Which practice involves moving animals from pasture to pasture to decrease parasite incidence?

Which practice involves moving animals from pasture to pasture to decrease parasite incidence?

• A. Mixed grazing
• B. Strip grazing
• C. Pasture rotation
• D. Free-range grazing

Answer: (C)

Parasite control through grazing management relies on breaking the parasites’ life cycle by giving pasture time to rest. Moving animals from one pasture to another on a planned schedule—pasture rotation—lets paddocks rest long enough for parasite larvae on the forage to die off before the next group of animals graze there. This reduces the chance that newly turned-out animals ingest infective larvae, lowering overall parasite burden in the flock or herd. The length of the rest period depends on the parasite species and climate, but the principle is the same: interrupt exposure by providing clean forage in fresh paddocks and letting contaminated paddocks recover. Other options don’t target this cycle as directly. Strip grazing concentrates animals in small ranges to control intake and efficiency, not primarily to reduce parasite exposure. Mixed grazing uses more than one species but isn’t defined by a rotation schedule. Free-range grazing lacks a structured rest plan, which can allow parasite levels to build up.

Parasite control through grazing management relies on breaking the parasites’ life cycle by giving pasture time to rest. Moving animals from one pasture to another on a planned schedule—pasture rotation—lets paddocks rest long enough for parasite larvae on the forage to die off before the next group of animals graze there. This reduces the chance that newly turned-out animals ingest infective larvae, lowering overall parasite burden in the flock or herd. The length of the rest period depends on the parasite species and climate, but the principle is the same: interrupt exposure by providing clean forage in fresh paddocks and letting contaminated paddocks recover.

Other options don’t target this cycle as directly. Strip grazing concentrates animals in small ranges to control intake and efficiency, not primarily to reduce parasite exposure. Mixed grazing uses more than one species but isn’t defined by a rotation schedule. Free-range grazing lacks a structured rest plan, which can allow parasite levels to build up.