Demonstrating Mob Grazing Impacts in the Northern Great Plains on Grazingland Efficiency, Botanical Composition, Soil Quality, and Ranch Economics

This project will demonstrate the influence of mob grazing on beef production, rangeland composition and productivity, soil and water quality, soil carbon sequestration, and ranch economics alongside typical rotational grazing systems currently used across Northern Great Plains Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA). Mob grazing (i.e. ultra-high stocking densities and shorter grazing duration), is a system that mimics the natural range bison system, achieves higher harvest efficiencies (30-40%) and increased animal production, while improving rangeland botanical composition, soil quality, and carbon and water footprints (Briske et al. 2008). Most mob grazing data and reports have been generated from warmer and wetter climates that have longer growing seasons than our demonstration areas.