One goal of landscape conservation and nature protection is often to keep the landscape open. A widely recognised and proven concept for this is grazing with farm animals. The different livestock species and breeds have different demands on the soil conditions, the climate and the fodder growth of the site to be grazed. If certain plant species are to be protected, the eating and comfort behaviour, such as the dustbathing of the various livestock species, also plays a role.

The conservation of biological diversity in landscape conservation is often limited to the diversity of wild plant species. But livestock breeds are also part of this diversity, according to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. Many livestock breeds are threatened with extinction. Landscape management and nature conservation can also support the conservation of endangered livestock breeds within the framework of grazing programmes.

In addition to biological diversity and environmental protection, there are also cultural demands on the protection of the cultural landscape. This aspect can also be taken into account by choosing regional livestock breeds. The visibility of a particular regional livestock breed can underline the uniqueness of a landscape. However, livestock breeds are also a cultural heritage in themselves. The regional identity of the population can be increasingly addressed with livestock which are typical in the respective region. This can also increase acceptance among the local population for landscape and nature conservation measures.

It was our native livestock breeds that shaped and managed the landscape of our homeland. It is obvious that native livestock breeds will continue to be predestined for the conservation of the nature they have created.

Landscape conservation and nature conservation measures must also be profitable for the livestock keeper. Here, for example, support for grassland conservation, Natura 2000 sites and contractual nature conservation is of great importance. Another source of funding are the payments for breeding animals of endangered native livestock breeds.