Rotational Grazing Research Articles

Selection environment impacts genetic gains for persistence in three temperate perennial forage grasses

Grasses and legumes are regularly grown in association, despite often being unbalanced or incompatible. This study was intended to conduct selection for persistence in three perennial grass species that have compatibility issues with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and are poorly adapted to management-intensive rotational grazing. Five cycles of selection for persistence were conducted over a 24-year period for three grass species (reed canarygrass, smooth bromegrass, and timothy) in each of five selection environments: alfalfa mixture, red clover mixture, monocultures with a three-harvest hay management, tall fescue mixture with frequent defoliation, and monocultures with frequent defoliation. Selection in the two legume mixtures led to significant increases in persistence only when evaluated in legume mixtures. Selection responses were strongest when evaluated under the same legume as in the selection environment, indicating some species specificity. Selection for persistence under frequent defoliation was successful under both conditions (monoculture and tall fescue mixture), but led to no changes when evaluated with legumes. For these three grass species, cultivar development for use in mixture with legumes or for use in management-intensive rotational grazing should be based on a selection environment that mimics, as close as possible, the target production environment.

Drivers and Consequences of Land Degradation on Livestock Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Land degradation is a major threat to sub-Saharan Africa rangelands, which are crucial for livestock farming and the livelihood of millions of people in the region. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes and effects of land degradation, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we identified, screened, and analyzed 25 peer-reviewed articles published before 30 June 2024 using Scopus. The review highlights key factors that drive land degradation, such as soil erosion, drought, deforestation, and climate change, as well as socio-economic factors like poverty, land tenure issues, population pressure, and economic instability. These factors have serious implications, as land degradation can lead to poor quality of forage, an increased incidence of diseases, higher mortality rates among livestock, and a significant decline in livestock productivity. The socio-economic consequences of this degradation are significant, leading to reduced household income, increased poverty, and heightened food insecurity. Furthermore, the review assesses various mitigation strategies and concludes that practices such as rotational grazing and soil conservation techniques demonstrate high effectiveness, while agroforestry practices show only moderate success. An integrated approach that combines environmental, economic, and policy measures is crucial to addressing the complex challenge of land degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. Strengthening land tenure, improving economic stability, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices are essential steps toward improving the health of rangelands, increasing livestock productivity, and supporting the resilience and well-being of rural communities.

Against wastelanding: distributed design at the pace of soil in the Conca de Barberà

This paper proposes a methodology for designers to work in the extensive yet marginal landscapes that are produced as part of the process of agricultural intensification. The distributed design approach, which focuses on enriching the existing bioinfrastructure of the soil, emerged out an ongoing research project in the Conca de Barberà, Spain. The project involves managing an interconnected series of currently unproductive on unmaintained fields through the rotational grazing of horses, with the hypothesis that the systematic grazing regime will catalyse soil biological activity. By attending to the soil infrastructure, the project necessarily developed a unique design approach. Management decisions became design problems and design work took on something of the call and response of management. Though it was shaped by the specific constraints and opportunities of the research project, the methodology is applicable to a wide variety of design projects in extensive landscapes with limited resources.

The LTAR Integrated Common Experiment at Upper Mississippi River Basin-Platteville.

Alternative agronomic practices are needed to address the various climatic, agronomic, edaphic, and water quality related challenges faced by the dairy farmers of the Driftless Area (DA) in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). These practices should be innovative in nature, inclusive of regional stakeholders, and sustainable to meet the future food and climate related challenges of Wisconsin agriculture. Here, we outline our Integrated (grazing and cropland) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Common Experiment at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Farm (UW-P PF) in the UMRB and describe our collaboration in this USDA network. In this field-scale experiment, we are comparing the conventional dairy production system common to this region (i.e., corn-on-corn [Zea mays L.] for 4 years, followed by alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.] for 3 years, with no cover crops) with two alternative dairy production systems-(1) soil health management with no-till, cover crops, and application of a novel manure-based nutrient-rich stable product, and (2) management intensive grazing-and rotational grazing on pastures established with diverse forage-legume mix. Meteorological, edaphic, hydrologic, and agronomic data are collected and analyzed at regular frequencies. Going forward, the experiment will continue as a form of stakeholder-driven adaptive research and receive evaluation on a regular basis to determine whether any changes are required to address the "real-world" challenges faced by the farmers in the Midwest.

