Field Guide: What Is MIG?

In management-intensive grazing, a farmer divides pasture into smaller sections called paddocks. The herd grazes one paddock for a short time, then moves to another. The rested grass can regrow before animals return. Good MIG planning also protects soil and water and gives animals enough feed, shelter, and space. Cattle and sheep are common grazing animals for this system because they eat grass and can be moved as a herd. Other animals may also be rotated, but their needs matter: pigs root in soil, chickens scratch for insects and seeds, and goats often browse leaves and shrubs. A rotation must suit the animal and the land; no animal is automatically a good or bad fit in every situation.