Glossary:Grazing livestock density index
The grazing livestock density index measures the stock of grazing animals (cattle, sheep, goats and equidae) expressed in livestock units (LSU) per hectare of fodder area.
The fodder area is the sum of fodder brassica's and roots, forage plants and permanent grassland (excluding permanent grassland no longer used for production and eliglible for subsidies). In 2007 a new variable Permanent grassland no longer used for production and eliglible for the payment of subsidies was introduced in the FSS to reflect changes to the Common Agricultural Policy, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. This regulation introduced “Maintaining the land in good agricultural and environmental condition” as an agricultural activity. Permanent grassland areas maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition no longer used for production became under this regulation eliglible for subsidies and are therefore included in the utilised agricultural area.
Livestock patterns give an indication of the pressure of livestock farming on the environment. Through manure production livestock contributes to climate change (greenhouse gas emissions) and nutrient leaching into water and air. In contrast with manure of other animal types, the manure of grazing livestock is mainly used for fertilisation of fodder area. Therefore the indicator relates the number of grazing livestock to the fodder area. A higher grazing livestock density means that more manure is available per ha of fodder area, which increases the risk of nutrient leaching. The actual impact on the environment of grazing livestock is however also depending on farmer practices. A higher grazing livestock index therefore does not necessarily means environmental degradation.