What is MIG?


Under rotational grazing, only one section of pasture is grazed at a time while the remainder of the pasture "rests." To accomplish this, pastures are subdivided into smaller areas (often referred to as paddocks) and livestock are moved from one paddock to another. Rotational grazing allows forage to renew energy reserves, to rebuild plant vigor, and to give long-term maximum production.

For rotational grazing to be successful, the timing of rotations must be adjusted to growth stage of the forage. Unfortunately, rotational grazing has often been reduced to regular animal shifts from paddock to paddock based on rigid time schedules rather than in response to forage growth rate. Rigid schedules reduce the benefit of rotational grazing.

Rotational grazing can be practiced in a variety of intensities. Systems can range from 2 to 30 or more paddocks. Management intensive grazing involves a higher level of management with greater paddock numbers, shorter grazing periods, and longer rest periods. Generally the more intense the management, the greater the livestock production per acre.

Management Intensive grazing is emphasized because it usually has a number of advantages over both continuous grazing and less intensive rotational systems, including

more stable production during poor growing condition (especially drought),
greater yield potential,
higher quality forage available,
decreased weed and erosion problems, and
more uniform soil fertility levels

There are many names for intensive rotational grazing: Voisin grazing, Hohenheim grazing, intensive grazing management, short duration grazing, Savory systems, strip grazing, controlled grazing, and high-intensity, low-frequency grazing. Although each term implies slight differences in management, they all refer to some sort of intensive rotational grazing system.