Rotational Grazing & Rest, Rotate, Regrow
Rotates cattle
Enter pasture area, number of paddocks and rest period to get paddock size, grazing days per paddockand the full rotation cycle — so you can rest grass, lift carrying capacity and avoid overgrazing.
Plan the grazing rotation
Next: graze each 1.7 ha paddock for about 6 days, then move the herd on — every paddock then rests 30 days before the cycle repeats every 36 days.
Rest days let pasture regrow to grazing height; in fast spring growth shorten rest, in slow seasons lengthen it. Real moves are also driven by available forage, not just the clock.
Rotational grazing — key facts
- Paddock size
- total area ÷ paddocks
- Grazing days
- rest days ÷ (paddocks − 1)
- Rotation cycle
- rest + grazing days
- What rest does
- lets grazed paddocks regrow
- Spring rest
- ≈ 15–25 days
- Slow-growth rest
- 40–90+ days
- Why rotate
- lifts carrying capacity
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Rest the grass, and the land carries more
Dividing a pasture into paddocks and moving stock through them is the simplest way to grow more feed from the same land. While the herd grazes one paddock the others rest, regrowing from healthy leaf and roots so each cell is grazed at its leafy best, never to the dirt. That rest-and-recovery rhythm lifts total dry matter grown across the season — and therefore the carrying capacity — well above leaving stock on the whole farm at once.
This tool turns your area, paddock count and rest period into the numbers that run the rotation: paddock size, grazing days per paddock and the rotation cycle. Grazing days per paddock are the rest days shared across the other paddocks, and the cycle is that rest plus the grazing. Pair it with the Pasture Budget, Cattle Stocking Rate and Annual Fodder Requirement tools for a full grazing plan.
Design the cells
Size each paddock from area and count.
Time the moves
Know the grazing days in each paddock.
Rest for regrowth
Let grazed paddocks recover before return.
Carry more stock
Resting grass lifts total feed grown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rotational grazing?+
Rotational grazing divides a pasture into several paddocks and moves the herd through them one at a time. While one paddock is grazed the rest are resting and regrowing. This rest-and-recovery cycle keeps grass at its leafy, productive stage, lifts carrying capacity, and prevents the patchy overgrazing you get from leaving stock on the whole farm at once.
How are grazing days per paddock calculated?+
With one paddock grazed at a time, the other paddocks must rest while the herd works through them. Grazing days per paddock = rest days ÷ (paddocks − 1). For example a 30-day rest period across 7 paddocks gives 30 ÷ 6 = 5 grazing days in each paddock, so the herd spends about five days per cell before moving on.
What is the rotation cycle?+
The rotation cycle is the total time to graze every paddock once and return to the first — it equals the rest period plus the grazing days in the paddock being grazed. In the 7-paddock, 30-day-rest example the cycle is about 35 days, meaning each paddock is grazed roughly every five weeks and rests the rest of the time.
How big should each paddock be?+
Paddock size = total pasture area ÷ number of paddocks. Splitting 21 ha into 7 paddocks gives 3 ha each. More paddocks mean smaller cells, shorter grazing periods, more even grazing and longer rest — but more fencing and water points. Fewer, larger paddocks are cheaper to set up but graze less evenly.
What rest period should I use?+
Match the rest to how fast pasture regrows: shorter in fast-growing spring (often 15–25 days) and longer in slow growth or drought (40–90+ days). The aim is to graze each paddock only when it has recovered to its target cover, so adjust the rest period through the season rather than holding it fixed.
How many paddocks do I need?+
More paddocks give shorter grazing periods and longer rest, which improves utilisation and regrowth. Many graziers run 7–30+ cells. As a guide, choose paddocks so each is grazed for no more than one to three days; with electric fencing you can subdivide further into daily breaks without permanent fences.
Why does resting paddocks lift carrying capacity?+
Grass grazed and then rested regrows from healthy leaf and root reserves, producing more total dry matter across the season than continuously grazed pasture that never recovers. More feed grown per hectare means the land carries more stock — that's why well-run rotations often lift carrying capacity well above set stocking.
Does this work for cattle, sheep or goats?+
Yes — the rotation maths is the same for any grazing livestock. Cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats all benefit from rest-and-recovery grazing; just set the rest period and paddock count to suit your pasture, herd size and how fast the grass grows on your land.
Are the figures precise?+
They are solid planning figures. Real grazing days shift with growth rate, weather, pasture quality and herd demand, so treat the rest period as a target you adjust by eye as paddocks recover faster or slower. Re-check cover regularly and lengthen or shorten the rotation as the season changes.