Is Grass Becoming Tight?

Quick decision • 2 min read

Short Answer

If grass is becoming tight, first try extending your rotation and creating additional grazing shifts. Only move to more intensive options if feed continues to run short.

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1 First
Step

Review Your Current Rotation

Start by checking how long sheep are spending in each paddock.

How long are sheep spending in each paddock?

Can you extend the time in each paddock slightly to increase your overall rotation length?

Sometimes the simplest way to make grass last longer is to slow the rotation down.

Example: If sheep are currently spending one week in each paddock, could they comfortably stay an extra few days?

Even small changes across the entire rotation can add valuable recovery time for pasture during winter.

Once you've looked at how long sheep are spending in each paddock, ask whether you can create additional grazing shifts within your existing system.

  • Splitting a larger paddock.
  • Using a smaller paddock on its own.
  • Break feeding part of a paddock.

These changes can often extend a winter rotation significantly without needing more land.

Still short on grass?
2 Next
Step

Can Smaller Paddocks Be Used Individually?

Look for small paddocks that are normally opened together.

Many lifestyle farms have smaller paddocks that are normally opened together with another paddock.

During winter, consider grazing them as standalone shifts.

Example: A small paddock that is usually combined with another paddock may provide an extra week in the rotation when used on its own.
Still short on grass?
3 Next
Step

Can You Break Feed A Larger Paddock?

Use a portable fence to slow down how quickly grass is eaten.

Do you have one paddock that is noticeably larger or carrying more grass than the rest?

If so, consider using a portable electric fence to restrict access and feed it out gradually.

Instead of allowing sheep access to the entire paddock at once, divide it into smaller sections and move the fence regularly.

Example: A paddock that normally provides one week of grazing might be divided into six sections. Grazing one section every four days could stretch that paddock to more than three weeks while reducing waste and allowing tighter feed control.
Still short on grass?
4 Last
Resort

Protect Your Sheep And Protect Spring

When grass is still disappearing, reduce pressure before things get hard to recover from.

If grass is continuing to disappear despite extending your rotation and break feeding, it's time to focus on protecting both your sheep and your pasture.

Identify the paddocks you most want performing when spring arrives.

Avoid repeatedly grazing these paddocks too early or too hard if possible. Pasture that is continually grazed down to the ground can take much longer to recover, even once spring growth begins.

Instead, use your designated winter paddock more heavily if required. This paddock is designed to absorb additional grazing pressure during difficult periods while allowing the rest to recover.

If feed is becoming critically short and sheep are starting to lose condition, consider:

  • Reducing stock numbers.
  • Moving sheep to grazing elsewhere.
  • Providing supplementary feed if appropriate.

The priority is maintaining sheep welfare while protecting enough pasture to allow the farm to recover once growth returns.

Sometimes the best decision isn't finding more grass. It's reducing pressure before the situation becomes difficult to recover from.

Keep Observing

Conditions change. Reassess regularly and adjust your plan.

Observe → Decide → Act → Review → Repeat