Advantages and Disadvantages of Grazing Systems

Keen to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of grazing systems? How you choose to manage your land can make or break your grazing business. Grazing systems are a pivotal component of sustainable grazing operations, and what you choose will have both pros and cons in regards to various aspects of your operations. 

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by deciding which grazing system to move forward with. In addition to understanding the different grazing systems, trying to weigh the pros and cons of each system can be challenging. 

Furthermore, it’s entirely normal to adopt more than one grazing system at any one time to address the unique needs of different paddocks.

Each grazing system presents unique advantages and challenges that will influence your soil health, plant diversity, and animal welfare. In addition to universal challenges of a rancher such as weather fluctuations, soil health, overgrazing, desertification and cash-flow, it’s critical to understand the outcomes of different grazing systems to learn what works for you. 

What You’ll Learn in this Article

In this article, we’ll guide you through the advantages and disadvantages of four general grazing systems and their impact on profitability and soil health so you can make informed decisions. 

Here are the four major grazing systems we will cover:

1. Continuous grazing
2. Deferred Rotational grazing
3. Rest Rotational grazing
4. Management-intensive grazing

Continuous Grazing System

Advantages

Simplicity and Low Initial Setup Costs 

In the context of grazing systems, continuous grazing stands out for its perceived simplicity and low labour requirements. Continuous grazing demands less management and minimal overhead cost, making it advantageous for those with low start-up resources. 

Natural Behaviour Expression for Livestock 

The continuous grazing system also allows for selective grazing behaviour of livestock, often selecting for immature, high-sugar content plants.

In the past, continuous grazing has been Low labour requirements, cost, and natural behaviour expression for livestock make continuous grazing an appealing option for many ranchers seeking a straightforward approach to grazing. 

Disadvantages

Overgrazing Risks

While beneficial in certain aspects, continuous grazing presents several disadvantages that impact the health and productivity of pastures. One of the primary concerns is the risk of overgrazing. When your livestock continuously feeds on the same pasture without adequate recovery time, this will lead to lower forage quality and regrowth.

Limited Forage Regrowth

Furthermore, pastures will only have sufficient time to recover with structured rest periods, especially after environmental stressors like drought. This leads to an ongoing cycle of limited forage regrowth and a prolonged recovery time for the pasture. 

Uneven Pasture Utilisation

Another significant drawback to the continuous grazing system is the uneven pasture utilisation. In a continuously grazed system, livestock tend to favour certain areas over others, resulting in imbalanced manure distribution and the emergence of weed problems. 

In worst-case scenarios, the disadvantages not only reduce the nutritional value of the pasture but also decrease the stocking rates due to diminished forage availability. Consequently, while continuous grazing may offer initial simplicity and low-cost benefits, its long-term effects on pasture health and forage availability could be a significant drawback.

Deferred Rotational Grazing

Advantages

Improved Forage Utilisation 

One of the vital benefits of the deferred rotational grazing system is improved forage utilisation by allowing plants time to set seed and recover. Deferred grazing leads to increased plant vigour, which enhances the quality and productivity of the pasture.

Mitigation of Overgrazing

Another crucial advantage is the mitigation of overgrazing. Deferred rotational grazing limits grazing pressure at necessary times, such as during summer, which will help maintain ground cover. This practice is vital for soil conservation, aiding erosion control and preserving the soil's integrity.

Enhanced Pasture Health

This type of rotational grazing system also promotes enhanced pasture health by improving biodiversity. By increasing the proportion of desirable native species, deferred grazing boosts native pasture density and overall farm biodiversity. 

This diversity not only supports a healthier ecosystem but also enhances the resilience of the pasture to environmental stresses.

Other benefits include weed control (such as onion grass) from pasture composition health, building up soil seed reserves from improved forage utilisation, and finally, providing long-term pasture maintenance accessible. 

Disadvantages

Moderate Initial Setup Costs

Unlike continuous grazing systems, deferred rotational grazing will require a moderate initial setup cost. This grazing system requires a significant investment in infrastructure, including fences, water systems, and feed bunks, which can pose a financial burden for some operations. 

However, these costs are often outweighed by both the financial and environmental return.

Increased Labour Requirements

Another drawback is the increased labour requirements. Moving animals between pastures is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process, demanding more hands-on management and physical work than continuous grazing systems. 

This can be particularly challenging for operations with limited labour resources.

Challenges in Implementation

Regarding management and implementation, deferred rotational grazing necessitates more complex decision-making than other systems. Ranchers must carefully plan and execute rotation schedules, considering the growth stages of forage, weather conditions, and animal health needs. 

Reduced Animal Gains

In addition to these main challenges, deferred rotation grazing could lead to reduced animal gains due to limited animal selection and slower weight gains due to mature forage. This reduction can impact your overall productivity and profitability. 

Lastly, there will be the ongoing challenges of keeping costs for fencing infrastructure and compensating for limited forage selection. These costs could affect the economic feasibility of implementing deferred rotational grazing. 

