UNHIDE Agroforestry - A Knowledge Exchange Latvia- Sweden 2023-25 - Report - Page 26
Stora Juleboda farm: Foraging & silvo-pasture, Sweden
larly with breeds adapted to forage-based systems
and natural pastures.
weed competition. The presence of pigs also contributes to vole control.
At Stora Juleboda, both conventional pigs for
meat production and Berkshire heritage pigs are
integrated as functional components of land
management. The animals are moved strategically
to prepare land for sowing or tree establishment,
and to control invasive species in the orchards,
such as couch grass (Elymus repens) and white
goosefoot, and thus inviting other species to get a
chance to establish.
The Berkshire pigs are kept outdoors year-round
and are well adapted to cold conditions with
relatively low nutritional inputs. Their diet includes
apple residues from cider production, and after
completing orchard tasks they are allowed to forage in forested areas.
In conventional orchard systems, root pruning is
commonly used to control tree vigour; at Stora
Juleboda, pigs fulfil this function through rooting
behaviour. The apple trees, grafted onto robust
A2 rootstocks, tolerate both disturbance and
Black currant leaves for tea.
Chickens and sheep are also incorporated into a
rotational livestock system. Sheep movements are
managed on horseback, and during dry summer
periods animals are relocated daily among 32
fenced paddocks.
Historical records indicate that the number of
livestock on the farm today is comparable to that
Ramson.
