A rotational grazing setup is based on the simple principle that ruminant animals travel in flocks or herds and graze while they migrate.
The migratory factor is one we have long forgotten with our common practice of putting animals out to pasture at the start of the season and leaving them until the grass runs out.
As Julius Ruechel points out in the book Grass-Fed Cattle, herbivores eat and move on. It is not natural for them to linger for long periods in the same area. They travel in large numbers and flock together for safety from predators. Because they move in large groups, they deposit a large volume of well spread manure.
Wild animals move according to grass growth to keep up with the most nutritious grass that always happens to be in front of them, never behind. They will not return to an area to graze again until that area is sufficiently cleared of past manure. A length of time that just happens to be long enough to allow for grass re-growth. Natures prevention against over-grazing.
So how do Jill and Joe Rancher manage to do all this?
Well, there is ample expert material and workshops on rotational grazing to tell how. Below are a few recommends to get you started.
We discovered it really is a matter of trial and a bit of error. If you are just starting out and feeling overwhelmed try our trick of focusing on the bare bone basics of rotational grazing. Keep it simple and as your comfort grows use these basic grazing tips.
This book talks about all aspects of grazing. Even though it is specific to cattle there is lots of how to information that can be applied to sheep ranching. Includes grazing infrastructure, pasture planning sheets, market and financial planning sheets and an overview of the cycle of a year on grass.
An in depth text book covering all aspects of land management, grazing and goal setting. This one is for the serious grazer only, not a light read.
Small-Scale Livestock Farming by Carol Ekarius
Covers all the basic information on various species of livestock plus has paddock design layouts, feeding calculations, pasture monitoring worksheets and financial budgeting sheets.
When planning always consider where the livestock will get water from.
Animals in a rotational grazing plan move according to the grass growth instead of when you get around to it.
When grass grows quickly in the spring you'll be out moving your animals often, when grass growth slows down the animals move less often.
The key is timing. When to move the animals, how long to graze and how long to rest a paddock.
The timing is determined by other factors, the environment you ranch in, the number of animals, paddock size, quality and quantity of grass.
Cross fencing, cross fencing, cross fencing.... You'll need it to do rotational grazing
Keep livestock in larger groups and moving to evenly distribute manure and urine. This is accomplished with a shepherd or with cross fencing.
Change the rotation year to year. Do not always start by grazing the same paddock each spring. This will help maintain the diversity of your pastures as well as help with parasite control with sheep.
Always leave a reserve of grass. Do not let animals graze grass down to the soil. This will seriously harm your soil and leave your grass with little root reserves for re-growth.
The goal is to leave plant cover on the soil year round, preventing bare exposed areas.
Heavy residue from mature grass will prevent grass growth in subsequent years. Take care of excess grass before it reaches late maturity by mechanically harvesting it if the animals can't keep up.
Plan the rotation so that you will have grass that can be grazed into winter, or dormant season. If the grass has enough shoot material when it goes dormant the animals can still eat it without stressing it further, as the roots will already have died off. Bear in mind the nutritional quality will have diminished substantially.
Well, there is ample expert material and workshops on rotational grazing to tell how. Below are a few recommends to get you started. 
Heavy residue from mature grass will prevent grass growth in subsequent years. Take care of excess grass before it reaches late maturity by mechanically harvesting it if the animals can't keep up. 