Rest Rotational Grazing

Advantages

Enhanced Forage Quality

One of the primary benefits of rest rotational grazing is enhanced forage quality. This system allows certain pastures to remain ungrazed for a year, promoting plant recovery and stamina. This type of grazing improves pasture quality and creates increased habitat for ground-nesting birds. 

Soil and Water Conservation

Additionally, rest rotational grazing plays a significant role in soil and water conservation. Better manure distribution, reduced need for supplemental feeding, and potentially lower machinery costs contribute to a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem.

Reduced Parasite Pressure

Another significant advantage of rest rotational grazing is the reduction in parasite pressure. By periodically resting pastures, this system disrupts the life cycle of common parasites, thereby reducing their prevalence and impact on livestock. 

Optimised Livestock Health

As a result, optimised livestock health is a direct outcome of this grazing strategy. Improved pasture quality and reduced parasite pressure contribute to better overall health and productivity of the livestock. 

Rest rotational grazing can increase forage productivity when appropriately implemented, supporting higher weight gain for beef cattle or milk production for dairy cows. This improvement can enhance the farm's net return, making it an economically viable option.

This benefit of rest rotational grazing is not only advantageous to your farm’s income, but also to animal welfare.

Disadvantages

Higher Initial Investment

With the higher return comes the higher initial price tag. Compared to other grazing systems, rest rotational grazing often requires substantial investment in infrastructure such as fences, water systems, and feed bunks. 

Labour Intensive

Another disadvantage of rest rotational grazing is its labour-intensive nature. Like deferred rotational grazing, regularly moving animals between pastures demands additional time and resources.

Complex Management Practices

The management intensity of this system requires careful planning and challenging management decisions, ranging from timing of rotations to assessing pasture recovery. This level of complexity in management can feel daunting without technology, particularly for those new to rotational grazing practices. 

‍Thankfully, grazing management software is advantageous because it makes rest rotational grazing management much easier and more efficient. It also removes the guesswork that may come with this practice.

Potential for Underutilisation of Pastures

Lastly, like deferred rotational grazing, limited forage selection could become an issue for rest rotational grazing. In this system, leaving certain pastures ungrazed for extended periods may restrict the variety of forage available to the livestock, potentially affecting their diet and performance.

In summary, rest rotational grazing has key benefits and high returns, but the high initial cost and management intensity are the costs to pay. 

Management-Intensive Grazing

Advantages

Precise Forage Allocation

A key benefit of Management-Intensive Grazing (MIG) is the precise allocation of forage, which promotes healthier and more productive plants. Productive plants outcompete weed species, and the fresh, young grass typically contains higher protein levels, providing superior nutrition to grazing animals.

Another significant advantage of MIG is the increased forage utilisation and production. In some cases, according to Ragan and Massey, utilisation can be increased by as much as 20 to 30%. Increased forage translates into higher-quality pasture forage and better nutrient recycling. 

Improved Soil Fertility

As a result, improved soil health and nutrient distribution are also central benefits of MIG. The system enhances the distribution of nutrients deposited in manure and urine, contributing to healthier soil and more efficient nutrient recycling.

Increased Stocking Rates

Additionally, MIG can significantly reduce feed costs. MIG can substantially increase your net profit by enabling high-quality meat production at a lower cost and boosting animal output and land use efficiency. With improved forage utilisation, forage production, and better soil and nutrition, your stocking rates will improve. 

This cost-effectiveness is a substantial advantage for ranchers looking to maximise their resources and profitability while reducing waste, distributing nutrients effectively, and enhancing the forage species. 

Disadvantages

High Initial Setup and Infrastructure Costs

One of the primary drawbacks of management-intensive grazing is the high initial setup and infrastructure costs. Implementing MIG often requires additional infrastructure like cross-fencing and water developments, which can require a substantial financial investment, especially for smaller or starting operations.

Intensive Management Required

Another significant disadvantage, as the name may imply, is the required intensive management. MIG involves frequent movement of animals between fields and thorough planning in challenging situations.

Learning Curve for Farmers 

Lastly, MIG can come with a steep learning curve. Managing and executing several aspects can be tricky, and improper management of MIG can lead to uneven pasture use. If not planned and executed correctly, some areas may be overgrazed while others are underutilised, potentially impacting forage production and the system's overall efficiency.

In conclusion, while Management-Intensive Grazing has the potential to improve pasture management and increase profit, it requires careful consideration.

With a steep learning curve to maintain the high initial costs, intensive management requirements, and potential risks for uneven pasture utilisation and reduced stocking rates, it may not be your first option to approach. 

Conclusion

Now that you know the pros and cons of grazing systems, we invite you to dive deeper with our guides on other grazing strategies. To learn more about what grazing systems that are being adopted in Australia, visit the Department of Agriculture site.  

Implement the Right Grazing System for Your Farm

Still uncertain about the right grazing system for your cattle farm, despite reading about each grazing system’s advantages and disadvantages? 

‍Try MaiaGrazing. This grazing management software offers insights into the best grazing systems for your individual farm. It also will help you to:

• Maximise your livestock’s potential
• Boost carrying capacity of your land
• Optimise paddock yield
• Minimise feeding costs
• Capture data for seasonal planning and adjustment
• Manage practices that build and retain soil carbon