Fall Grazing Management Tips for Better Spring Growth

By Scout Nelson

Fall is an important time for livestock producers who manage native rangelands in the Northern Great Plains. As the growing season slows, forage quality decreases and perennial plants prepare for winter.

Krista Ehlert, Associate Professor and SDSU Extension Range Specialist, and Kaylee Wheeler highlighted the importance of careful fall grazing management, their work emphasizes the need to balance livestock needs with the health and recovery of native grasslands.

Why Fall Grazing Requires Care

Native rangeland changes as summer ends. Cool-season grasses, including green needlegrass and western wheatgrass, reach peak growth earlier in the year and begin preparing for winter. Warm-season grasses, such as big bluestem, sideoats grama, and buffalograss, also begin to become dormant.

During this period, plants move stored carbohydrates from aboveground parts into their roots and underground stems. These reserves help plants survive winter and produce new growth in spring.

Forage quality also declines as plants mature. Crude protein can fall below 8%, while fiber and lignin increase. At the same time, plants have very little ability to produce new growth after grazing.

When cool-season grasses are grazed heavily in October, they may not have enough time to recover before winter. Removing too much leaf material can leave plants with fewer resources and may reduce spring growth and tillering.

Warm-season grasses may face less stress after they move their reserves underground, but they still have limited ability to recover before winter.

Soil conditions also need attention. Short or dormant vegetation provides less protection from wind, rain, and frost. Livestock can also create compacted areas when they gather in one location, especially when soils are wet or soft.

Conservative Grazing

One option is conservative grazing with light use and early livestock removal. Producers can aim to use about 25% to 30% of standing forage or less, especially on important native grass species.

This approach leaves more plant material on the ground to protect soil, support water infiltration, and provide wildlife cover. It also protects root reserves that plants need for spring growth.

The main challenge is having an alternative feed source available. Producers may need to provide hay, cake, or minerals earlier after livestock leaves the pasture.

Moderate Grazing

Moderate grazing provides another option. Producers can target about 30% to 50% use of annual growth, depending on the grazing period and livestock density.

This method removes more forage while still leaving plant material and root reserves for winter and spring. It can also create areas with different levels of grazing, which may provide benefits for wildlife.

However, moderate grazing requires regular monitoring. Producers need to understand their pasture and watch forage availability and plant use. Adaptive or rotational grazing can help manage livestock movement more effectively than continuous grazing.

Allow Time for Recovery

Regardless of the grazing method, recovery time is important. Allowing about 60 days of recovery before winter dormancy can give plants an opportunity to rebuild some growth before winter conditions arrive.

Fall grazing is not automatically harmful to native rangelands. The key is matching grazing intensity and timing with plant conditions, available forage, soil conditions, and livestock needs.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-minchen-liang-eyeem