Fencing for Optimum Grazing

Controlled or rotational grazing can result in better utilization of forage resources. By better forage management through controlled grazing, producers may increase profitability of cattle/forage systems. To effectively develop a controlled grazing system, however, fencing must be used to subdivide the pasture into sub-fields or paddocks. The animals may then be rotated among the paddocks to optimize forage and beef or dairy production from the system. Alfalfa grazing can play an important part in such a system. Planning the best , or optimum, fencing strategy should be done with the overall goal in mind of improving profitability. Key factors that describe the optimal system will include the number of paddocks needed, type of fence construction, water supply plan, and overall layout of the system. Although the optimum will be different for each farm, there are some general principles that apply to all farms