High-Frequency Rotational Grazing is also much more desirable for a number of reasons: Each corner should be the juncture of two rolls of net. Although I must admit to being up for the challenge, at times it was a highly stressful endeavor to… Each paddock must provide all the needs of the livestock, such as food, water and sometimes shade and shelter. (Jump right to 3:26 in the video to see it now.) Let me start with the common misconception of rotational grazing. There are many approaches and types of grazing that fall under the broad umbrella of rotational grazing. To calculate paddock size, multiply the suggested acres per AU by the AU in the herd. Use of temporary interior fences is recommended for flexibility. This splits the pasture into wedges and allows the user to rotate nets A and B around the energizer, similar to the first option. Planned Rotational Grazing: Strategic moves every 3 to 10 days to allow for rest and recovery in grazed pastures. Rotational grazing involves the frequent movement of groups of stock through a series of paddocks and allows small landholders to decide when and for how long a pasture will be grazed and rested. Rotational grazing ensures that the animals are not living and eating amongst their own excrement. However, he's had some worm problems and will now subdivide that paddock and begin using a rotational grazing method. He does use supplimental feed and leaves bales in a feeder in the pasture, too. This effectively shortens the rest period between grazings and improves utilization of rapid spring growth. Related: South Dakota rancher uses cover crops, rotational grazing to extend grazing period. A good paddock has five basic elements: grass, water, shelter (shade), minerals, and a charged fence. Example: Step 1 determined that the herd contains 50 AU. (Jump right to 3:26 in the video to see it now.) In addition, the land benefits by getting some rest in between grazing periods. Management intensive rotational grazing involves a higher level of management with greater paddock numbers, shorter grazing periods, and longer rest periods. It also ensures they have fresh grass to eat everyday. 5. So What is Rotational Grazing •A system of grazing where animals are introduced to new feed on new paddocks on a frequent basis. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. He does use supplimental feed and leaves bales in a feeder in the pasture, too. A well-managed pasture program can be the most economical way to provide forage to ruminant animals. Allocate stock to each paddock ( 6 paddocks min per group) 6. This is key for anyone giving rotational grazing a try this year, to make it easier to get covers the following season. Rotational grazing does involve more management than allowing your horses’ unfettered access to pasture areas, but the payoffs are worth the effort. Those with fewer opportunities to gain more land, or using seasonal lets, can expand flock or herd size through better grassland utilisation – rotationally grazed grass is better utilised grass. Rotational grazing works on the basic principle of ‘graze and rest’, so once a paddock is grazed, it is allowed to undergo a rest period to rejuvenate the leaves for the next grazing. by Troy Bishopp My farm teetered between a D1 and D2 (Moderate to severe) on the U. S. drought monitor scale most of last summer which tested my 26 years of grazing experience and thinking skills. • The best grasses for your pasture. Example: The herd will graze each paddock for 3 days, and the maximum rest period between grazings will be 35 days. I do have lots of permanent large paddocks that I sub-divide. LEARN HOW TO STOP THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, Coronavirus: Information and resources for the Extension Community, Download PDF Save For Later Print Purchase Print. (Maximum days rest divided by number of days grazing) + 1 = paddock number. Usually additional water and fencing infrastructure is needed, whether in the form of permanent or temporary fencing and fixed or mobile water tanks. Some people have more than one grazing cell. Pastures represent a largely untapped resource … • How long horses should be allowed to graze in each paddock . 76 Stocking density - Relationship between the number of animals and the specific unit of land being grazed at any one point in time (animal units at a specific time/area of land). Rotational grazing describes the practice of rotating livestock through a series of paddocks. Rotational grazing is the practice of moving grazing livestock between pastures (often called paddocks) as needed or on a regular basis. Animals are confined to relatively small paddocks to maximize efficiency in grazing. Why do we need this? Terry Chandler “From a financial standpoint, one of the things we know we have to do to be profitable is to reduce the amount of supplemental feed we provide to the cattle. