Grazing and Pasture Management

By Joe Armstrong and Brad Heins

May 2021

Quick Facts:

 Producers use grazing to help reduce feed costs and/or make unproductive crop land productive.

 You should have a grazing plan to make sure you are as efficient as possible in using your grazing forage.

 The different grazing systems include continuous, simple rotational and intensive rotational.

 Rotational grazing is more productive than continuous grazing.

 Overgrazing results in decreased pasture quality and productivity.

 You should have a back-up plan for when things go wrong.

The importance of having a grazing plan:

Designing a grazing plan is the first step in your pasture management system. As you follow the planning process, the strengths and weaknesses of your current system will become apparent. The grazing plan should include all the components of the grazing and pasture system and serve as a map for making management improvements. The amount of grass available is limited and having a plan allows for the full utilization of the resources available.  Recording and tracking the success of your plan is important because you can then make improvements for the next grazing season.  

The different grazing systems

Grazing systems range from continuous grazing of one area over a long period of time to intensive rotational grazing on small areas for short periods of time. Livestock systems that use continuous grazing of a pasture experience both overgrazing and undergrazing of forages.  A rotational system provides a rest opportunity for forage plants so that they may regrow more quickly. The rotational system provides an opportunity to move livestock based on forage growth, promote better pasture forage utilization, and extend the grazing season. The advantages and disadvantages of three grazing management systems are in the graphic. 

Pasture quality and productivity

Good pasture condition is critical to a successful grazing system. Pasture quality may vary greatly from one pasture area to another, but the trend over time should show the direction in which the pasture condition is moving.  Forage grass and legume species each have their own unique growth, persistence, and quality characteristics. Because they respond differently to soil conditions, weather patterns, fertility and grazing management, the plants that are currently growing in your pastures may be different from one area to another.  Evaluating the entire system is important to the success of your plan. 

Determining and measuring pasture quality

The first step in determining your pasture quality and productivity is surveying what is available. A walk through the pastures is necessary to gather this information. 

 The overall coverage and density of forage in your pastures can be rated as thin, average, or thick.

 If the same people are evaluating the pastures every time, you can keep track of the trend.

 Identify dominant species in each pasture and use your map to keep track of what you find. If you need help identifying different species contact your local extension office or your local USDA service center.

 For a relatively small cost, a forage sample you collect can be tested by your local forage lab. This information about protein, mineral content and more is incredibly valuable.