This allows sufficient root growth to prevent the plants from being pulled out the ground by the animals. If nitrogen fertilizer was applied at sowing, the seedlings grow vigorously and can be grazed after four or five weeks. Heavy but brief grazing promotes tillering of the ryegrass, enables the clover to become more competitive and assists with the control of broad-leafed weeds. For the initial grazing, use a stocking rate about four to five times the normal rate. Remove the stock after two or three days or when the pasture is grazed down to a height of about 4 cm.
Subsequent grazing needs to be monitored carefully.
If the period between grazings is extended, the grass begins to shade out the clover. In both cases, pasture production is decreased. As a general rule, graze when the ryegrass has three fully developed leaves. Ideally the animals should not graze the pasture for more than three days, but this is not always practical. In these are as there is usually sufficient soil moisture or follow up rains after hay making to allow the ryegrass to produce enough viable seed for the following year.