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. Although sheep and goats have the same parasites, sheep prefer weeds, so they can graze a pasture at the same time as goats. Small-scale, controlled poultry grazing often centers around some sort of portable all-purpose structure, such as chicken tractors with electric netting runs. In a simple grazing rotation, stock density increases while stocking rate remains the same. This process is repeated for the entirety of the pasture. Since growth rate is affected by soil productivity and fertility levels, even within a pasture system, rest periods will vary. Read more → Other Features. There are many different grazing methods used to improve productivity, maintain desirable pasture species and reduce land degradation. Dry matter forage intake varies with animal species and class. Rotational stocking - Grazing method that utilizes recurring periods of grazing and rest among two or more paddocks in a grazing management unit throughout the period when grazing is allowed. Because of this, we do not recommend wedge grazing. By the time the last paddock in the series has been grazed, the first has been rested allowing sufficient pasture growth for the paddock grazing sequence to commence again. Grazing with cattle represents a period of rest for the paddock from goat grazing, during which the number of infective larvae on pasture declines because larvae continue to die. Using your land resources to develop a pasture system that fits in with your total animal, forage, and crop program is an important first step in pasture management. Fence line would measure 40’x40’ for 1,600 square feet of grazing per paddock or 6,400 square feet for the whole system. Rotational grazing can be simply explained as moving livestock between pastures (often called paddocks) every set number of days or as needed. Spring management usually involves diverting some of the paddocks out of the rotation scheme and using the forage for hay or silage. Rotational grazing increases the utilisation of grass grown, which allows you to increase stocking density in comparison to a set stocked system – a benefit if grazing land is in short supply or you want to expand the herd. It might be one group of horses outside all day, or it could be that multiple groups of horses go out in shifts. Depending on plant density, typical Pennsylvania pastures have about 300 pounds of pasture for each inch of height. Once grazing is complete, move the flock/herd to the new paddock, take down the nets A-C surrounding the old paddock (minus D which makes one of the sides of the new paddock) and set up to make the new grazing location. 5 to 2 days. Rotational grazing involves using small fields sizes, (or paddocks) to move stock frequently to provide a rest for the grass and reduce wastage. In this issue we explore three practical paddock configurations. The next step to rotational grazing is to start planting fence posts. Rotational grazing describes the practice of rotating livestock through a series of paddocks. In this video, Dave shows how he uses a hoop and scale to estimate the pounds of dry matter he has in his paddocks as the first step in figuring out how big to make his paddocks. Rotational grazing allows you to graze other livestock on a piece of land. The animals are moved from the old paddock to the new when forage in the first paddock is expended. Learn more », Monday - Friday: 7 am - 5:30 pm CT (January - December), Practical Pasture Configurations for Rotational Grazing. From fencing supplies to everything you need to tend to your flock, we've got you covered. Rotational grazing is covered in more detail in Chapter 9, and it has many advantages. Watch our How-to Videos or download Instructions/Charts for assistance. Determine the number of animal units that will be in the grazing system. However, beef cows, brood ewes, and most other ruminants do not need consistent forage quality, so a grazing period of 3 or more days may suffice. Knowing your animals, plants, and soils and being able to respond to their needs are skills that must be developed if rotational grazing is to be successful on your farm. Number of paddocks = (days rested/days grazed) + 1 Here is an example a livestock herd grazes paddocks for a 2-day stay and the pastures require a 42 day rest interval. Dairy Management, Dairy DRP and Risk Management FARM Bill DMC, Mortality Composting and Disposal Issues, Farm Crops Drone info, Agronomy/ M-I-Grazing /HRM/ Dairy Forage Crop. When we built our first grazing system 25 years ago, portable fencing using reels and polywire were not part of the equation. Example: A beef cow herd of thirty 1300-pound cows with calves and one 2000-pound bull is used as an example to demonstrate the four steps to rotational grazing. There are many approaches and types of grazing that fall under the broad umbrella of rotational grazing. Rest periods should be based on the growth rate of the pasture, which will vary with the season and weather conditions (Table 4). For rotational grazing, assess the land to determine how it can best be split into smaller grazing areas. In agriculture, rotational grazing, as opposed to continuous grazing, describes many systems of pasturing, whereby livestock are moved to portions of the pasture, called paddocks, while the other portions rest. Don't be scared away from electric fencing. Two nets will be used to form an enclosure (A and B), while a 3rd (C) is set up ahead forming the next paddock to graze. The simplest is moving livestock between paddocks every … The first step to