Grazing regimes alter the fate of 15N‐labeled urea in a temperate steppe

AbstractClarifying the fate of different nitrogen (N) species in different pools of terrestrial ecosystems is a prerequisite for a comprehensive understanding of the influence of human activities on the N cycle. Grazing has always been an important way of grassland management for centuries in the temperate grasslands of North China. However, how grazing regimes affect the N fate of urea derived from the livestock in the plant–soil systems of grazed grasslands remains poorly understood. Therefore, an in situ three‐factor (grazing regime, soil depth, and sampling time) 15N‐labeling experiment in a temperate steppe was conducted to answer this question. After 48 days of 15N labeling, the 15N recovered in shoots under no grazing (7.3% ± 1.8%) was approximately 2.3 times of that under rotational (3.2% ± 0.4%) and 2.5 times of that under continuous overgrazing (2.9% ± 0.5%). More 15N was recovered in roots under rotational than continuous overgrazing (19.8% ± 2.4% vs. 10.4% ± 0.5%, respectively), indicating that rotational overgrazing could promote more N retention in the roots. However, the 15N recovered in the soil was lower under continuous (23.7% ± 2.0%) than that of no grazing (42.0% ± 5.6%). Additionally, overgrazing reduced the magnitude of the soil active N pool in microbial biomass N and soluble N relative to no grazing. The grazing regimes would have significantly influenced both the soil and plants. That is to say, grazing regimes have directly impacted plant growth, and subsequently indirectly affected soil properties. Overgrazing often led to excessive vegetation consumption, resulting in decreased soil water content (SWC) and reduced soil organic carbon (SOC), ultimately caused alterations in plant species composition. The retention of 15N within the plant–soil system under continuous overgrazing was notably lower compared to that of no grazing. Continuous overgrazing has led to a shift in the dominant plant species from Leymus chinensis to Stipa grandis, by decreasing the proportion of perennial grasses by 10%, and increasing the annual and biennial plants by 8%. The fate of 15N was also altered in response to the variations in grazing regimes. Consequently, the recovery of 15N within the plant–soil system under continuous overgrazing was significantly lower compared to that of no grazing. In conclusion, overgrazing reduces the recovery of 15N within the plant–soil system in the temperate steppe, and rotational grazing is more preferable over continuous grazing as it could promote higher N retention in grassland ecosystems.

The impact of different grazing intensity and management measures on soil organic carbon density in Zhangye grassland

Studying the spatial and temporal changes of grassland soil organic carbon (SOC) is helpful in promote the management of regional ecosystem carbon sinks. Grazing is one of the main ways of rational utilization of grassland. Different grazing intensities will affect the change of SOC density. Under different grazing intensity and management measures in Zhangye grassland, this study uses the parameter localized CENTURY model to simulate the temporal and spatial variations of SOC density from 1970 to 2022. The results showed that long-term light grazing reduced the average SOC by 195.114 g·m−2 and 1.91%. Moderate and severe grazing, respectively, for a long time made the total SOC density loss of 5.21% and 17.69%. In a short period, mild and moderate grazing reduced total SOC first and then increased it. Under light grazing, total SOC density appeared higher relative changes in the southeast, and lower in the northwest and central. There was no significant difference in the relative changes of total SOC between steppe and desert grasslands under light grazing. The decrease range of steppe was gradually greater than that in desert grassland. Since different management measures were implemented in some sampling sites in 2017, we divided the study period into two periods, 1970–2016 and 2017–2022. The implementation of degraded grassland improvement, fallow grazing, and rotational grazing would increase the total SOC density and mild SOC density, rotational grazing > degraded grassland improvement > rest grazing. Rotational grazing and the improvement of degraded grassland increased the density of active and inert SOC, while resting grazing decreased the density of SOC.

