Farm structure and grassland phytodiversity – A comparison of beef and dairy cattle farms

In this study we investigated the influence of two different livestock systems on phytodiversity in temperate managed grassland. Within our study area a total of 30 farms were selected that were grouped into 15 spatially neighbouring pairs, each consisting of one beef and one diary cattle farm. Plant species richness and species cover was estimated at eight grassland fields within each farm (n = 240). At the field scale our results revealed that species richness (α-diversity) was significantly higher in beef cattle grasslands. Soil nutrients (phosphorus and potassium content) did not differ significantly between fields of the two different farm types while the nitrogen input was significantly lower in the beef cattle fields. At the farm level (γ-diversity) no difference in species richness was found, which indicated that dairy farms generally have potential to maintain or restore species rich grassland at least at the whole farm level.