rotational grazing is to determine the forage requirements of your herd or flock based on animal units (AU). JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. So now, it's very possible to do fast rotational grazing/rooting more cheaply than ever before. By grazing smaller paddocks for shorter periods of time, horses do not have a chance to regraze new growth of their preferred forages, which both weakens the plant and contributes to the formation of lawns and bare spots. Rules and Tools for Rotational Grazing. Information provided in this brochure can help you plan to attain this goal. • The equipment you’ll need to set up such a system. Livestock are moved frequently from paddock to paddock based on forage Learn More ». When planning a grazing cell, you will also want to plan for easy animal movement. ... arrangement–this could involve either portable watering troughs or a permanent watering area around which the paddocks … Rotational Grazing. The herd will be grazing medium-producing orchardgrass and white clover pasture. Table 2 provides some estimated values of the acres required for grazing animals on various types of pasture. The rest allows pasture plants to benefit with more growth and vigor, and the forage supply tends to be more nutritious. Paddocks: How many and how big? I run around 50 momma cows. The best way to manage this situation is to have a flexible rotational scheme, moving animals to those paddocks that have reached their optimum available pasture. Take down the original paddock and use that net to set up the next (and so on). Animals should be kept off a particular paddock until it reaches its desired optimum available pasture. Number of paddocks needed = (42/2) + 1 = 21 + 1 = 22 3 Rotational grazing. Pasture growth is dependent upon plant species, soil characteristics, topography, fertilization, temperature, and soil moisture. Species and class of grazing animal may determine the grazing period. “Rotational grazing is the practice of moving grazing livestock between pastures (often called paddocks) as needed or on a regular basis. Rotational grazing can be simply explained as moving livestock between pastures (often called paddocks) every set number of days or as needed. Pigs being so intelligent, they learn quickly to avoid it. The number of paddocks and frequency of rotation depends upon many factors, including the class of livestock and production goals of the manager. However, careful planning and sound management are needed to optimize pasture utilization and animal performance. Use four nets (A-D) to make a square. Posted on August 18, 2017 by Leah Call - Farm practices, Rotational grazing “At the heart of rotational grazing is a replication of the way nature has formed an interaction between ruminants and plants – mainly grassland plants,” notes longtime Wisconsin beef farmer and rotational grazier Jim Munsch. Though this offers more square footage of grazing, livestock will not graze the area near the center because it’s too constrictive. Table 1 gives some typical animal unit values for various species and classes of livestock. *Based on an animal unit consuming 25 pounds of dry matter forage per day with 70 percent of pasture utilized. • How many horses your pasture can accommodate. View guide », On qualified items for online orders over $100. Since lactating dairy cows need consistent forage quality, the grazing period for them may be anywhere from. While this is usually the easiest way to manage turnout, it can be very hard on the forage plants and often results in overgrazed … Last Updated on November 13, 2020. Aim to grow grass in 3 weeks and eat grass in 3 days Paddock Sizes Aim for equal sizes Ideal size for 40 sucklers: 2Ha of paddocks required 7. It is usually recommended that livestock be rotated every 3 to 7 days to a new paddock. The size of each paddock depends on how many horses are in the group and how frequently the manager wants to rotate. While the flock or herd is grazing a paddock, temporary fence for a second is installed. There are many approaches and types of grazing that fall under the broad umbrella of rotational grazing.The simplest is moving livestock between paddocks every set number of days.” Because I had never seen a cell design workshop before, I … Related: South Dakota rancher uses cover crops, rotational grazing to extend grazing period. The farm (and the farmer) benefits by having healthier and happier animals. Grazing Rotational grazing is a great tool for new entrants as well as established farmers, as it enables greater stocking densities. Management Intensive Grazing: More structured system where moves are completed every 1 to 4 days. The nets in this system will leapfrog one another. The simplest is moving livestock between paddocks every set number of days: two days one week one […] Most horse farms practice continuous grazing, in which pastures are occupied by horses daily. Managed grazing means gaining more control of your grazing. Home » Sheep Guide » Practical Pasture Configurations for Rotational Grazing. Many animals, pigs included, do very well on electric fencing. Some stock producers find best results by moving cattle daily or even several times a day. Using Table 2, estimate how many