Sheep rotational grazing strategy to improve soil organic carbon and reduce carbon dioxide emission from spring wheat in an arid region

Context Cultivating forage crops is crucial to improve feed production, and grazing is an important utilisation method to improve soil fertility. Aim Improving soil organic carbon (SOC) content and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission through grazing management from a spring wheat field. Methods We compared sheep rotational grazing and control, and studied their effects on SOC and CO2 emission from a spring wheat field. Key results Sheep rotational grazing improved SOC content (by 23.5%) and soil easily oxidised organic carbon (EOC) content (by 7.7%) and reduces soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content (by 35.8%) compared with the control. Sheep rotational grazing reduced CO2 emission compared with the control. Sheep grazing reduced cumulative CO2 emission by 28.9% and 33.0% in May and June compared with the control. Conclusions Sheep grazing improved SOC content and reduce CO2 emission from a spring wheat field. Implications Based on our short-term study, sheep rotational grazing has a significant effect on SOC, EOC and MBC contents and CO2 emission from spring wheat fields in arid regions. For a large-scale assessment of sheep grazing on soil fertility and CO2 emission, more investigation for different soils and climates is necessary. Furthermore, a long-term study is also necessary to better understand the effect of sheep rotational grazing on soil fertility and CO2 emission from spring wheat fields in arid regions.

Adaptive integumentary features of beef cattle raised on afforested or non-shaded tropical pastures

We aimed to analyze the seasonal acclimatization process of Nelore and Canchim cattle raised on two production systems (non-shaded, NS, and integrated crop-livestock-forest, ICLF), based on the dynamics of the morphological and functional attributes of the hair coat and skin during winter and summer. The study was conducted in Brazil, in a low-altitude tropical climate region. A completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial design was adopted as follows: two production systems (NS and ICLF), two breeds (Nelore and Canchim) in a longitudinal structure, with measurements repeated over time through two stations (winter and summer). The experimental animals consisted of 32 Nelore (Bos indicus) and 32 Canchim (5/8 Bos taurus × 3/8 Bos indicus) bulls. The animals were equally distributed between two intensive rotational grazing systems. In both breeds, the hair coat was significantly thicker in winter but longer in summer, which increased epidermal protection. The Nelore bulls had shorter, wider, and thicker hairs, which are attributes that promote heat loss via conduction. The Canchim bulls showed significantly lower hair density and higher epithelium distance to sweat glands, which resulted in higher core temperature and respiratory rate. In turn, Nelore bulls had higher serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and lower serum concentrations of cortisol. However, Canchim bulls more frequently and intensely activated their thermoregulatory system and markedly adjusted their hair coat and hair features to reduce heat gain, especially in summer. Therefore, the anatomical plasticity and functional integumentary characteristics of Nelore and Canchim bulls reflect their acclimatization to tropical conditions.

A Comprehensive Review on Carbon Sequestration Potential and Addition of Organic Carbon to Soil

Various soil management techniques can be used to sequester carbon in agricultural fields. With widespread implementation, these methods could sequester a substantial amount of carbon. For the purpose of removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil, various management techniques exist. The efficacy of these tactics varies depending on the region, soil type, and climate. The longevity of soil sequestration and the ideal circumstances for maximising the reduction of carbon emissions remain topics of discussion. This essay examines the process by which soil stores carbon, the current status of soil carbon research, and the controversy surrounding the potential of soil carbon. It emphasises the numerous side advantages of raising soil carbon and provides a set of suggestions for further investigation. A substantial amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) might be sequestered by switching from conventional to conservation tillage, although this change would only have a long-term impact on tillage practices. Crop rotation based on legumes is more effective than that based on grass in converting biomass carbon to soil organic carbon. Rotational grazing lowers the overall quantity of CO2 released into the atmosphere while improving the quality of the grass. Producing biochar and incorporating it into soil is an additional strategy for storing carbon from the atmosphere.

A juhlegeltetési módok hatása a gyepen felvételezhető endoparazita populációra

Sampling for the occurrence of internal parasites of sheep was carried out in three extensively cultivated Achilleo - Festucetum pseudovinae grass communities with different grazing systems but with the same site conditions, in 2022 - 2023, at the MATE Research Institute in Karcag, Hungary. The sheep grazing regimes studied were: pastoral grazing, rotational grazing, and permanent, delta - forest grazing used on all grazing days. Microscopic analysis of the genomes and numbers of potentially infective oviposition and L3 larval stage endoparasites in sheep pastures was carried out on samples of faecal matter from grazed pastures and grass samples prepared using a 'larval feeder'. Our research objective was to clarify the effect of different sheep grazing practices on parasite infestation in a semi - natural grassland community with a solonyec soil composition.

