scotland's rainforest, Agriland reported. It is believed to be the first time in centuries that the breed has been brought to Scotland.
The cattle will work across woodland, scrub and rough grazing, breaking up dense bracken and managing coarse grasses so that a wider range of native plants can return. They are also the start of a working herd that will produce food. The estate has spent years reducing grazing pressure after generations of heavy sheep and deer grazing and has planted native woodland.
"Renewing it will take more than planting trees. We need the right animals, in the right places, helping natural processes return while people continue to farm and produce food here," said Hugh Raven, managing director of Ardtornish.
Alec Heywood, the farming partner who researched the breed and arranged the move, said the cattle are "remarkably good at finding food across woodland, scrub and rough ground" and that the aim is also to produce good organic food as the land recovers. The estate will track the herd's effect on different habitats.
Droimeann cattle appear in Irish records going back more than 1,000 years but became rare as farming moved to specialised breeds; Ireland recognised them as a native rare breed in 2020. The animals came from the herds of Tom Keane, who keeps about 70 Droimeann beside the Shannon Estuary in west Limerick, and Anthony MacNamara.
Photo: Henry Dobson / Ardtornish
Source: Agriland
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