Beaches to Bovines: Martha’s Vineyard Turns to Cows for Hill Cleanup

Vacationers on Martha’s Vineyard, the island getaway off the coast of Massachusetts, may be wondering why cows are roaming the summer hot spot.

Don’t expect to see them on the sandy shores. The friendly bovines have been brought there for a reason—to help maintain the island’s beautiful landscape this summer.

Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, a land conservation agency, brought back its grazing program for the hot summer months to combat overgrown woody vegetation, manage invasive species, and keep historic landmarks cleared.

Last year, the organization used a herd of goats to achieve its goal, but this time around, it brought 10 Randall cattle to get the job done, as reported by the Vineyard Gazette.

The cattle, which help maintain the island’s grasslands, could be joined by more animals in the coming weeks, according to Winston Bell, the livestock manager.

“Hopefully by the end of summer we’ll have the rest of the herd,” he said at a land bank meeting.

After the island witnessed a decline in farming, Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank sought to restore the balance by thinking beyond planning boards and conservation commissions only. The organization recognized that the Vineyard needed a new type of land agency amid a building boom. In 1986, the conversation organization was born as island voters fought to reverse their losses.

“Martha’s Vineyard Island has witnessed unprecedented change in the most recent decades,” as stated on the land bank website. “Farming declined; centuries-old pastures and fields were left to knot into vines and shrubs. The ‘freedom to roam’ was curtailed as fences were erected across trails, beaches were gated off, and hunting was restricted.”

In a span of 40 years, the organization has helped conserve over 4,200 acres of land. While that may seem like a significant statistic, the agency notes that it only encompasses 7% of the island’s land area.

The commission’s revenue—generated by a 2% public surcharge on most real estate transfers occurring in the six towns—is modest compared with the need, ensuring that islanders can expect the land bank to protect only a fraction of their community.

Animal instincts

In the past, Martha’s Vineyard Lank Bank owned a herd of goats, but they were auctioned off in September 2024 after the unlucky animals became plagued with parasitic worms, according to the Gazette.

Bell suggested acquiring Pineywoods cattle to replace the goat herd, at first, because they are similar in impact and management requirements. The livestock manager said that the Pineywoods cattle are parasite-resistant and high-heat tolerant in his proposal to the land bank commission.

“The cattle markets have been kind of haywire and it’s been difficult to find Pineywoods,” Bell said. “I’ve got a couple of breeders down south who will have some available in the next month or so. We’re hoping that comes through.”

Grazing programs, like the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, offer a sustainable approach to land management by utilizing livestock to control vegetation, improve soil health, and enhance biodiversity. These programs, often implemented through collaborative efforts and outcome-based approaches, can be more cost-effective than traditional methods, especially in challenging terrains.

“While the goats served the land bank effectively for years, the institution has expanded its management goals to include the rejuvenation of depleted agricultural lands and the creation of open habitat in woodlands—and for this reason has recently transitioned to cattle, as they, via low-intensity rotational grazing, are particularly suited to these tasks,” as per the website.

According to the agency, it will prioritize heritage and landrace breeds that are “smaller, more efficient grazers” to best fulfill the needs of the island’s land management.

“As these goals are met, the land bank will explore the possibility of a diversified livestock herd, integrating tunis and katahdin sheep and kiko goats to accomplish all of its habitat and landscape goals,” according to the website.

The new additions to the grazing team are going well, said Bell. They are currently at Waskosim’s Rock Reservation. Bell told the land bank commissioners that, eventually, he expects to include Pineywoods cattle and 10 to 15 goats in the herd.

Creating a mixed herd would allow the land bank to target different areas of need, said Bell. He anticipates that the goats could clear up vegetation around hilltops and rock walls, while the cattle could tackle areas that were overgrown by scrub and dense understory.

“It’ll be more of a precise grazing operation,” Bell said.