Breaking the wind for increased pasture wellbeing

There are few things I appreciate more than a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day. Strong, cold gusts where I can barely keep my feet on the ground – not so much. Although a natural occurrence, pastures too aren’t too fond of extreme winds either, as they can have devastating effects on soil, pasture and cattle¹.

Wind erosion is the greatest threat the wind poses to the soil. This results in decreased soil fertility because wind erosion removes the top layer of soil which is rich in nutrients. It is estimated that 2 billion tons of top soil is lost every year due to wind erosion. This removal of top soil also leads to decreased effective soil depth². Wind damages pasture physically by causing abrasions on leaves, also affecting the plants’ ability to retain water¹, especially in hot dry weather³. For animals, winds that are on the extreme end of cold and hot can increase the mortality rate of calves, due to their underdeveloped insulation¹. Adverse weather conditions also have an effect on how much food animals can take in and the amount of energy provisioned for maintenance and production¹, which can lead to a drop in the latter. The soil, grass and cows are essential for pasture-based dairy farming, it would therefore only make sense to shield them from the wind, especially in areas known to have extreme winds.

Windbreaks can be planted to reduce the force of the wind, therefore also reducing its negative effects. Here are some benefits of planting windbreaks that increase pasture productivity:

• Decreases soil erosion

Windbreaks reduce the speed of wind that is strong enough to carry the soil particles away. Trees also slow down erosion by water by improving infiltration rates and slowing down runoff rates⁶.

• Improves the wellbeing of cattle and subsequently, production⁴

By providing protecting against extreme winds, cattle are more thermally comfortable¹, allowing energy to be used for maintenance and milk production.

• Improved water use efficiency through reduced evapotranspiration

As evapotranspiration occurs, the air around the soil and plant gets more humid and slows the process down. Faster winds bring more dry air, reducing humidity and resultantly increasing evapotranspiration⁶. By breaking the speed of the wind, evapotranspiration is reduced.