What is it?
Also known as tall grass grazing, it is a more intense style of rotational grazing system. Aiming to replicate the grazing herbivores of open pastures that would have been found in historic Britain, mob grazing increases the stock density and decreases the size of the paddock, moving animals quickly on and giving the grazed area a long rest period for grasses to recover.
Benefits for the farmer:
- Increases soil health by having plenty of living roots, manure spread evenly over pastures and trampled longer grasses helping to put organic matter back into soils.
- Farmers have also reported better health and condition of their animals as they are able to selectively graze which species and plant parts they desire. This results in an increase in rough grazing which is great for their digestion, and increase in vitamin, mineral and protein variety from different plant sources in the sward. Wormer usage can also be reduced as animals are usually grazing higher above the ground and miss eating the eggs of liver fluke and other parasites and the long rest periods can break the life cycles of some parasites.
- Extends the grazing period so farmers can keep animals outside longer into the autumn and winter months and reduce costs of over winter feeding and housing.
Benefits for wildlife:
- The longer grasses and rest periods create space for ground nesting birds to be undisturbed and the small areas can be checked for nests before livestock are let back in.
- Small mammals also thrive in longer grasses which in turn provides food for bird of prey including barn owls.
- Mob grazing gives a chance for wildflowers to flower in the sward before being eaten and so provides more cover and food for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
- The variation in sward height seen across the pastures will benefit a whole range of different species and
Points to consider:
- Extra cost and labour involved in fencing and movement of livestock on regular basis.
- Planning your system around water sources is crucial and extra water points or mobile bowsers may need to be installed.
Some useful links for mob grazing:
Cows grazing - Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography