How to Set Up a Rotational Grazing System for Cows and Sheep—and Why Your Land and Livestock Will Thank You

Set up a rotational grazing operation.

Rotational grazing is more than just moving livestock from one paddock to another—it's a proven method to restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and grow more nutrient-dense food. Whether you're raising cows, sheep, or both, a well-managed grazing system is one of the best tools to heal the land and improve your farm's long-term sustainability.

Ask farmers like Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm or Greg Judy, a Missouri rancher and author known for grazing livestock on leased land. Both have shown how simple, thoughtful practices can turn tired, compacted fields into thriving pastures teeming with life.

What Is Rotational Grazing?

Rotational grazing involves dividing your pasture into smaller areas (paddocks) and moving animals regularly to allow grazed areas to rest and recover. This mimics natural herd movements and prevents overgrazing, key to regenerative success. Greg Judy states, "The secret to profit is in the grass." By managing your grazing schedule, you build a stronger root system, sequester more carbon, and extend your grazing season.

Why Graze Cows and Sheep Together?

Cows and sheep complement each other. Cows prefer grasses, while sheep enjoy forbs and weeds. Combining them results in even pasture use and better weed control without chemical herbicides. Plus, they host different parasites, which can reduce disease pressure when appropriately rotated.

This method, championed by ranchers like Joel Salatin, maximizes forage and increases animal health through natural behavior and varied diets.

How to Set Up a Rotational Grazing System

1. Assess Your Land

Map out natural features like water access, slopes, and tree cover. Identify existing fencing and pasture quality. Joel Salatin recommends walking your land and thinking like a cow—where would they want to graze, drink, and rest?

2. Divide Your Pasture

Start with at least 4–8 paddocks, using temporary electric fencing or poly wire for flexibility. Greg Judy often starts with poly braid and step-in posts to adjust on the fly. Install a secure perimeter fence to ensure animals stay on your land. More paddocks = more extended rest periods = better regrowth. In the beginning, Judy recommends 6 sheep to 1 acre of land or 1 cow to every 5 acres of land. As forage improves, those numbers can and should increase.

3. Plan Water Access

Each paddock should have water. Consider:

• Rotating water troughs

• Using gravity-fed or quick-connect hose systems

• Fencing off natural streams with managed access points

  
  

4. Create a Grazing Schedule

Plan to move animals every 1–7 days, based on forage height and animal impact. We move the animals faster during the spring due to faster growth rates. Rest periods should allow pasture to regrow to 6–8 inches or more. Salatin emphasizes "mob grazing" with high stock density and frequent moves to mimic the natural pulse of herbivores. Start small and adjust as you observe the land's response.

The Benefits to Your Land

1. Improved Soil Health

When manure is evenly spread, plant roots deepen, and organic matter increases. Over time, your soil becomes sponge-like, rich, dark, and alive.

2. Fewer Parasites

Rotating animals breaks parasite cycles. Sheep especially benefit from paddocks that have had time to rest. The parasite cycle is typically 14 days, so plan to let each paddock rest for at least 2 weeks to break the parasite cycle.

3. Better Water Retention

Healthy pastures absorb rainfall instead of shedding it, resulting in less erosion and better resilience during drought. To give you an idea of how rotational grazing improves water retention, for every 1% of organic matter in the soil, it can hold on to 20,000 more gallons of water. You read that right, 20,000 more gallons.

4. Greater and Improved Forage

Rested plants grow stronger and offer more biomass and nutrients for your animals without expensive supplements or reseeding.

5. Healthier Animals

Livestock in a rotational system are cleaner, calmer, and more robust. They enjoy fresh pasture regularly and spend less time in muddy or parasite-prone areas. This results in fewer diseases and more nutrient-dense food.

Rotational grazing is not just a method—it's a mindset. Joel Salatin says, "We're not in the livestock business. We're in the grass business, and the grass is in the solar business." Think of yourself as a grass farmer, not a livestock farmer or rancher.

By mimicking nature, observing the land, and letting animals do what they were made to do naturally, you create a system that regenerates itself year after year. You don't need fancy equipment or thousands of acres to start. Just a willingness to learn, observe, and take that first step, just like the farmers who've already paved the way.