HARDY cattle breeds such as Highland and Aberdeen Angus should be encouraged to graze the higher slopes of the Dales to counter the damage done by sheep according to a national park report.

Fewer cattle are grazing the Dales, raising fears that the ecology of the landscape is being affected.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is advocating grants towards encouraging farmers to keep more hardy beef cattle and fewer sheep.

Mixed livestock farming has declined over the years and an analysis of agricultural returns shows that the Dales have seen a 60 per cent increase in sheep numbers and a considerable decline in cattle numbers.

Ecologist Tim Thom said in a report that sheep were selective grazers which searched out the best grasses and left poorer grass to thrive.

Cattle were less selective and grazed poorer vegetation, with hardy beef breeds able to survive on the poorest grasses. Dairy cattle, due to their high nutrient intake, were less suitable and were kept on lowlands.

Farmers have been asked about what beasts they keep and 80 per cent said they still kept cattle, predominantly a mix of Friesian, Holstein and Limousin crosses.

Forty eight per cent of farmers allowed cattle to graze on limestone uplands, although steeper areas were never grazed. Those who did not allow cattle on the uplands cited dangers to their stock from rocky ground and the poor grass.

"The findings suggest that the more modern breeds of cattle being grazed in the limestone areas of the national park are too selective," said Mr Thom.

"There is a need therefore to encourage a move by a proportion of the farmers to use more hardy beef breeds that are less selective and require lower nutrient input."

The report proposes capital grants to support mixed livestock farming. In order to qualify farmers would have to agree a 10 year farm conservation plan.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has agreed to host a conference on the use of hardy beef breeds in sustainable farming.