Rotational grazing has moved from niche to mainstream: roughly 40% of U.S. cow-calf operations now shift herds through a series of small paddocks instead of leaving them on one big pasture. The method stretches forage, builds soil health, and can even cut wildfire risk. Planning the layout, though, still starts with a good map. Online land-data platforms like AcreValue let you layer forage, soil, slope, and parcel boundaries so you can pencil in gates and lanes before driving a single T-post.
Why rethink the pasture map?
Research backs the trend:
- Moderate grazing decreases wildfire probability by decreasing fuel amount, continuity, and height and increasing fuel moisture content.
- Extending the grazing season with rotations can save $7,500–$10,000 a year in hay and supplement costs for a 50-cow herd.
Those gains start with a clear map. AcreValue’s interactive layers let you test-drive paddock layouts on-screen before pounding the first T-post.
The AcreValue Toolkit
- Land Cover: Color-codes grass, legumes, brush, and timber so you can group similar forage in the same move.
- Soil Survey: Reveals texture, drainage, and productivity ratings that guide stocking density and rest periods.
- Elevation: Helps you angle alleys downhill toward water and avoid erosion-prone grades.
- Measuring Tools: Sketch paddock polygons and read live acre totals for stock-day budgeting.
Five-step workflow: from screen to pasture
- Outline the perimeter: Search your farm, and find your Parcel Boundaries. Favorite the parcel for easy access.
- Trace the best forage blocks: Check Land-Cover data. Where dense native grass shows up, draw your first paddock. Patchier zones can become longer-rest cells.
- Check the dirt under the grass: Check Soil Survey data to spot sand pockets or tight clays. Adjust paddock size—lighter soils may need more recovery or lower head counts.
- Lay out lanes and water: View Elevation. Run a central lane on the ridgeline, dropping short spurs into each paddock. Place tanks downhill so gravity feeds work for you.
- Right-size the rotation: Use Measuring Tools. Example: a 120-acre pasture divided into twelve 10-acre paddocks supports 40 cow–calf pairs at one pair per three acres, giving each paddock a 30-day rest on a three-day move schedule. Tweak the acres until the numbers match your forage tests.
Final Thoughts
Digital lines are only a starting point. Walk each proposed corner, flag gate spots clear of rock ledge, and note any trees worth saving for shade. A smarter layout can stretch grass, cut feed bills, and keep healthier livestock on the move—one paddock at a time. We have the layers and measuring tools to get you there. Explore AcreValue today!