Cattle, sheep, and goats evolved for continuous grazing. Providing grazing access to ruminant livestock addresses behavioral needs while often delivering production benefits.
Grazing is the primary behavioral drive in ruminants — cattle, sheep, and goats evolved to spend the majority of their active hours in selective plant consumption across varied terrain. The welfare benefits of grazing access are well documented: lower lameness from varied natural substrates, reduced mastitis from cleaner environments, improved reproductive performance, and behavioral indicators of positive affect during the initial access to pasture. Dairy cows denied outdoor access year-round show higher rates of several health problems and behavioral indicators of frustration. While year-round grazing is impractical in many climates, extended grazing seasons and summering systems that provide substantial outdoor access periods can meaningfully improve welfare.