Ecological Service Livestock Network

Get involved!

Complete our needs assessment survey to shape our programming.

Do you raise or want to raise livestock for the purpose of achieving land management goals or for conservation? Please complete this needs assessment survey to help the Ecological Service Livestock Network coordinators learn how to best provide support and education. This survey will take about 5 minutes or less to complete.

 

 

 

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What's "ecological service livestock" mean?

Livestock, like goats, sheep and cattle, can be used to perform an ecological service such as maintaining habitat for plants and wildlife thereby maintaining or regenerating genetic and biological diversity in ecosystems. In Minnesota, a few examples of how landowners and contract graziers use livestock include:

  • controlling brush
  • reducing invasive species like buckthorn to restore native landscapes
  • grazing under solar panels

Advancing the art and science of livestock-based land management

A Networking Group of the Sustainable Farming Association, the Ecological Service Livestock Network (ESLN) seeks to develop business models and facilitate research and pilot studies to advance the art and science of profitable livestock-based, land management businesses, with emphasis on but not limited to urban, suburban and peri-urban landscapes.

This group is tailored toward conservation professionals who promote service livestock as a way to combat invasive species, manage land and restore ecological functionality, reduce the use of pesticides and fossil fuels, and start a rewarding livestock-based business.

Spaniolo, Lia

The Ecological Service Livestock Network is a collaboration between SFA and the University of Minnesota Extension.

Info: Lia Spaniolo, University of Minnesota Extension, spaniolo@umn.edu

Learn about Lia here.

Sheep solar panels

Service Livestock Resources

  • All
  • Case Studies
  • Fact Sheets & Reports
  • Handbooks
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars

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