Collective action in the pastural area of Inner Mongolia, China: Evidence from a lab-in-the-field experiment

The degradation of grasslands is a pressing global issue. Extensive research has explored the implementation of collective action as a means to ensure the sustainable use of grassland resources. However, empirical analysis of its impact in the field is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a lab-in-the-field experiment to evaluate the intensity of herders’ participation in collective action and estimated its impact on grassland conservation and livestock production at herder household level. As a robustness check, we performed a principal component analysis to measure herders’ willingness to participate in collective action. The empirical results show that collective action has significant positive effects on grassland quality and livestock number. A mechanism analysis indicates that herders who are more actively engaged in collective action are more likely to adopt rotational grazing management practices, leading to better grassland quality and a higher number of livestock. A heterogeneity analysis reveals that the benefits of collective action on grassland conservation vary based on resource endowments and individual characteristics, including grassland area and social network. This study makes a significant contribution to the study of sustainable grassland management that promotes the coupling development of grassland protection and livestock production.

Exploring mental systems within regenerative agriculture: systems thinking and rotational grazing adoption among Canadian livestock producers

Exploring mental systems within regenerative agriculture: systems thinking and rotational grazing adoption among Canadian livestock producers

Substantial and Rapid Increase in Soil Health across Crops with Conversion from Conventional to Regenerative Practices

Interest in soil health is growing, though the speed and effectiveness of management practices in improving it are uncertain. We measured biological, chemical, and physical indicators of soil health within a working farm zero, five, and nine years after transitioning from regular applications of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to cover cropping, compost additions, organic amendments, and rotational grazing. We quantified microbial biomass and composition, soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient availabilities, and water stable aggregates in an avocado orchard, a citrus orchard, a pasture, and a vegetable garden. We found substantial and consistent increases in SOM, water stable aggregates, and microbial biomass, especially during the first five years, whereas nutrient availabilities showed no consistent change. Fungal and bacterial communities shifted but not fungal–bacterial biomass ratios or richness. However, fungal guilds responded differently to shifts in management. The biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased in most crops, and fungal saprotroph relative abundance and richness generally increased, whereas putative fungal pathogens showed the opposite response. Overall, we found substantial and rapid increases in indicators associated with improved soil health following the transition from conventional to regenerative management.

Three years of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes from different sheepfolds in a semiarid steppe region, China

To better assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock folds in semi-arid steppe zones and reduce uncertainties in regional and national GHG emission inventories, we measured the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from sheepfolds under contrasting management regimes (i.e., summer sheepfolds under continuous and rotational grazing strategies and the winter sheepfold) for 3 consecutive years. Our results showed that these GHG fluxes had high intra-annual and interannual variations, emphasizing the importance of multi-year measurement for achieving temporally representative annual budgets. Sheep presence and temperature appeared to be the key factors driving CH4, CO2 and N2O fluxes from sheepfolds, e.g., higher GHG emissions usually occurred in seasons with sheep presence. However, the sheepfold type exerted a distinct influence on the temperature sensitivity of GHG fluxes, i.e., the Q10 values for GHG fluxes were generally higher in summer sheepfolds than in winter sheepfold. The annual CH4, CO2 and N2O emissions for the 3 sheepfolds were estimated to be 1.5–16.5 kg C ha−1 yr−1 (or 1.9–2.6 g C yr−1sheep−1), 8.6–16.0 t C ha−1 yr−1 (or 5.1–6.6 kg C yr−1sheep−1) and 28.3–41.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (or 19.0–26.8 g N yr−1sheep−1), respectively. Averaging across the 3 years, the annual net GHG emissions (CH4 + CO2 + N2O) for all sheepfolds ranged from 47 to 71 t CO2-eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 27–36 kg CO2-eq yr−1 sheep−1), of which CO2 and N2O emissions contributed the most; moreover, the annual net GHG emissions had no significant differences between sheepfold types or grazing strategies. Given that local steppe soils have a lower magnitude of soil respiration (CO2) and N2O emissions and are also net sink for atmospheric CH4, the sheepfold sites in this region are undoubtedly one of the significant hotspots for GHG emissions and could be key areas to focus mitigation action.

