Description of practice

Controlled grazing is the practice of regulating the amount of grazing time and consumption levels in a pasture in order to prevent overgrazing and soil degradation. It can be applied in a rotational system, whereby livestock is allowed periodically on fields enabling effective recovery and maintaining pasture in good condition.

Examples of how to use controlled and rotational grazing Further information
(see Note below)

AMP86 01

Rotational grazing

The grazing area is subdivided into a number of enclosures that are successively grazed by the animals. This rotational grazing ensures that not all the area is grazed simultaneously.

 

»WOCAT technology 1356
»WOCAT technology 4276
»WOCAT technology 2147
»WOCAT technology 1398

AMP86 02

Split ranch grazing

Livestock is concentrated on half the available land for a full year, allowing the other half to recover. This split ranch grazing requires less fencing than more complex systems, without compromising sustainability or ecological function.

 

»WOCAT technology 3217

AMP86 03

Ecograzing

Two herds are rotated on three paddocks adjusted according to climate and the state of the native perennial, productive and palatable grasses. In this ecograzing scheme all paddocks get wet season rest for 2 years out of 3.

 

»WOCAT technology 1332

AMP86 04

Combined herding for planned grazing

Livestock from all households is combined each day into a single herd that is driven to designated portions of the communal grazing area. Two adaptable grazing plans are developed each year, one for when perennial grasses are growing and the other when they are dormant.

 

»WOCAT technology 3326
»WOCAT technology 1527
»WOCAT technology 1408
»WOCAT technology 1555

AMP86 05

Fast rotational intensive grazing

Grazing land is divided into many small paddocks using electric fences. The paddocks are intensively grazed for short times before the animals are moved on according to a grazing plan. This holistic management approach increases productivity and improves soil health and pasture cover and species composition. Long recovery periods also provide an opportunity for the natural regeneration of tree cover.

 

»AGFORWARD
»WOCAT technology 2092
»WOCAT technology 2972

AMP86 06

Ecosystem-wide seasonal grazing management in community land

Grazing is community-governed to maintain spatial and temporal heterogeneity of pasture, improving pasture quality and quantity. This is achieved through tight controls on settlement areas, grazing patterns and water points and local knowledge of herders.

 

»WOCAT technology 3372
»WOCAT technology 3403

AMP86 07

Daily and seasonal rotation on grassland

A rotation system is used whereby the herder moves with the grazing animals staying between one week and one month in a different base. From each base, different directions are taken daily.

 

»WOCAT technology 1407


Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.