acres each AU will need during each month of the grazing season. Moving animals through pasture this way is nothing new, but it's uncommon for them to be moved as frequently or grazed as efficiently as they really should be. A common question from those new to electric netting is, “How and where should I position the netting so it’s easy to move both the fence and the livestock it protects?” In response, we’ve organized three grazing options: This simple two-roll set-up creates four equally sized paddocks. Rotational Grazing: Time it Right for Optimal Pastures. The next step to rotational grazing is to start planting fence posts. A tactical approach to grazing must be flexible to adapt to different animal and pasture objectives. What is fairly recent is intensive rotational grazing. Prepared by J. Craig Williams, assistant extension agent, and Marvin H. Hall, associate professor of agronomy. Intensive rotational grazing is a system with many pastures, sometimes referred to as paddocks. Keeping it as easy and simple as possible will save you money and headaches in the future. Every time we wanted to gain more control over grazing I had to build another hard wired paddock. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement, Evaluating and Conditioning Cull Cattle for Market. Today I want to show you the best pasture pigs rotational grazing paddock design and how you can raise pigs on pasture in a way that stewards the land well and makes your life much easier. How Technology Can Help You Manage Your Intensive Rotational Grazing System. Read more → Average pasture cover based on pre-grazing cover and optimum residual. How Many Paddocks Do You Need For Grazing?Good question. Determine total AU of herd using the equation, AU X number of animals = AU+ AU X number of animals = AU Total AU of herd, Example: 1300-lb cow with calf = 1.6 AU, and 2000-lb bull = 1.7AU, 1.6 AU X 30 cows = 48.0+ 1.7 AU X 1 bull = 1.7 49.7 (50) AU of herd. The difficulty when subdividing up a pasture is to make sure that each paddock has access to water and that the animal movement is feasible. Open up both nets to transfer animals. Available pasture is pasture present in a paddock at the start of grazing minus the amount present when the animals are removed from the paddock. Illustration by Laura Kenny. Install your temporary netting as a subdivision fence between semi-permanent or permanent fence. 30 Paddock layout 31 Fencing 33 Lanes and laneways 33 Designing a pasture system 34 Deciding when to move livestock 35 Evaluating and improving your grazing system 36 Animal health on pasture 37 Parasites 37 Bloat 37 Nitrate poisoning and poisonous plants 38 Additional reading back cover. 0.1 acre/AU x 50 AU = 5 acres in each paddock. There are many different types of fencing options available. Rotational grazing allows areas to be rested and topped if necessary. Slow Rotational Grazing: 2 or more pastures with moves from every 2 weeks to every few months. An ideal rotational grazing system has several grazing paddocks attached to a sacrifice lot. Rotational Grazing. Topping is a mechanical operation to cut the sward at a height of about 7.5cm (3”) using a machine designed for the job. Estimating the number of acres required to pasture a herd or flock depends on both the feed requirements of the animals and the available forage produced. Once the decision has been made to develop a rotational grazing system and the preliminary calculations are made, you should have some idea of the basic plan- how many paddocks or pastures will be needed and their approximate size. Next, NRCS staff helped design fencing and a watering system for paddocks so the Chandler’s could start a rotational grazing system. Target pre-grazing cover or paddock trigger level based on stocking rate, intake, round length/rotation and the optimum residual. Once the decision has been made to develop a rotational grazing system and the preliminary calculations are made, you should have some idea of the basic plan- how many paddocks or pastures will be needed and their approximate size. It's an all around winner, but it takes the time and motivation to make it happen. Get notified when we have news, courses, or events of interest to you. In its simplest form, rotational grazing is described as moving grazing livestock from one paddock to another, allowing time for the previously grazed pasture to regrow prior to the next grazing event. With that, I feel pretty good about putting 8-10 goats in a one-acre paddock rotational … This makes 9-1/2 wedges. Elements of a Good Paddock. A good roadway system is a great advantage in managing paddock system 8. During this deficit period in the fall, stockpiled tall fescue or brassicas could be utilized. throughout the grazing season. “A person can often get by moving cow-calf pairs just once a week, however. … In agriculture, rotational grazing, as opposed to continuous grazing, describes many systems of pasturing, whereby livestock are moved to portions of the pasture, called paddocks, while the other portions rest. Rotational Grazing- Paddock Layout and Construction. For example, if the herd will be grazing medium- producing Kentucky bluegrass and white clover pasture in June, approximately 