Mob grazing — high-intensity, short-duration rotational grazing with high stocking density and long rest periods — has gained significant attention as a regenerative agriculture practice. Its welfare implications for sheep deserve careful examination: the system can offer benefits but also presents new management challenges.
What Is Mob Grazing?
In mob grazing, sheep are moved frequently (daily to weekly) through small paddocks at very high stocking densities, followed by extended rest periods (typically 60-120 days) that allow pasture recovery. The approach mimics the grazing behaviour of large herds of wild ruminants in traditional savanna systems, where concentrated grazing is followed by complete rest.
Potential Welfare Benefits
Dietary diversity: Fresh, ungrazed pasture at every move provides access to diverse herbage including herbs, legumes, and grasses at their most nutritious.
Social cohesion: Sheep are highly social; mob grazing maintains a consistent social group and may reduce social stress from separation and regrouping.
Natural behaviour: Moving as a flock, exploring new pasture, and following natural grazing patterns aligns well with the social and behavioural needs of sheep.
Pasture parasite management: Extended rest periods allow parasite larvae to die off, potentially reducing worm burden — a significant welfare benefit if pastures are managed effectively.
Welfare Concerns & Challenges
Nutritional adequacy: If move frequency is too low or paddock size too small, sheep may consume insufficient dry matter, leading to hunger and nutritional stress.
Water access: In very small paddocks, ensuring adequate clean water access at all times requires careful infrastructure planning.
Body condition management: Regular BCS monitoring is essential — high density, short duration grazing can mask individual animals failing to thrive in competitive situations.
Handling frequency: Frequent moves create more handling events, which can be stressful if handling facilities and stockmanship are poor.
Evidence Base
Research on mob grazing welfare outcomes in sheep is limited relative to its popularity. Existing evidence generally shows comparable welfare outcomes to conventional rotational grazing when systems are well-managed, with potential advantages in pasture quality and parasite management. Poorly managed mob grazing systems show welfare problems similar to overstocked conventional systems.
Practical Recommendations
Monitor body condition scores rigorously, especially for ewes with lambs at foot
Adjust move frequency based on pasture growth rates and animal demand
Ensure water access is robust in all paddocks
Use strategic FECRT (faecal egg count reduction testing) to monitor parasite management effectiveness