Guidelines to ceasing grazing
In pasture-based grazing systems, ceasing grazing a paddock is a critical procedure in preventing over or undergrazing and the associated impact on stock productivity, pasture regrowth and resource management.
Correctly timing when to stop grazing is critical to both efficiency of pasture utilisation and stock performance.
• Use the MLA Pasture Ruler to measure pasture height and convert it to herbage mass. As a guide, the preferred pasture mass for stopping grazing on improved perennial pastures is 1,000kg DM/ha depending on pasture type and season. At this level pasture recovers rapidly and overgrazing or patch grazing is avoided.
• Rest native pastures at critical times depending on the grasses present, their characteristics and the annual rainfall pattern.
Repeatedly stopping grazing too late (overgrazing) can have the following consequences:
• Grass carbohydrate reserves and legume leaf area are decreased and the rate of pasture regrowth is affected;
• Plant growing points are damaged, which may adversely affect pasture composition;
• Ground cover eventually falls below 70%, exposing the soil to erosion.
What to measure and when
Use the MLA Pasture Ruler to check post-grazing pasture height and determine residual pasture quantity in kg DM/ha. At the same time assess the ground cover and pasture mass to determine management options to protect the natural resources. These measurements and observations are taken when stock are removed from the paddock.