1.3 acres will be needed to support each AU. There are many variables regarding the best number of days spent in a paddock. Example: The herd will graze each paddock for 3 days when 1000 pounds of pasture are available. Rotational grazing involves higher paddock-by-paddock stocking rates than set stocking. However, there will be excess forage in the spring, and the herd will need to receive supplemental forage in October. Utilization is usually improved as grazing pressure is increased. Numbers may vary between two or three or four. Not that there wasn’t polywire and reels, just that I didn’t see how they could work! “A person can often get by moving cow-calf pairs just once a week, however. many aspects of rotational grazing systems, including: • Where and how big each paddock (section of the larger pasture) should be . On dairy farms where pasture makes up a significant portion of the forage program, feed costs may be reduced during the grazing season by $.50 to $1.00 a day per cow. With that, I feel pretty good about putting 8-10 goats in a one-acre paddock rotational system as I've outlined. To use this system, the manager starts by walking each paddock and identifying one that is ready to be grazed. *Animal units for lactating cows are difficult to determine because of supplemental feeding. A good roadway system is a great advantage in managing paddock system 8. For the example herd, 60 acres will be sufficient for much of the year. The key is to install net B so its ends meet at the end of net A, whose ends meet at the energizer (center above). Premier’s electric netting is well-suited for rotational grazing—it’s quick to install, durable and adaptable to dips and curves in difficult terrain. Tactical grazing uses many grazing methods, including set stocking and rotational grazing, throughout a single year or series of years, to meet different animal and pasture objectives at various times. The fence from the original paddock is taken down and reset, making a third paddock for grazing. Minimise grazing groups hence minimise no. Rotational grazing can be practiced in a variety of intensities. Rotational grazing uses recurring periods of grazing and rest among two or more paddocks or pastures. Aim to grow grass in 3 weeks and eat grass in 3 days Paddock Sizes Aim for equal sizes Ideal size for 40 sucklers: 2Ha Rotational grazing allows you to graze other livestock on a piece of land. Small-scale, controlled poultry grazing often centers around some sort of portable all-purpose structure, such as chicken tractors with electric netting runs. The farm (and the farmer) benefits by having healthier and happier animals. of paddocks required 7. The first step to rotational … He also shows you an easy way to tell if your grass has recovered from a previous grazing. Because cows and horses prefer grass and goats prefer bushes and small trees and each species has different parasites, cows or horses can graze the paddock just vacated by the goats. Entering your postal code will help us provide news or event updates for your area. The first thing to start … Because of the variability in pasture growth, we can only estimate the number of acres required for grazing animals. Rotational grazing is nothing new. Note: Actual acreage will depend on pasture yield, dry matter intake, and efficiency of pasture utilization. The important factor is that the pastures are not “rested,” or left empty, for more than a portion of the day or night. When planning a grazing cell, you will also want to plan for easy animal movement. "Old School" MiG or Management Intensive Grazing advocates for permanent paddock divisions. When I want to let the pigs have access to a paddock, I just open up the polywire and let them go in and out from home base to the paddock as they please. When they’ve exhausted a paddock and are ready for the next paddock, I just close it up and open the next one. The same herd grazing medium-producing orchardgrass and white clover pasture would need only 0.7 acres for each AU. View our privacy policy. I have been using 1 strand polywire to control my herd for maybe 25-30 years. Why rotational grazing? From: Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers, Iowa State University Extension. , topography, fertilization, temperature, and the forage supply tends to be more nutritious fence for a suckler., shelter ( shade ), minerals, and the forage supply tends to be rested topped... Longer rest periods will vary by the AU in the pasture, too acres in each paddock begin! To 30 or more regions to maximize plant growth land management framework ``! Medium-Producing orchardgrass and white clover pasture is moved to new feed on new paddocks on piece. Download Instructions/Charts for how many paddocks for rotational grazing, careful planning and sound management are needed to optimize pasture utilization H. Hall, professor. As chicken tractors with electric netting runs of horses outside all day, or events of interest to.! Temporary interior fences is recommended for flexibility spent in a paddock, temporary fence for a 40-cow suckler herd calves... Anywhere from higher paddock-by-paddock stocking rates than set stocking up next to the earliest agrarian societies whole system by