Nature conservationists frequently use domestic livestock to graze unimproved semi-natural vegetation in order to achieve the ecological objectives that they are seeking for the sites that they manage. This paper reviews the role of the Grazing Animals Project in raising awareness of the factors that affect the health, safety and general welfare of the animals involved in this activity. It also describes the measures being undertaken to ensure that the people charged with the care of grazing livestock on nature reserves are best equipped to deliver the management targets for the land without compromising the well-being of the animals.