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Rotational Grazing

alternative practice names:

Management Intensive Grazing; Restorative Grazing; Rotational Grazing; Regenerative Grazing; Pasture Management; MOB Grazing

Rotational grazing is a managed grazing system that involves moving livestock systematically between paddocks to optimize forage use and promote pasture recovery. In this system, a larger pasture is divided into smaller sections, or paddocks, and animals are rotated through these sections. Grazing duration can range from a few hours to several weeks, but shorter grazing periods with higher stocking densities often provide the most benefits, such as more even grazing and improved forage regrowth. The timing of livestock movement is adaptive, typically based on forage height, growth stage, and the nutritional needs of the animals, ensuring that pastures have adequate time to recover between grazing events. This rest period allows for faster regrowth, improving pasture health and productivity over time.


Rotational grazing systems are flexible and can be tailored to meet various farm goals and resources. Farms might choose to graze heifers or dry cows, or they may fully or partially graze lactating dairy cows to meet their nutritional needs. This flexibility allows farmers to design a system that suits their specific herd management practices, such as grazing only at night or during periods when forage quality is optimal.


Effective rotational grazing also involves careful planning and record-keeping, including monitoring forage growth, managing stocking density, and adjusting grazing schedules according to seasonal variations and pasture conditions.

When used, in what regions in the U.S. is the practice found: 

Northwest, Upper Midwest, Northeast, Southeast

FARM SIZE 

When used, typically found on farms of the following sizes:

Under 500 cows

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Practice Benefits 

Compared to continuous grazing, where animals have access to a large area for extended periods, rotational grazing offers several benefits:


Increased pasture productivity: By rotating livestock through different paddocks, each section of pasture has time to rest and recover, reducing the risk of overgrazing and stimulating healthier plant growth.


Weed management: Rotating livestock results in more uniform grazing of plant species, which can limit the establishment and spread of weeds and promote desirable forage species.


Reduced compaction and erosion: Rotational grazing distributes livestock impact more evenly across the pasture, preventing soil compaction and bare ground, which reduces erosion and improves soil health and structure.


Forage quality management: Rotational systems allow for more precise management of forage quality, ensuring that livestock have access to high-quality forage, which can enhance animal nutrition and productivity.


Manure and urine distribution: Livestock are moved frequently, ensuring that manure and urine are spread more evenly across the pasture, enhancing soil fertility and reducing nutrient hotspots.


Improved animal health: Frequent movement to fresh pastures reduces the risk of parasite buildup and exposure to pathogens, promoting better overall health for livestock.



Compared to confinement, rotational grazing has the following benefits:


Cost-effectiveness: Grazing heifers or dry cows can reduce feed costs since pasture-based diets are often less expensive than conventional feed. This cost savings primarily stems from reduced labor and equipment costs associated with feed production and manure distribution.


Milk premium: Farmers can receive a premium for specialty markets for grass-fed or organic milk, which is often in high demand.


Lower start-up and operational costs: This method requires much less equipment, infrastructure, and labor, making it well-suited for small operations.


Suitability for marginal land: Rotational grazing can effectively utilize marginal acres not suitable for traditional row crop agriculture.


Weather: Grazing has the advantage of being less affected by weather conditions compared to conventional forage harvesting. Dairy cows can continue to graze during rainy and wet weather, provided they do not damage the soil. In contrast, conventional systems cannot harvest forage when it is raining or the ground is too wet for equipment.

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Implementation Insights

Site-specific or Farm-specific requirements 

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  • Stocking rate (animals-to-acre ratio): The appropriate number of acres per animal for rotational grazing varies based on factors such as forage condition, quality, and yield, as well as climate and season length. Generally, farmers require between one and two acres per animal to maintain healthy pasture growth and ensure adequate forage availability, with adjustments made according to local conditions and forage productivity.

  • Herd composition: Dairy operations that raise their own heifers may be most easily able to incorporate grazing into their management since the nutritional needs of heifers and dry cows are less precise than those of lactating animals.

  • Herd size: Grazing systems are often associated with smaller herds and smaller land areas because of practical constraints such as the distance cows are willing or able to walk to get milked. Dairy cows typically graze within a certain radius of the milking parlor, as excessive walking distances can lead to reduced milk production, increased stress, and higher energy expenditure. As a result, farms implementing rotational grazing must balance pasture size and proximity to the milking area to ensure cows can access pasture without negatively impacting their health or productivity. This logistical challenge often makes rotational grazing more suitable for farms with smaller herds or those with compact pasture layouts that minimize walking distances for the cows.

Required Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

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  • Pasture establishment: Transitioning from conventional crop management to rotational grazing requires developing pastures. This involves soil testing and amendments to optimize soil fertility before planting. Farmers must then select grass and legume species appropriate for specific farm goals and environmental factors, such as the region's climate and soil type. Establishing a fully functional pasture system can take up to a year.

