Grazing Systems

Continuous, or year-long, grazing with no provision for winter feed was the system used in BC in the 1800s.   Preferred areas became overgrazed by horses and cattle.  In the late 1890s and early 1900s, grazing systems were implemented to reserve winter grazing and feeding.  Grazing systems are now used to manage the health of BC’s grasslands.  Each grazing system is unique and focuses on the requirements of the particular area to be grazed, forage production, season of use, and duration of grazing.  Numerous factors must be considered when implementing the type of grazing system including: types of animals to be grazed, availability and distribution of water, topography, and the level of forage utilization desired.

There are many different types of grazing systems commonly used in BC’s ranching industry including:

Seasonal Grazing

This entails grazing animals on a particular area for only part of the year.  Many grassland acreages in BC are commonly grazed by cattle either in spring or fall months.  Very dry bunchgrass ranges are particularly suited to winter grazing.  Late summer and fall use of grassland pastures is frequently restricted by water availability.  Higher elevation forested ranges on Crown land are typically used for late spring and summer grazing. 

Rotational Grazing

This type of grazing involves dividing the range into several pastures and then grazing each in sequence throughout the grazing period.  This type of grazing can improve livestock distribution, utilization of forage that might otherwise not be grazed and allows for periods of rest on preferred areas.  Wildlife or waterfowl sensitivities can also be incorporated into rotational grazing systems by deferring grazing in specified pastures until nesting or other activity requiring protection is completed.

Rest-Rotation Grazing

This system involves dividing the range into at least four pastures.  One pasture remains rested throughout the year and grazing is rotated amongst the residual pastures.  This system is particularly useful for sensitive grassland or alpine ranges that require periods of recovery.

Deferred-Rotation Grazing

This system involves at least two pastures with one not grazed (deferred) until after seed-set.  This system provides opportunity for grasses to achieve maximum growth and seed production during the critical growing season on the deferred area.  Pastures are grazed under this system at a different stage of growth during consecutive years.  This system can be appropriate for grassland ranges used during the spring and fall.

Riparian Area Grazing Management

Cattle and many wildlife species tend to congregate along stream areas and around wetlands due to the higher availability of water, shade, shelter and forage quality.   Fencing can be utilized to either eliminate livestock use, defer grazing use until after sensitive wildlife or waterfowl periods, or managing a limited amount of grazing use within the riparian pasture for a defined period to utilize cattle browsing to stimulate deciduous shrub and tree suckering.

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