Mob grazing is a specialized approach to livestock management that uses animal impact as a tool to regenerate pastureland. This method involves concentrating a large number of animals onto a small area for a very short period of time. The primary goal is not solely to harvest forage, but to maximize the impact of the herd on the soil and plant residue before they are moved. This intensive, short-duration grazing is followed by an extended recovery period for the land, which allows the pasture to fully regrow and benefit from the animal impact.
Defining Ultra-High Density Grazing
The defining characteristic of mob grazing is the extreme concentration of livestock, which is measured as the stock density. This density is typically expressed in pounds of animal live-weight per acre at a given moment in time. For a grazing event to be considered true ultra-high density, the concentration often exceeds 100,000 pounds of live weight per acre, with some practitioners pushing densities over 500,000 pounds per acre.
This high concentration necessitates an extremely short graze duration within any single paddock. Animals are typically moved to a fresh grazing area multiple times a day, or at least once every 24 hours. The brief stay prevents the animals from selectively consuming only the most palatable plants, ensuring a more uniform impact across the entire area.
Following the short grazing period, the land must undergo a long recovery or rest period before the animals return. This period is considerably longer than in most other grazing systems, often ranging from 40 to 180 days or more, depending on the climate and rate of plant growth. The extended rest is necessary to allow the deeply defoliated and trampled plants to fully recover their root reserves and rebuild biomass.
Operational Requirements and Planning
Successfully executing mob grazing requires specialized, flexible infrastructure and detailed planning. Since animals must be moved frequently, often daily or twice daily, the system relies on temporary electric fencing. Equipment like lightweight polywire or electric netting, combined with portable fence posts and geared reels, allows managers to quickly create and dismantle small paddocks.
Water supply is another logistical consideration, as permanent water sources are often not available in every small, temporary paddock. Managers commonly install a flexible network of polyethylene (poly) pipe laid on the ground surface across the field. Portable water troughs with quick-connect couplings are then used to provide water access as the herd moves through the rotation.
The manager must constantly monitor forage availability and recovery metrics to adapt the grazing plan in real-time. Detailed planning involves calculating the appropriate paddock size based on the herd’s needs and the available forage mass to achieve the desired density and duration. Moving the animals onto a new section when the previous one is sufficiently trampled and grazed is paramount to the system’s success.
How Mob Grazing Transforms Pasture Ecology
Mob grazing uses the animal herd as a physical tool to stimulate ecological processes. By concentrating the animals, a significant portion of the standing forage is trampled down onto the soil surface, creating a protective layer of plant litter. This layer acts as a mulch, which shields the soil from direct sun and wind, reducing soil temperature and minimizing moisture evaporation.
The intentional trampling incorporates this plant residue into the soil surface, feeding the soil’s microbial community. This organic matter integration improves soil structure and increases water infiltration rates by breaking up surface crusts. The uniform distribution of manure and urine accelerates nutrient cycling, acting as a natural fertilization event.
The physical action of the animals’ hooves, when applied intensively and briefly, is intended to break up soil surface capping and improve seed-to-soil contact, without causing deep compaction. While ultra-high density can cause temporary compaction, the long rest period is structured to allow soil biology, including earthworms and plant roots, to counteract this effect. The overarching goal is to mimic the intense, transient grazing patterns of historic wild herds.
Distinguishing Mob Grazing from Rotational Systems
Mob grazing differs from standard rotational grazing (Management-Intensive Grazing or MIG) primarily in its specific objectives and parameters. Standard rotational grazing systems are designed to optimize forage utilization and animal performance, often seeking to maximize the amount of grass consumed by the livestock.
In contrast, mob grazing prioritizes land improvement through physical impact and litter deposition, often accepting a lower initial forage utilization rate by the animal. The goal is frequently to graze one-third of the forage, trample one-third, and leave one-third to ensure a heavy litter mat. Standard rotational systems typically use lower stock densities and shorter rest periods, often 28 to 35 days during peak growth.
The lower density and longer duration in a typical rotational system allow animals to graze more selectively, which can lead to overgrazing of preferred species if not carefully managed. Mob grazing, due to the sheer number of animals in a small space, forces uniform consumption and trampling of all plant species. This reduces selective grazing and promotes plant diversity during the long recovery phase.