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Grazing management of sheep

Quick Links

--- Select your Destination --- Condition scoring Feed on Offer Pasture Growth Periods Feed Value Guide Stocking Rates v Grazing Pressure Grain weights and volumes for hand feeding Key Grazing Levels Calculators for Autumn/Winter

The fundamental principle of grazing management is to match the nutritional demands of the sheep with the supply from pasture in the paddock. All aspects of animal and pasture management should aim to optimize this relationship.

Together with matching demand and supply, we must also understand how pastures grow and interact with the sheep that graze them. This allows increased pasture utilization and ensures the sustainability and viability of the pasture in the long term.

Effective grazing management has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of your sheep enterprise. Grazing management can be used to:

• Manipulate the quality and quantity of pasture as well as composition
• Increase animal production efficiency and achieve production targets
• Reduce insect populations
• Ensure pasture persistence

The following web pages provide information and advice on how to best manage your sheep and pasture enterprise during different times of the year. They include on line calculators and tactics for different seasons. Please use the Quick Links box to aid navigation once you are familiar with the content of the site.

Different seasons require different tactics. Please select the season that you require:

Autumn/Early Winter
Winter
Spring

Other information and knowledge that may help with your grazing management decisions include:

• Condition Scoring of Sheep
• Feed Budgeting
• Stocking rates vs Grazing Pressure
• How Pasture Changes over the Year (Pasture Growth Periods)
• Feed on Offer (FOO) and How to Assess It
• Pasture Growth Rates
• Sustainable Grazing Systems Project - MEF

Page amended : 4 May 2007