Time budgets differ in horses during continuous and space-restricted rotational grazing

Horses can become obese and develop related health issues such as laminitis from excessive grazing on high-quality pasture grass; limiting pasture intake can allow weight loss to occur. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of space-restricted rotational grazing on body weight (BW) and time budgets in horses. Eight mature geldings and mares with maintenance-only requirements were randomly assigned to either a space-restricted rotational grazing group (SRG; BW 512 ± 6 kg; n = 4) or a continuous grazing group (CG; BW 517 ± 49 kg; n = 4) for 42 d SRG horses grazed an area with dimensions to provide 80–90 % of mean digestible energy requirement for the 4 horses over a 7-d grazing period; whereas, the CG horses continuously grazed similar non-toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture providing greater than maintenance requirements for the 42 d Horses in the SRG group were moved to a new area every 7 d for 6 weeks. On d 7 at 1600 h of each week, horses were brought inside, and feed was withheld overnight. At 0700 h the next day, BWs were recorded prior to turnout. Observers recorded behaviors simultaneously on SRG and CG horses every six minutes throughout the day three days per week according to an ethogram. This included 30 s scans of all horses. Proportion of grazing and standing had an inverse relationship. Proportion of grazing was affected by the treatment by time interaction, which grazing was displayed more in SRG than CG during weeks 2 and 3, and then reversed weeks 4, 5 and 6.

Unveiling The Evolving Dynamics Of Mountain Pastoralism At Various Altitudinal Zones Of Upper Swat Valley, Pakistan

The confluence of environmental, climatic, and socioeconomic transformations is intensifying the vulnerability of pastoral social-ecological systems worldwide, with mountainous regions being excessively affected. This research paper explores the adaptive strategies employed by mountain pastoralists in Upper Swat, Pakistan, to navigate the complexities of rangeland management amidst dynamic climatic, social, and environmenta[1]l contexts. Through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, involving observations, focus groups, and an extensive survey (2022-2023), this study reveals that mountain pastoralists have developed a multifaceted, adaptive strategy that integrates stall feeding with six distinct grazing mechanisms to optimize the use of spatially and seasonally heterogeneous rangeland resources. This strategy involves a coordinated sequence of winter stall-feeding near villages, spring rotational grazing in adjacent pastures, summer migration to high-elevation settlements, and intense autumn browsing of stubble fields prior to winter crop planting. The findings of this research contribute nuanced insights into the resilience and adaptability of mountain pastoralists and their rangeland management systems, informing the development of effective policies and programs to enhance the sustainability and reduce the vulnerability of mountain social-ecological systems.

Strategic control of the cattle tick Rhipicephlaus microplus applied to rotational and silvopastoral grazing systems in subtropical areas.

This work evaluated if strategic control based on no more than three or four annual treatments is useful to control Rhipicephalus microplus infestations on cattle when it is applied to intensive rotational grazing and silvopastoral systems with high stocking rates in subtropical areas. In the intensive rotational grazing system, three annual treatments with chemical acaricides were applied on cattle in two different schemes: between spring and early summer and from late winter and late spring. Strategic control based on three treatments with chemical acaricides from late winter to late spring plus an additional fourth treatment in summer was tested in the silvopastoral system. In the intensive rotational grazing systems, the control schemes allow to reach a significant reduction in the tick load on cattle considering a time interval from spring to autumn. However, the efficacy levels were not high enough in some specific moments, namely, the tick counts of summer and autumn (there were not significant differences between treated and control groups). The scheme evaluated in the silvopastoral grazing system yielded better results than those tested for the intensive rotational system, because significant differences in tick load between treated and control groups were observed in all post-treatment counts and when the analysis was performed for the whole study period. However, values of efficacy in the count-by-count comparison were disparate, ranging from 64.1 to 99.7. Although the efficacy values obtained in the silvopastoral system were better than those of the rotational grazing systems, the total tick load on treated cattle in autumn was not low enough (mean abundance values 25.14 and 38.14). Ticks were more evenly distributed among hosts in late summer and autumn than in spring or early summer, where few hosts carry most of the ticks. Some management strategies as intensive rotational systems or silvopastoral structures can lead to a more efficient forage use, but they imply greater tick challenge than in extensive grazing systems. In these situations, the schemes of strategic control bases on three or four annual treatments should be complemented with additional tactical treatments in late summer or autumn.

