Toward Quantifying Precision Grazing Intensity Using GPS-Enabled Collars

Grazing intensity is a key component of grazing management, which is commonly assessed using stocking rate. The lack of spatially precise, fine-scale temporal measurements of grazing patterns, beyond coarse pasture-level estimates, hinders adaptive grazing management to sustain pasture health. This study presents a method to calculate daily stocking rates at the subpasture scale using cattle location data from GPS-enabled collars. The utility of the approach for quantifying grazing intensity across space and time is demonstrated in four small headwater catchments in Oklahoma, using a commercially available virtual fencing system to track cattle distribution in continuous and rotational grazing schemes. Results showed that daily stocking rates ranged from 0.00 to 26.35 head per hectare per day (hd ha − ¹ day − ¹) across the experimental catchments. Mean daily stocking rates ranged from 0.08 to 0.15 hd ha − ¹ day − ¹ for continuous grazing and from 0.24 to 9.16 hd ha − ¹ day − ¹ for rotational grazing. This GPS-based method facilitates a nuanced understanding of grazing intensity, helping identify locations subjected to heavy grazing intensity and their corresponding durations. This information is critical for sustainable cattle grazing management in healthy agro-ecosystems by optimizing forage utilization and minimizing impacts on environmentally sensitive areas.