How Often Do You Rotate Cattle From Pasture to Pasture?

Rotational grazing occurs on farms in many parts of the world, including small and mid-sized farms in the United States. Determining when to rotate the cattle from paddock to paddock is dependent on several specific factors, such as the size of the herd, the species of the dominant grass in the pasture, the season of the year, and the style of grazing system employed.

  1. Size of Herd and Paddock

    • The first consideration when deciding when to rotate cows that are being grazed is the size of the herd in comparison to the number of acres in each paddock, as well as the total acres available to graze on. A smaller paddock that has a lot of cows on it can not be as grazed as long as a larger pasture with less cows. Rotational grazing is often measured in animal units, which is equivalent to a single 1,000-lb. cow.

    Grass Species

    • The dominant species of grass in the pasture will determine how much dry matter, or feed, it is able to produce and how long cows can graze on it. Different grasses have different growth rates and require more rest than other species. For example, Blue grass and white clover have higher recovery rates than fescue; therefore, the cows can graze on bluegrass or clover longer because it needs less time to grow back.

    Season

    • Grass growth significantly depends on climate conditions, and growth rates vary by season. When the weather is cool and moist in the spring the grass grows the fastest and may only need 10 to 14 days' rest. The cattle can be grazed on it longer and eat it down more, since it will spring back faster. In the summer, however, cattle can't be allowed to utilize as much of the paddock in one rotation since the grass grows slower.

    Grazing Style

    • The timing of rotating the cattle is also dependent on the style of rotational grazing used by the farmer. In very aggressive, "forward grazing" systems the cows are moved two to three times a day, while some farmers may only have two paddocks and rotate between them every month. Other farmers use a hybrid approach by feeding an appropriate amount of silage to make up the feed the cow is not getting from the pasture at a given time.