SD's Grassland Management Systems

Grazing Systems

Planned grazing systems range from simple to very complex. Management will increase as the number of pastures increase. However, the benefits generally increase also. The carrying capacity of the land, distribution of livestock, and harvest efficiency are improved with proper management.

South Dakota's land base is approximately 53 percent grassland. The forage produced on these lands is an important agricultural product for the state. Grazing management can extend the amount of time livestock can be used to harvest forage directly from the land. Management reduces the costs of producing a marketable red meat product, while maintaining or improving the grassland.

Water and sunshine are two components it takes to allow plants to make plant growth. Plants need leaf surface area to capture the energy from sunshine. By rotating livestock herds, pastures can be given a period of rest, time to grow more leaves and build reserves.

The Missouri Grazing Manual lists four key principles to sound grazing management:
1. Meet the nutritional needs of the livestock involved.
2. Optimize forage yield, quality, and persistence.
3. Protect and enhance the resource base.
4. Integrate knowledge and technology to develop a practical and economically viable management system.

Continuous grazing is a one-pasture system where livestock are left to graze in a large area for the entire season. This method requires the least amount of labor, and time and costs are minimal. The disadvantages are lower forage quality, lower carrying capacity, and uneven pasture use. Weeds and brush may also be a problem.

Rotational grazing is a system that uses more than one pasture. Livestock are moved from pasture to pasture according to forage growth and feed requirements. This method allows the pastures to rest and regrow and can provide for a longer grazing season, reducing need for winter feeding. Fencing and water supply costs can be higher than with continuous grazing. A properly managed rotational grazing system will lead to higher forage yields , improved stands of grass, and a higher quality forage.

Management- intensive grazing is a system that breaks larger fields into smaller units called paddocks. Animals are moved frequently at high stocking density. Each paddock is grazed, then rested before animals are allowed to graze again. This method maximizes harvest efficiency of available forage. Weeds and brush are controlled naturally and stocking rates may increase. It also requires careful monitoring of forage. Initial costs may be higher due to need for fencing materials and water development. (For more information on this type of grazing system, visit our Grazing Management Demonstrations section.)