Experts track cows 24 hours a day

The experts want to examine the grazing habits of herds

Scientists have attached tracking devices to two herds of cows near Edinburgh so that they can record their every movement 24 hours a day.

Scottish Agricultural College experts are monitoring a herd of Charolais and one of Luing for two months.

The cows in the Pentland Hills are part of an experiment to tell whether cows are good for upland farming and whether the hilltops are good for the cows.

The tests are taking place on Castle Law farm at Easter Howgate, Midlothian.

The SAC's uplands advisor Tony Waterhouse said that as sheep numbers were reduced the government and farmers needed up-to-date information.

He said: "We want a win-win from a good product but also good biodiversity - that's the thing we need to find out.

"We are trying to find out more about what cattle do in general so we can tease out whether there is a difference between different types of breeds."

Farm subsidies are moving towards support for wider conservation aims, so it is important to know which breeds of cow eat what and how that affects the plants and wildlife.