Cattle and sheep in eucalypt plantations: a silvopastoral alternative in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The effects of sheep and cattle grazing in newly planted eucalypt plantations was experimentally examined on six different treatment plots. The combination and number of animals on each plot was varied. Animal grazing did not affect eucalypt survival or growth, indicating that stand establishment costs and grass competition can be minimized by using this silvopastoral approach. The system also offers the advantages of protecting against forest fires by reducing understory biomass. Plantation costs were reduced by 52-93% using this method.