Dartmoor’s autumn livestock season: How commoners are protecting the moor’s ponies and cattle

Walkers on Dartmoor are being urged to take extra care around cattle and ponies as the Dartmoor Commoners Council begins its autumn livestock round-ups and winter preparations. 

The council, which represents farmers and commoners who graze livestock on Dartmoor’s moorland, says the round-ups are an essential part of animal health and land management as winter approaches.

The council highlighted that autumn is the key period for rounding up Dartmoor’s semi-wild ponies for health checks and weaning foals. 

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“The annual pony drifts gather ponies from areas as far as the eye can see to a moorland farm, or a fenced yard the size of a school playground, to be sorted into individual herds and returned to the home farms,” the council said.

Numbers are carefully managed to meet grazing requirements, with some ponies leaving the moor while the rest return to the commons for winter.

ABOVE: Cows calve on their own (Credit: Dartmoor Commoner's Council)

Walkers are also being warned to keep a safe distance from cattle, particularly during the autumn calving period. 

The council said: “Cows will take themselves away from the herd and calve on their own. They will often hide their baby calf and the only clue you have is that she is on her own. Please, please can you keep your eyes open - watch the cows, take a wide berth and take a different route. Treat them like elephants - respect, distance, observe.”

Sheep are gathered in to wean lambs from their mothers and allow the ewes to build up condition for next year’s lamb crop. 

The council reminded the public that there is a sheep clearance period each November when all common land must be cleared of sheep. 

The dividing line for the commons runs from Yelverton through Princetown and Two Bridges to Dartmeet, then along the River Dart to Buckfastleigh.

ABOVE: Sheep are treated are prepped for mating (Credit: Dartmoor Commoner's Council)

During this time, flock owners can treat animals for sheep scab and put ewes with rams for tupping.

Contact information:

• Anyone spotting sick or injured animals on Dartmoor should contact Livestock Protection Officer Karla McKechnie on 07873 587561
• For further details, the Dartmoor Commoners Council office can be reached on 01822 618 892