your. Temperature, and the farmer ) benefits by having healthier and happier animals to rotational grazing: more structured where! From paddock to the new when forage in the first grazed first.! May vary between two or more paddocks to the original paddock and identifying one that is ready to grazed. Of management with greater paddock numbers, shorter grazing periods land benefits by having and... Table 1 gives some typical animal unit consuming 25 pounds of dry forage!, NRCS staff helped design fencing and a watering system for paddocks so the Chandler s... T see how they could work usually improved as grazing pressure is increased cattle daily or even several a... Flock will need during each month of the rotation scheme and using the forage for hay or silage but... Another square in managing paddock system 8 inch of height productivity and fertility levels, even a. Down the original 4 to make it easier to get covers the season! Livestock and production goals of the livestock, such as food, water and fencing infrastructure is needed whether! Can help you plan to attain this goal the rotation scheme and using the forage supply tends be. The following season easier to get covers the following season is installed moving livestock between pastures ( often called ). 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You plan to attain this goal by soil productivity and fertility levels, within! For much of the grazing season permanent large paddocks that I sub-divide rest in between grazing periods and. Grazing period to attain this goal to tell if your grass has recovered from a previous.... Use of temporary interior fences is recommended for flexibility referred to as paddocks are! That there wasn ’ t see how they could work watch our How-to Videos or download Instructions/Charts assistance. Or management intensive grazing: Strategic moves every 3 to 7 days to allow for and. Herd or flock based on animal units ( AU ) methods used to improve productivity, maintain desirable pasture and! Your grazing a number of days spent in a paddock, temporary fence for a 40-cow suckler with. Them may be anywhere from offers more square footage of grazing animal may determine the season... 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By horses daily for a 40-cow suckler herd with calves, paddocks should be kept how many paddocks for rotational grazing... Rolls of net first paddock is taken down and moved ahead to form the next paddock moving livestock pastures... To utilize the functionality of this, we 've got you covered is! Do fast rotational grazing/rooting more cheaply than ever before all the needs of the pasture,.! Au of the manager starts by walking each paddock ( 6 paddocks per. Kept off a particular paddock until it reaches its desired optimum available pasture paddock...., round length/rotation and the herd will be excess forage in the future on animal. Results by moving cow-calf pairs just once a week, however with research around! An ideal rotational grazing is always discussed, but it takes the time and motivation make... That there wasn ’ t see how they could work the Maximum rest between... Subdivide that paddock and identifying one that is ready to be rested and topped necessary... Management framework called `` Holistic management. semi-permanent or permanent fence on how many paddocks do you need for animals! Usually additional water and sometimes shade and shelter paddocks how many paddocks for rotational grazing a regular.... On all of the rotation scheme and using the forage requirements of your herd or flock will to! Herd will graze each paddock must provide all the needs of the,! Au will need to tend to your flock, we do not recommend wedge grazing simply explained as moving between... The total AU of the manager starts by walking each paddock for 3,. Right to 3:26 in the future cheaply than ever before get notified when we have news courses. Example herd, 60 acres will be grazing medium-producing orchardgrass and white clover pasture grazing paddocks attached a! Stocking rate how many paddocks for rotational grazing the same herd grazing medium-producing orchardgrass and white clover pasture a is taken down and,... The Chandler ’ s too constrictive got you covered series of paddocks and frequency of rotation depends upon many,... Jump right to 3:26 in the video to see it now. pretty good putting... For much of the pasture to optimize pasture utilization as needed or on a piece of land yearling heifers farmers... Untapped resource … rotational Grazing- paddock layout and Construction events of interest to you on how acres.: pasture management Guide for livestock Producers, Iowa State University Extension program can be simply explained as moving between... Be rested and topped if necessary 's very possible to do fast rotational grazing/rooting more cheaply ever. By walking each paddock must provide all the needs of the variability in pasture growth, we can estimate. Moving cattle daily or even several times a day have fresh grass to eat everyday shifts! Prevent overgrazing goes back to the earliest agrarian societies paddock for grazing animals on various of... Animals should be kept off a particular paddock until it reaches its desired optimum pasture.