Grazing Behavior and Pasture Management for Sustainable Dairy Farming

Dear Colleagues,

Grazing behavior and pasture management are central to achieving sustainable dairy farming, balancing animal productivity, environmental impact, and farm profitability. Understanding how dairy cows interact with pasture—such as their grazing time, bite rate, and forage selection—enables farmers to optimize nutrient intake and maintain animal health. Proper grazing management, including rotational grazing, regrowth periods, and maintaining optimal sward height, ensures consistent forage quality and availability. This not only supports high milk yields but also reduces reliance on external feed inputs, lowering costs and the farm’s carbon footprint.

From an environmental perspective, well-managed pastures improve soil structure, enhance biodiversity, and can act as carbon sinks. By preventing overgrazing, farmers protect plant root systems, reduce soil erosion, and promote water infiltration, thereby contributing to long-term pasture resilience. Strategic stocking rates and grazing patterns also help distribute manure evenly, thereby enhancing soil fertility while minimizing nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions.

All these approaches strengthen the economic viability of dairy farms while safeguarding natural resources, making them a cornerstone of truly sustainable dairy production. Therefore, we invite you to contribute your latest work in the grassland science field to highlight the relevance of grazing systems and their management practices for sustainable dairying.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Juan Pablo Keim
Prof. Dr. Rubén Guillermo Pulido
Prof. Dr. Oscar Balocchi
Guest Editors

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