“Green and Brown” Grazing Strategy

Six Factors Affecting the “Green and Brown” Grazing Strategy for
Invasive Annual Grasses
The “Green and Brown” grazing strategy has a
scientific basis and using this strategy is
about manipulating species to alter the
competitive balance where desired species
can gain a competitive advantage over
undesired species.
1) Timing: Plan grazing by plant state, not dates
2) Intensity: Increased intensity for increased
removal of biomass
As land managers look to create a desired
landscape using livestock, control over
timing, intensity and frequency all impact
whether a grazing treatment is successful.
Additionally, stocking rate, palatability, and
class of livestock are also important in
understanding the underlying basis of the
“Green and Brown” grazing strategy. In the
following section we detail the specific roles
of these factors in the “Green and Brown”
grazing strategy.
3) Frequency: Protect those you care about
4) Preference and Palatability: If it is green
they will eat it.
5) Stocking Rate: Pack ‘em in to take out the
annual grasses
6) Class of Livestock: Use what you have
available to graze
The “Green and Brown” grazing strategy is focused on stressing invasive annual grasses through
the strategic use of intensity, frequency and stocking rates so that livestock graze at a time when
the undesired species are palatable and even preferred over the dormant perennial grasses.
Six Factors Affecting the “Green and Brown” Grazing Strategy - 15