The role of seed rain, seed bank, and clonal growth in plant colonization of ancient and restored grasslands.

Understanding the establishment of plant species is important to inform management of restored grasslands and to preserve biodiversity in ancient grasslands. In grassland communities, plant species can establish from seeds arriving via spatial dispersal, from seeds in the soil seed bank or through vegetative spread from nearby source individuals. However, this colonization potential and the likelihood of species establishment can vary in grasslands with different land-use history. We investigated the relative importance of local species recruitment sources, such as dispersal in space and time and species presence in adjacent grasslands, in determining establishment of plant species in eight grasslands with different land-use history (paired ancient grasslands continuously managed as pasture vs. restored grasslands on former forest). At each grassland, we established plots (0.25 m2) to monitor seedling emergence from seed dispersal, seed bank, and recorded clonal growth over two growing periods. We found that the likelihood of species establishment was highest from local seed rain, and that species present in the local species pool were more able to germinate and establish in both type of grasslands. Species from the seed bank and clonal growth contributed to a lesser extent to species establishment, but represented a greater proportion of the recolonization and regeneration of species in ancient grasslands. These results demonstrate that surrounding grasslands serve as a source for colonizing species and that dispersal from the adjacent grasslands is the key process in regeneration and colonization of plants. These results imply that the recovery of grasslands depends heavily upon to links to species source in grasslands, especially in restored grasslands. Therefore, management plans should incorporate rotational livestock grazing and larger networks of grassland in restoration efforts, which will enable to desirable species to establish and persist in grasslands.

Farmers’ use of Indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation across farming systems and agroecological zones of Sierra Leone

The qualitative analysis of farmers’ use of Indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation across farming systems and agroecological zones of Sierra Leone was conducted using a combination of interpretive phenomenological analysis, Focus Group Discussions, and participant observation, which was analyzed with a qualitative interpretative approach. Farmers respond to climate change through the use of wind and cloud patterns, animal and bird behavior, moon shape, and position of the sun to predict changes in temperature, intensity, drying up of rivers, and frequency of rainfall, as well as the incidence of pests and diseases. Other Indigenous knowledge used by farmers were rotational grazing, migration, crop-livestock integration, and the use of manure for composting with herbal and biological treatment for disease management. The study recommended that in the current context of climate change, the promotion of adaptation strategies should explore the interdependency of different knowledge systems and knowledge hybridity in agriculture.

Greater sage‐grouse chick mortality risk relative to livestock grazing management, environmental factors, and morphometric measurements

AbstractGreater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) populations in the western United States have declined, necessitating conservation efforts. The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and livestock producers implemented the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) to improve sage‐grouse habitat using regional‐specific management actions such as rotational grazing. We assessed the effect of SGI grazing management, the influence of brood female and chick morphometric traits, and multiple environmental and anthropogenic disturbance factors on chick mortality risk in a sage‐grouse population in central Montana, USA, from 2011–2019. We used a Kaplan‐Meier survival function to evaluate chick survival, Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate chick mortality risk as a function of brood female and chick morphometric traits, and the Andersen‐Gill formulation of the Cox proportional hazards model to assess the effects of time‐dependent habitat characteristics on chick mortality risk. Survival to 45 days post‐hatch for 510 chicks varied annually from 0.26 ± 0.07 (SE) to 0.69 ± 0.07. The 45‐day survival rate for all years combined was 0.51 ± 0.03. Chick mortality risk was not affected by changes in livestock grazing management implemented through the SGI grazing program. Brood female age and body condition, sex of chicks, vegetation, and anthropogenic variables were also unassociated with chick mortality risk. There were small protective effects of chick mass adjusted for age and mean minimum monthly temperature; greater chick mass and lower monthly temperatures correlated with reduced mortality risk. Overall, our study suggests the SGI grazing program does not confer additional benefits to sage‐grouse chicks beyond existing grazing practices. Incentivizing grazing practices that adhere to fundamental principles of rangeland ecology and maintain intact rangelands may be more effective than specific prescribed grazing systems for sage‐grouse conservation in this region.