  • Perimeter fencing: To contain livestock, the pasture typically needs durable perimeter fencing. Multi-strand high-tensile fencing, often electric, is a common choice due to its strength and longevity, providing secure boundaries.

  • Interior paddock fencing: Permanent or portable interior fencing is used to divide the field into paddocks. A common, easy-to-use system involves portable reels of poly wire and step-in posts to allow paddock sizes to vary throughout the year to accommodate changing forage availability and livestock needs.

  • Water supply infrastructure: Cattle must have continuous access to water, necessitating the installation of either movable or permanent water troughs and water lines. 

  • Lanes, walkways and other heavy-use area protection: High-traffic areas, such as livestock paths, watering points, or gates, are prone to erosion. To protect these zones, farms often install gravel walkways or lanes for the cows to use to move between pastures, paddocks, and milking parlors.

  • Movable shade structures: In regions without sufficient natural shade, providing livestock with movable shade structures is crucial, particularly in hot climates. These structures help maintain animal comfort and reduce heat stress.

  • Barn and facility requirements: In many regions of the U.S., year-round grazing is not feasible due to periods when forage growth is minimal or the soil is too saturated. Grazing under these conditions can damage pasture health. Therefore, livestock need to be housed in long-term facilities or "sacrifice lots" during these off-grazing periods to prevent pasture degradation and maintain animal well-being.

Required Operational Expenditures (OpEx)

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  • Maintenance: Fences require regular maintenance to ensure they remain secure and functional. This includes repairing damage from weather, wildlife, or livestock, as well as replacing worn or broken components.

  • Adjustments: Effective rotational grazing necessitates moving fences and water sources regularly. This requires labor and time to adjust paddock sizes according to forage availability and ensure that livestock have access to fresh, high-quality forage and water.

Implementation Considerations

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Compared to continuous grazing, where animals have access to a large area for extended periods, rotational grazing can pose some challenges:


  • Managing forages for optimum quality: Ensuring the herd receives optimal nutrients and dry matter intake is a key challenge, requiring careful management of forage quality. In northern regions, farmers often face surplus forage in spring and fall but shortages in hot summer months. Selecting appropriate forage species and adaptive grazing management can help mitigate these seasonal imbalances.


Compared to confinement, rotational grazing presents the following challenges: 


  • Lower production: Cows expend significant energy grazing and walking between the milking parlor and the pasture, which can reduce the energy available for milk production. Additionally, grass-based diets do not provide the same level of nutrients as high-concentrate rations, leading to reduced milk yields. As a result, if grazing lactating cows, farms should expect a drop in milk production when transitioning to a rotational grazing system.

  • Genetic selection/adaptation to pasture: Not all cows are equally suited for pasture-based systems. The ideal cow for pasture-based dairies varies depending on the specific grazing system used, as these systems range from low-input, seasonal operations to conventional dairies that incorporate pasture use to a lesser extent. Unlike conventional dairy production, which prioritizes high milk yield, pasture-based systems, especially seasonal ones, emphasize reproductive efficiency, body size, and mobility to fit specific management and environmental needs. 

  • Seasonal growth patterns: Forage growth peaks in spring and fall and slows in summer across most of the U.S., leading to overabundance at times and scarcity at others. This requires strategic planning to manage forage supply effectively. During periods of low forage growth, supplemental feeding may be necessary to meet the nutritional demands of dairy cows, requiring careful planning to ensure a balanced diet. Maintaining a balanced diet for cows on pasture is challenging, particularly when forage quality fluctuates, impacting milk production and cow health.

  • Weather impacts: Extreme weather and seasonal changes can significantly affect forage availability and quality, requiring adaptable grazing plans to maintain productivity.

  • Mud and erosion/soil compaction risks: Wet conditions can cause soil compaction and erosion, especially in high-traffic areas. Implementing gravel tracks and other erosion control measures is essential to protect soil health.

  • Parasite control: Cows on pasture are more exposed to parasites, necessitating vigilant monitoring and control measures to maintain herd health and prevent disease outbreaks.

  • Heat stress and shade: Proper shade and water are crucial to prevent heat stress during hot weather.

  • Reproductive efficiency: Managing breeding and calving in a rotational grazing system requires careful timing and monitoring to ensure efficient reproduction and calving.

  • Weather: Conventional operations are often designed to mitigate extreme weather, whereas grazing operations may find it challenging to keep animals fed in extreme weather conditions.

Financial Considerations and Revenue Streams

PROFIT POTENTIAL

Rotational grazing may align with organic and grass-fed farming practices, meeting certification standards that open up premium pricing opportunities in markets that value sustainability.


FEDERAL COST-SHARE PROGRAM

Funding is available for this practice through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Notes:

  • Check with the local NRCS office on payment rates and practice requirements relevant to your location. 


