Good grazing is the foundation to a strong herd of livestock, it is a known issue that feeds, and pellets cost more to feed animals with than grazing. Whether horses or beef feeds are less economical in the long run, the problem then becomes how to maintain grazing and diets during the Winter?
One of the keys to grazing is to have a good balance between herd size and forage, having a strong base of forage can allow a herd to graze during the winter, provided the land is frozen or dry it will reduce the amount of soil compaction and other damage to the field.
Rotating herds is also important to ensure that grasses and other small crops are not over grazed for them to grow back properly. It can also help to stop grazing when grasses reach between 4-6 inches or 8-15cm and return to feeds while the grasses re-grow.
The goal is to have hay and forage as a backup plan while grass and other grazing materials are preferred. Most, not all, locations in Canada suggest the weather will greatly strain the ability for farmers to maintain a fully grazed diet for their livestock, and instead hay and other substitutes will likely have to be used over the winter months.