How does pasturing a woods affect the timber?

[Englishman02]

Just wondering how this affects the timber.

 

[treeslayer2003]

dunno exactly but the trees will develop rot in the stump. have seen um all die.

 

[bitzer]

Ground compaction is the biggest thing I think. Anytime I cut a job that has been pastured I'm usually makin high stumps and still buttin off. Lots of heart rot. Usually lots of exposed rocks too.

 

[Englishman02]

Thanks guys

 

[Steve NW WI]

I had cattle running in my woods for many years, compaction could be a problem on some soils, but not much in my sandy ground. Mainly, they keep the new growth mowed down, eventually it becomes more like a park than a woods, regeneration after cutting is almost impossible without kicking the cattle out for a few years.

 

[slowp]

Dunno about during, but around here, trying to turn a former pasture back into forest is a pain. The ground is compacted making planting difficult, and grass has to be killed in order to get the trees to grow.