Managed cattle grazing found to boost grassland carbon uptake and health
A two-year study on a North Dakota ranch compared a rotationally grazed pasture with an ungrazed one. The managed pasture absorbed nearly twice as much carbon dioxide and showed better water-use efficiency and carbon retention. Researchers say the results suggest grazing management, not just the presence of cattle, strongly affects grassland condition.
Researchers compared two adjoining pastures, each roughly 49 acres, on a North Dakota ranch between May 2023 and May 2025. One used planned rotation; the other had no grazing. Around 150 cows with calves were shifted among four paddocks for one to two days, with each paddock receiving a single grazing visit per growing season and about half its leafy growth removed before recovery.
The team measured carbon dioxide movement, water use, plant development, and how much forage cattle ate. The rotated pasture absorbed almost double the CO2 of the ungrazed one and retained carbon better while using water more efficiently. The ranch's native grassland had supported cattle for more than five decades.
Findings may encourage ranchers to test rotational systems, potentially improving carbon uptake and water use while maintaining beef production. That could affect rural livelihoods, land managers, and consumers if practices spread. Scientists may use the results to guide further research, though two years and one ranch limit broader conclusions. Environmental groups and agricultural interests could find common ground around grassland health, but outcomes will depend on local conditions and costs.