Rangelands in the Southwest evolved together with large herds of ungulates such as antelope, elk and bison, grazing in compact groups to avoid predation. These herds would “mob graze” an area and then move on, not returning until the next year. This intense but brief disturbance creates minimal soil compaction while stimulating plant regrowth during the long period of healing and regrowth. It is also important for the germination of seeds and nutrient cycling.
Ranchers or contract grazers today mimic the beneficial predator-influenced herd migrations of wild ruminants by intensively grazing small paddocks for a brief duration. With Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing –also called planned grazing, mob grazing or cell grazing– there is no preset schedule. It is based on reading the conditions of the land and forage, assessing the needs of the livestock, and planning the grazing appropriately. Adaptive grazing management is looking at how native ecosystems function and mimicking it with domesticated animals.
Adaptive grazing can work in any system whether it is perennial grasses or annual cover crop forages.
Targeted grazing is an effective vegetation management tool that can be implemented to impact invasive weeds, enhance habitat restoration efforts, or reduce fuels to lessen wildfire hazard. It can be more cost-effective on landscapes that are steep, rocky, or remote, or in the urban-wildland interface. Targeted grazers, aka contract grazers, are paid by a landowner or land manager to bring their animals, infrastructure (such as fencing and water), and expertise to a property to implement a planned grazing program.
This depends on the type of vegetation and forage, your goals as well as the terrain. Cattle and sheep tend to prefer grasses and forbs, while goats like leaves and shoots of shrubs and trees in addition to grasses and forbs. Generally, cattle and horses do best on gently rolling ground, whereas sheep and goats readily graze on steep slopes. Consideration of the site characteristics and vegetation management goals (for example fire mitigation or weed control) is essential when selecting the appropriate species for the job.