Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Grasses
Special Issues
Advances in Grazing Management
share announcement

Advances in Grazing Management

A special issue of Grasses (ISSN 2813-3463).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 7940

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Colin Tobin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5500, USA
Interests: grazing behavior; precision livestock management; rangelands; soils
Dr. Edward J. Raynor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agricultural Experiment Station, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: plant-herbivore interactions; grazing behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The management and manipulation of grazing are key to sustaining an efficient use of forage resources by livestock. Additonally, the effects of grazing management are felt by local communities through changes in profitability and ecosystem services. Since the turn of the century, grazing research has focused on benefitting ecosystem services delivery, increasing the resilience of grazing lands, and improving economic and environmental sustainability. Finally, the advancement of technology has enabled grazing managers to make day-to-day decisions in real time.

In this Special Issue, we aim to highlight recent changes in grazing management and the theories that support it. Contributions regarding grazing management strategies, the use of precision technology, and effects to rangelands, animals, and soils are all welcome.  

Dr. Colin Tobin
Dr. Edward J. Raynor
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Grasses is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rangelands
  • pastures
  • technology
  • nutrient management
  • resilience
  • livestock behavior
  • sustainability

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 1119 KB  
Article
Root and Shoot Biomass Contributions to Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Under Grazing Intensity and Crop Rotation in an Integrated Crop–Livestock System
by Lucas Aquino Alves, Fernando Arnuti, Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira, Moacir Tuzzin de Moraes, Luiz Gustavo de Oliveira Denardin, Ibanor Anghinoni, Paulo César de Faccio Carvalho and Tales Tiecher
Grasses 2025, 4(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4020024 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1995
Abstract
In integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs), grazing intensity and crop rotation influence residue dynamics, making it essential to assess shoot and root contributions to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs. This study aimed to assess the shoot and root biomass of Italian ryegrass, [...] Read more.
In integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs), grazing intensity and crop rotation influence residue dynamics, making it essential to assess shoot and root contributions to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs. This study aimed to assess the shoot and root biomass of Italian ryegrass, soybean, and maize; the distribution of roots within the soil profile; and the contributions of shoot and root biomass to soil C and N under varying winter grazing intensities and summer crop rotations. The experiment was conducted within a long-term (12-year) field protocol, arranged in a randomized complete block design with split plots and four replicates. Grazing intensity was defined as the following: (i) moderate grazing—forage allowance equivalent to 2.5 times the potential dry matter intake of sheep, and (ii) low grazing—forage allowance equivalent to 5.0 times the intake potential. Grazing intensities (moderate and low) were allocated to the main plots, while cropping systems—monoculture (soybean/soybean) and crop rotation (soybean/maize)—were assigned to the subplots. Soil depth layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–40 cm) were treated as sub-subplots. Root samples of Italian ryegrass, soybean, and maize were collected using the soil monolith method. Low grazing intensity (8.6 Mg ha−1) promoted greater aboveground biomass production of Italian ryegrass compared to moderate intensity (6.6 Mg ha−1). Maize exhibited a higher capacity for both root and shoot biomass accumulation, with average increases of 85% and 120%, respectively, compared to soybean. Root biomass was primarily concentrated in the surface soil layer, with over 70% located within the top 10 cm. Italian ryegrass showed a more uniform root distribution throughout the soil profile compared to soybean and maize. Carbon inputs were higher under crop rotation (17.2 Mg ha−1) than under monoculture (15.0 Mg ha−1), whereas nitrogen inputs were greater in soybean monoculture (0.23 Mg ha−1) than in crop rotation (0.16 Mg ha−1). Low grazing intensity in winter and summer crop rotation with high-residue and quality species enhance the balance between productivity and soil C and N inputs, promoting the sustainability of ICLSs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grazing Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1997 KB  
Article
Accounting for Diurnal Variation in Enteric Methane Emissions from Growing Steers Under Grazing Conditions
by Edward J. Raynor, Pedro H. V. Carvalho, Juan de J. Vargas, Edilane C. Martins, Willian A. Souza, Anna M. Shadbolt, Afrin Jannat, Sara E. Place and Kimberly R. Stackhouse-Lawson
Grasses 2025, 4(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4010012 - 14 Mar 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2279
Abstract
Automated head chamber systems (AHCS) are increasingly deployed to measure enteric emissions in vivo. However, guidance for AHCS-derived emissions data analyses pertains to confined settings, such as feedlots, with less instruction for grazing systems. Accordingly, our first objective in this experiment was to [...] Read more.
