Grazing management systems

Grazing management is about more than just moving stock - it’s about matching livestock demand to pasture supply, protecting groundcover, and improving long-term productivity. 

How grazing systems affect pasture

The way livestock interact with pasture affects:

• species composition
• soil health
• biodiversity.

Poorly timed grazing can lead to:

• overgrazing
• weed invasion
• erosion. 

Well-managed systems:

• improve pasture utilisation
• increase feed quality
• support native species. 

Matching grazing to pasture growth

Effective grazing management means adjusting stocking rates and grazing intervals to match pasture growth. For example, grazing pressure must be adjusted during low-growth periods to protect groundcover. This requires:

• monitoring dry matter and pasture composition
• using pasture rulers or visual assessment tools
• understanding seasonal growth patterns and undertaking seasonal pasture management
• using feed budgeting tools to plan stock movements and supplementary feeding.

Western NSW

In western NSW, where rainfall is highly variable and native perennial pastures dominate, matching stock numbers to feed availability is especially critical. 

Overgrazing can quickly lead to:

• land degradation
• erosion
• spread of invasive native scrub. 

Tactical grazing strategies for the Western region landscape include:

• maintaining 50% groundcover
• limiting utilisation of key species to 30%
• fencing by land type.

Continuous grazing (set stocking)

Continuous grazing allows livestock to remain in the same paddock year-round, with stocking rates set to match average pasture growth.

Advantages

• Low labour and infrastructure requirements.
• Suitable for small mobs and calving/lambing management.
• Allows selective grazing, which can benefit individual animal performance.

Challenges

• Over time, palatable species decline and unpalatable weeds dominate.
• Groundcover may be lost during drought or winter.
• Pasture utilisation is often low, with uneven grazing pressure.

For pasture species that are sensitive to grazing pressure, such as sub-clover or phalaris, consider transitioning to rotational grazing.

Rotational grazing

Rotational grazing involves moving stock between paddocks to allow pasture recovery. Grazing is timed to match the pasture’s growth stage, typically when dry matter reaches 2,500 kg DM/ha. 

Grazing will stop in that pasture at around 1,200 kg DM/ha and the stock will be moved to the next paddock.

Advantages

• Improves pasture persistence and species composition.
• Allows rest periods for regrowth and seed set.
• Can increase pasture utilisation and feed quality.

Challenges

• Requires fencing, water points and planning.
• Higher labour input for stock movements.
• Needs careful monitoring of pasture growth and condition.

Styles of rotational grazing

Learn more about the different types of pastures suitable for rotational grazing.

Deferred and sacrifice paddocks

Deferred grazing involves resting paddocks during critical growth periods (for example, autumn or spring) to allow seed set and recovery. Sacrifice paddocks are used to contain stock during wet or low-growth periods to protect other areas.

When to use

• During drought or winter feed gaps.
• When paddocks are waterlogged or vulnerable to pugging.
• To protect regenerating pastures or sensitive species.

Pasture management training

Courses like Prograze provide hands-on training in pasture and livestock assessment. They help producers make informed decisions about grazing timing, pasture utilisation and animal performance.