Grazing Practices

Grazing management can improve and maintain the health and functions of grasslands if proper grazing strategies are implemented.  All grasslands require particular planning and management considerations that, when applied, should ensure high yield, high quality and sustainable utilization.  However, each management plan must be developed as a specific treatment designed to accomplish a particular management objective.

The basic principles to be followed when developing a management plan for grazing include:

• What is the current health condition of the plant communities?
• What are the natural values and sensitivities, including the existence of rare species?
• What is operationally feasible?
• What will optimize the value of grassland resources?
• How will the grasslands be monitored to assess vegetation response?

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The following terminology is commonly used in grazing and grassland management:

Animal unit months (AUM):

The amount of dry forage resources required for one animal unit for one month.  One animal unit is defined as a 1,000 lb (450kg) beef cow with a calf. 

Carrying capacity:

Expressed in animal unit months, carrying capacity reflects forage productivity and pasture size.  It is the pasture’s ability to produce forage to meet the requirements of grazing animals.

Stocking rate:

The number of animals on a pasture during a month or grazing season, usually expressed in animal unit months per unit area.  Using a stocking rate too high for the land to support over a period of time can result in overgrazing. 

Proper Stocking Rate:

Range managers ensure that the amount of forage required by livestock does not exceed what an area can provide, while also leaving enough residue to protect the soil, reducing erosion and increasing moisture retention.

Proper Distribution of Grazing:

Grazing pressure should be distributed to ensure that no one area is under more pressure than another.  This can be accomplished through salt and mineral placement, water developments, fencing, herding and density. To learn more about animal grazing behaviour and tools used to distribute grazing use, click here.

Proper Season of Use:

Grazing should be scheduled to minimize relative impacts on grassland plants.  Plants are most susceptible to damage from grazing early in the season during the latter half of the rapid growth period.  Grazing systems such as deferred rotation allow for a mosaic of conditions across the landscape and therefore ensure grassland sustainability.  To learn more about grazing systems, click here.

Proper Rest for Recovery:

Plants require a rest period after being grazed to replenish growth reserves, roots and vigour.  Without adequate rest, plant health may be diminished.  To learn about grazing systems that include rest, click here.

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For more on grazing practices, visit the following links.