Rotational grazing systems for bison provide welfare benefits through space, natural foraging, and herd movement while simultaneously supporting grassland ecosystem restoration.
Rotational grazing for bison aligns animal welfare with ecological restoration in a rare convergence of interests. These animals evolved as keystone grazers whose movement patterns shaped the Great Plains ecosystem. Static confinement denies bison the movement and foraging variation that define their behavioral ecology. Rotational systems that allow herd movement through paddocks restore a functional approximation of nomadic grazing behavior, reducing the chronic stress of confinement while building ecological complexity that benefits the entire grassland community. Bison rotational grazing is welfare-positive, ecologically beneficial, and increasingly economically viable.