Creating sustainable land management guidance for stud farms
Creating best-practice guidance to help stud farm managers reduce their environmental impact
The Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) commissioned ADAS to evaluate the environmental impact of stud farm practices. As part of the project, we created a guidance booklet to help stud farm managers make sustainable land management decisions.
How we conducted this research
To assess the impact of stud farm practices on biodiversity, climate, water quality and soil health, ADAS carried out two site visits. The first visit was to a traditional Newmarket stud farm and a second at a commercial stud farm in the South-West of England.
On both farms, we conducted an ecological survey, a carbon audit, and an assessment of current management practices to identify farm features with environmental benefits. For example, intact hedgerows act as a pathway for wildlife between woodlands and connect up habitats across the landscape.
Once we identified which practices should be fostered and which to avoid, the findings were used to produce a best-practice guidance booklet for TBA members.
Results
To reduce climate emissions, the guidance booklet identified key emission hotspots of the two farms visited. These included:
- the transportation of horses
- emissions from the production of bought in feed
- horse manure management
- other livestock present on the farm, such as sheep and cattle
Our guidance recommended completing a greenhouse gas assessment to determine hotspots on a particular farm and actions to reduce them.
The booklet also outlined how land management affects the carbon stored on farms in the soil and vegetation. Conscientious tree planting is a robust approach to carbon sequestration.
Opportunities we identified to increase biodiversity on stud farms include:
- reducing mowing frequency of verges to enhance high-quality grassland habitats
- restoring semi-natural habitats such as scrub and woodland to increase diversity
We explained the importance of pasture rotation to promote a healthy grass sward and minimise the risk of poaching and compaction. Fencing off watercourses to prevent livestock access and the use of buffer zones were recommended to protect water quality, as well as correct muck heap management.
Opportunities for the future
This project provided the TBA with simple, digestible guidance on the practical approaches stud farm managers can take to boost the environmental value of the land and minimise the climate impact of their operations. By managing the land to provide public goods, such as protecting water quality or boosting biodiversity, stud farms can be eligible for payments through the UK government’s Environmental Land Management schemes.
