The results of a 4-year study by Rothamsted Research into cell grazing show it has several positive effects. 

This experiment compared cell grazing aka rotational grazing, where livestock are moved every 1-2 days, and set stocking, where they stay in the same area for a grazing season. The results reveal that cell grazing provides improved carbon sequestration in the soil, better pasture growth, and 140% more live weight production per hectare. The two grazing areas were side by side in Devonshire, so they experienced the same weather conditions and other variables.

These results show that cell grazing offers better yields, can support more livestock, and is a more economical use of grazing paddocks. The study also discovered that cell grazing can offer a longer grazing period by up to 3 weeks, reducing the need for winter housing and feeding. The study also noted that cell grazing allowed for increased growth of nutritious ryegrass and white clover, whereas set stocking led to more weed growth. 

Nutrient runoff and methane production were found to be unchanged between the two groups, suggesting that cell grazing offers several benefits with few drawbacks.

The study used the TechnoGrazing method by Kiwitech, in which portable electric fences create grazing cells that can be easily rotated within a paddock. Set stocking or free grazing can lead to livestock collecting in certain areas and overgrazing them, neglecting other areas. Cell grazing avoids this and gives the grazed areas a chance to regrow, using 100% of the paddock to its full potential.

This study, led by grazing livestock systems specialist Dr Jordan Rivero, started in 2018 and is still ongoing. It employs autumn-born dairy x beef steer calves from 6 months to 2 years old who grazed for two seasons. Read the full results here.

Are you intrigued by cell grazing or other livestock management techniques? ESUS Agri can help – get in touch with our team to learn more about our agricultural consultation services.