Advances in sustainable sheep pasture and grazing management

Publication date: 28-01-2026
Extent: 18 pages

Contributions by: David Barker, Marilia Chiavegato, Braden Campbell and Kyle Verhoff, Ohio State University, USA

Chapter synopsis:

Like other livestock sectors, sheep production faces the challenge of improving sustainability. After considering the various dimensions of sustainability, this chapter reviews different ways this might be achieved. Firstly, it considers the potential for increasing the number of pasture species and broader diversity of species mixtures towards achieving sustainability goals. Secondly, it assesses how the potential benefits of pasture composition can be optimized by appropriate grazing management, including spatial effects and animal grazing patterns. Finally, it considers the relationship between forages and animal health and draws some conclusions about how sheep production can contribute to the achievement of sustainability.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2024.0147.13