Automated head chamber systems (AHCS) are increasingly deployed to measure enteric emissions in vivo. However, guidance for AHCS-derived emissions data analyses pertains to confined settings, such as feedlots, with less instruction for grazing systems. Accordingly, our first objective in this experiment was to determine the utility of two data preprocessing approaches for grazing-based analyses. Using Pearson’s correlation, we compared “simple arithmetic” and “time-bin” averaging to arrive at a single estimate of daily gas flux. For our second objective, we evaluated test period length averaging at 1, 3, 7, and 14 d intervals to determine daily pasture-based emissions estimates under two experimental conditions: herd access to a single AHCS unit vs. two AHCS units. Unlike findings from the confinement-based literature, where slight improvements have been observed, time-bin averaging, compared to simple arithmetic averaging, did not improve gas flux estimation from grazing for CH4 (p ≥ 0.46) or CO2 (p ≥ 0.60). Irrespective of experimental condition, i.e., herd access to a single AHCS unit vs. two AHCS units, assessment of variability of diurnal emissions patterns revealed CH4 flux on pasture had at least half as much variability for the same individuals acclimated in confinement. Using a 7-day test period length interval, aggregating gas flux data at 7 d at a time was adequate for capturing diurnal emissions variation in grazing steers, as no improvement was observed in the percentage of individuals with five of six time bins measured for a 14-day test period length interval. This analysis should provide insights into future research to standardize AHCS data preprocessing across experiments and research groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grazing Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 445 KB  
Article
Foraging Behavior, Botanical Composition, and Quality of Beef Cattle Diets on Burned Versus Unburned Foothill Rangelands
by Janessa Kluth, Noah G. Davis, Samuel A. Wyffels, Clayton B. Marlow, Lance T. Vermeire, Taylre E. Sitz, Thomas G. Hamilton and Timothy DelCurto
Grasses 2025, 4(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4010008 - 17 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1591
Abstract
Current management paradigms suggest deferring grazing rangeland for two years post-fire to avoid additional stress on native grass species, but there is little research supporting these recommendations. This study was conducted within and adjacent to the burn area of a wildfire to evaluate [...] Read more.
Current management paradigms suggest deferring grazing rangeland for two years post-fire to avoid additional stress on native grass species, but there is little research supporting these recommendations. This study was conducted within and adjacent to the burn area of a wildfire to evaluate the differences in diet quality, botanical composition, and foraging behavior of beef cattle on burned and unburned rangeland in the spring and fall of the year following a fire. Diet composition and masticate samples were collected during 20 min bite-count periods using six ruminally cannulated cows in burned and unburned sites in June and September. Diets differed between burned and unburned sites across seasons, but the differences were most apparent in June. Cattle grazed more selectively on burned sites in June, consuming a higher quality diet dominated by forbs. In September, cattle shifted to grass-dominated diets with fewer differences between burned and unburned sites. This indicates that the nutritional flush on post-fire rangelands may be minimized by the end of the first growing season post-fire. Additionally, in the first spring post-fire, cattle may shift grazing pressure away from vulnerable perennial native grass species to the early-seral forbs, commonly associated with the post-fire environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grazing Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 681 KB  
Review
Drought-Resilience in Mexican Drylands: Integrative C4 Grasses and Forage Shrubs
by Ma. Enriqueta Luna-Coronel, Héctor Gutiérrez-Bañuelos, Daniel García-Cervantes, Alejandro Espinoza-Canales, Luis Cuauhtémoc Muñóz-Salas and Francisco Javier Gutiérrez-Piña
Grasses 2026, 5(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses5010002 - 6 Jan 2026
Viewed by 714
Abstract
Grassland-based livestock systems across Mexico’s arid and semi-arid belt are increasingly exposed to drought, degrading forage reliability, and soil function. This review synthesizes evidence on native C4 grasses and forage shrubs as complementary building blocks of drought-resilient swards. We searched Web of Science, [...] Read more.
Grassland-based livestock systems across Mexico’s arid and semi-arid belt are increasingly exposed to drought, degrading forage reliability, and soil function. This review synthesizes evidence on native C4 grasses and forage shrubs as complementary building blocks of drought-resilient swards. We searched Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts and key grey sources (USDA/NRCS Plant Guides, USFS FEIS, Tropical Forages, SNICS) for 1990–2025 studies in English/Spanish. Dominant native grasses (Bouteloua spp., Hilaria belangeri, Digitaria californica, Trichloris crinita, Sporobolus airoides, Panicum hallii) provide high warm-season digestibility and structural cover via C4 physiology, basal/intercalary meristems, and deep/fibrous roots. Forage shrubs (Atriplex canescens, Desmanthus bicornutus, Leucaena leucocephala, Flourensia cernua, Prosopis spp.) bridge the dry-season protein/energy gap and create “resource islands” that enhance infiltration, provided anti-nutritional risks (mimosine/DHP, tannins, salts/oxalates, terpenoids) are managed by dose and diet mixing. We integrate these findings into a Resistance–Recovery–Persistence framework and translate them into operations: (i) site-matching rules for species/layouts, (ii) PLS (pure live seed)-based seed specifications and establishment protocols, (iii) grazing TIDD (timing–intensity–distribution–duration) with a practical monitoring dashboard (CP targets, stubble/cover thresholds, NDVI/SPEI triggers). Remaining bottlenecks are seed quality/availability and uneven extension; policy alignment on PLS procurement and regional seed increase can accelerate adoption. Mixed native grass–shrub systems are a viable, scalable pathway to strengthening drought resilience in Mexican rangelands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Grazing Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop