Rotational grazing

Rotational grazing is a livestock management practice that involves moving animals between pastures (also known as paddocks) at regular intervals. This method is designed to maximize the quality and quantity of forage growth, improve soil health, and increase the overall productivity of the land.

Overview

Rotational grazing is a system where livestock are moved to fresh paddocks, or sub-divisions of a pasture, on a regular basis. This allows the previously grazed pastures time to recover before the animals return. The goal of rotational grazing is to improve the quality and quantity of forage for the livestock, while also improving the health and fertility of the soil.

Benefits

Rotational grazing offers several benefits over continuous grazing, where livestock have unrestricted access to all pastures at all times. These benefits include:

• Improved forage quality and quantity: By allowing pastures to rest and recover between grazing periods, the quality and quantity of available forage can be significantly improved. This can lead to increased livestock weight gain and productivity.

• Improved soil health: Rotational grazing can help to improve soil health by reducing soil compaction, improving soil structure, and increasing soil organic matter. This can lead to increased soil fertility and water-holding capacity.

• Increased biodiversity: By creating a more varied and diverse grazing pattern, rotational grazing can help to promote biodiversity both above and below the soil surface.

Implementation

Implementing a rotational grazing system requires careful planning and management. Key steps include:

• Pasture subdivision: The first step in implementing a rotational grazing system is to subdivide the available pasture into smaller paddocks. The size and number of paddocks will depend on the size of the herd, the size of the pasture, and the desired grazing period.

• Grazing and rest periods: The next step is to determine the appropriate grazing and rest periods for each paddock. This will depend on factors such as the growth rate of the forage, the forage demand of the livestock, and the desired level of forage utilization.

• Livestock movement: The final step is to regularly move the livestock between paddocks. This can be done manually, or with the use of temporary fencing and livestock handling facilities.

See also

• Holistic management (agriculture)
• Sustainable agriculture
• Agroecology
• Permaculture