Whether your ranch’s pastures stayed lush and green, or needed more moisture this summer, careful consideration should be taken in the fall to jumpstart grazing come spring. Stocking rates and carrying capacity of pasture should be determined for producers to decide when to move livestock off of rangeland parcels for optimal nutrition and quality in the next season.

Grasses do not store energy in the roots as other plants do, but rather in the 2 to 3 inches above the roots, where livestock prefer to eat due to its sweeter taste. If the top growth of the grass is too short, there will not before enough roots for the grass to survive the winter and grow in the spring.

Manage stocking rates

To find the best stocking rate, figure out the forage demand — how much forage is required by the type of animals grazing a pasture unit. According to North Dakota State University, to determine the carrying capacity in a specific pasture, producers can use estimated relative production values:

NDSU Extension shares that one way to manage range and pasture utilization is through the use of a grazing monitoring stick. The tool can measure and monitor the utilization of pastureland and rangeland.

MEASURING TOOL: NDSU Extension recommends using a grazing monitor stick to calculate the utilization of rangeland and grasses, and prevent overgrazing pasture.

As a general rule proper utilization is 50% of the total plant weight of key species used or removed. When measuring the height of species, NDSU shares this protocol:

Then repeat Step 2 in an ungrazed area to calculate percent removal.

Give plants sufficient recovery time following livestock grazing. The higher the utilization of the plant, the more time it will need to recover from grazing. Rainfall and climate conditions also play a factor in recovery time.When considering the stocking rates of your pastures, evaluate and adjust accordingly for optimal pasture health and plant nutrition. Find more information from NDSU Extension Livestock Grazing Management.