Grazing Management Strategies for Your Livestock Pastures

Introduction

Grazing management involves strategically planning and coordinating livestock grazing methods to enhance pasture health, boost animal productivity, and promote environmental sustainability. When considering grazing management techniques, several factors should be taken into account, including:

Animal nutrient requirements
Forage species
Forage nutrient requirements
Input costs
Estimated return on investment
Desired outcomes

Figure 1: Cattle grazing cool season forage (Credit: Lizzie Whitehead)

Grazing Considerations

Grazing decisions are often guided by stocking rate or stubble height. The stocking rate refers to the number of livestock per acre of land and can be adjusted to ensure that the nutritional needs of the animals are met without overgrazing the pasture. The appropriate number of animals per acre depends on the species of livestock you have. Stubble height indicates the length of forage remaining after grazing. Delay grazing until your pasture has reached at least 6-8 inches in average height. Allow for a period of rest when the pasture is 3-4 inches in average height as shown in figure 2.

Figure 2 by Lori K. Warren, PhD, UF/IFAS

Continuous Grazing

Some producers prefer continuous grazing due to its lower input costs and minimal labor requirements. In continuous grazing, livestock have uninterrupted access to a pasture without rest periods for plant regrowth. The livestock will determine the stubble height and grazing frequency in that area, as shown in Figure 3. However, a major drawback of continuous grazing is the risk of overgrazing.

Figure 3 by Lizzie Whitehead, UF/IFAS Extension Agent.

Overgrazing

If your pastures have a short stubble height, have bare spots, and are not producing like you think they should be, your pasture is most likely overgrazed. Overgrazing can be detrimental to a plant for many reasons. If the forage is cut to short the plant can not replenish its stored nutrients and is unable to regrow, therefore your grass will start dying. If your desirable grass species start dying off, less desirable weeds will start to take over. Restoring an overgrazed pasture can require significant time, money, and labor.

Rotational Grazing

In a rotational grazing system, livestock are rotated between pastures, allowing rest periods for plant regrowth. Rotational grazing is a highly recommended management technique and there are several different ways you can design a rotational grazing system on your property. However, this system does have higher input and requires more labor as livestock must be monitored and moved from pasture to pasture as needed. The livestock manager has control over the stubble height and frequency of grazing which is helpful from preventing overgrazing. Rotational grazing is particularly beneficial for producers looking to utilize cool-season forages, as it enables designated areas for planting and growth. Figure 4 illustrates a setup for rotational grazing, including a sacrifice area where livestock can be fed or watered, providing access to the pasture intended for grazing.