CARBON CREDITS

This practice is commonly credited in carbon markets. The practice can generate both offset and inset credits. 

Notes: 

  • To generate income from offset credits, producers typically commit to a minimum of 40 years in a project (see Verra methodology). 

  • Inset commitments would vary based on the opportunity with the corporate partner. 

  • This practice would need to be new to the producer or expanded to additional acres to qualify for most programs. 

  • The opportunities would offer different options for quantifying emissions reductions from grazing activities, including soil sampling and the use of approved modeling tools.


FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND CASE STUDIES

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Environmental Impacts

REDUCES FARM GREENHOUSE GAS FOOTPRINT

Rotational grazing impacts greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions differently than confinement systems, with several key trade-offs and benefits: 


  • Impacts on feed production: Converting cropland to perennial pasture in rotational grazing systems can increase soil nitrous oxide emissions per unit of nitrogen applied; however, pastures also have a higher capacity for soil carbon sequestration compared to croplands, which can offset some of these emissions. Furthermore, reducing inputs (i.e., fertilizer and pesticides) and eliminating fuel use associated with forage production, harvest, and management reduces the feed production footprint. 

  • Impact on enteric emissions: Forage-based diets often result in greater methane emissions intensity (e.g., methane per unit of feed consumed) compared to diets that contain increased amounts of highly fermentable carbohydrates, which is what is found in most total mixed rations in confinement dairies. In addition, when grazing, lactating cows lower production per animal averages, increasing enteric methane emissions per unit of milk produced.

  • Impact on manure emissions: Long-term manure storage is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from confinement dairies. Transitioning heifers to pasture reduces the quantity of manure in storage, recycling nutrients through the pasture system.


Overall, while rotational grazing can present challenges in terms of methane emissions intensity, effective management can enhance soil carbon storage and reduce manure-related emissions. The exact impact depends on various factors, including animal life stage, grazing intensity, and the specific management practices applied. 


IMPROVES WATER QUALITY

Rotational grazing has a significant impact on water quality, with outcomes largely dependent on management practices. When implemented correctly, rotational grazing can improve water quality by maintaining dense vegetation cover, which acts as a natural filter, trapping sediments and nutrients before they reach nearby waterways. This vegetation helps reduce erosion and surface runoff, especially during rainfall events. Additionally, rotational grazing systems often use fewer chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides compared to conventional crop production, minimizing the risk of nutrient runoff and chemical leaching into water bodies.


Conversely, poor grazing management, such as overgrazing or grazing on waterlogged fields, can degrade water quality. Overgrazing reduces ground cover, leading to soil erosion and compaction, which limits water infiltration and increases runoff. Compacted soils and uneven manure distribution can result in higher concentrations of nutrients in specific areas, leading to nutrient leaching into groundwater or surface water pollution.


Effective management practices—such as maintaining adequate pasture cover, balancing livestock density, and adjusting grazing timing and intensity—are essential to protecting water quality and supporting the health of aquatic ecosystems.

REFerences

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Alignment with FARM Program

FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) V2-V3 Alignment

FARM ES Version 3 allows users to enter if their lactating herd is on pasture throughout the year and during the day. The optional FARM ES Conservation Practice Questionnaire (CPQ) also asks about conservation practices used including prescribed grazing.

Contents

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We're always eager to update the website with the latest research, implementation insights, financial case studies, and emerging practices. Use the link above to share your insights. 

We're always eager to update the website with the latest research, implementation insights, financial case studies, and emerging practices. Use the link above to share your insights. 

Contents

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Practice Overview

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Practical Insights.png
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Research Results.png
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Rotational grazing is a managed grazing system that involves moving livestock systematically between paddocks to optimize forage use and promote pasture recovery. In this system, a larger pasture is divided into smaller sections, or paddocks, and animals are rotated through these sections. Grazing duration can range from a few hours to several weeks, but shorter grazing periods with higher stocking densities often provide the most benefits, such as more even grazing and improved forage regrowth. The timing of livestock movement is adaptive, typically based on forage height, growth stage, and the nutritional needs of the animals, ensuring that pastures have adequate time to recover between grazing events. This rest period allows for faster regrowth, improving pasture health and productivity over time.


Rotational grazing systems are flexible and can be tailored to meet various farm goals and resources. Farms might choose to graze heifers or dry cows, or they may fully or partially graze lactating dairy cows to meet their nutritional needs. This flexibility allows farmers to design a system that suits their specific herd management practices, such as grazing only at night or during periods when forage quality is optimal.


Effective rotational grazing also involves careful planning and record-keeping, including monitoring forage growth, managing stocking density, and adjusting grazing schedules according to seasonal variations and pasture conditions.

Practices and technologies

Rotational Grazing

alternative practice name:

Management Intensive Grazing; Restorative Grazing; Rotational Grazing; Regenerative Grazing; Pasture Management; MOB Grazing