1. Benefits of Management-intensive grazing Improved legume persistence
Reduced N fertilizer requirement
Better manure distribution/nutrient recycling
Reduced P & K fertilizer requirement
Improved soil health/condition
Improved pasture condition/health
Improved forage quality/animal performance
Increased carrying capacity
Other benefits
Extended grazing season
Improved livestock mgmt./
herd health
Improved wildlife habitat
Environmentally and
economically sustainable
Improved legume persistence: carbohydrate cycling, natural reseeding, stolon elongation (Brink)
Reduced N fertilizer application: legume fixation
Better distribution of manure: 3 years to cover paddocks, 27 years single large field
Reduced P and K fertilizer application: from manure
Increased forage quality: every 3 days is leafy regrowth
Increased carrying capacity: data agreed upon by those who disagree on “Management-intensive Grazing”

2. Manure Distribution
In the 3-paddock system (analogous to continuously grazed pastures) very few manure piles are deposited in the main paddock area. There is a concentration of manure near shade and water. I frequently ask the audience to identify the areas of the field where manure piles are most densely concentrated (shade, east end; water, southwest corner).
In the intensively grazed 24-paddock system there is a much more even distribution of manure piles in the pasture creating a higher density of manure piles in the main paddock area. There is still a concentration of nutrient near water but the trends are less pronounced.

3. Carrying capacity of pasture is determined by four factors
Forage
Production
Seasonal
Utilization Rate X
Carrying
Capacity =
Length of the
Grazing Season
Daily
Intake X

4. Grazing Period Length Affects Utilization