Instructor-Led

Managed Grazing Systems for Dairy Cattle

This course provides you with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to create and manage profitable, productive managed grazing programs. This comprehensive course equips students with the essential understanding of forage resources, infrastructure design, livestock genetics, and grazing management strategies needed to optimize dairy operations through sustainable grass-based systems that enhance farm productivity, soil health, and environmental stewardship.

  • Instructor-Led

    Course Type

  • Once a Week

    Live Sessions

  • 9/25/25 - 12/11/25

    Course duration

  • Thursdays at 
    12 pm CT / 1 pm ET

    Date & Time
    What you are going to learn

    A few more words about this course

    Managed grazing represents one of the most sustainable and economically viable approaches to dairy farming, offering significant benefits for farm profitability, environmental stewardship, and animal welfare. This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the many components that create successful managed grazing programs, from understanding forage physiology and plant selection to designing efficient infrastructure and developing livestock genetics suited for grass-based operations.

    Students will gain practical expertise in creating grazing systems that optimize forage utilization, enhance soil health, improve water quality, and produce high-quality dairy products. The course emphasizes the interconnected nature of grazing management, demonstrating how proper grazing practices create cascading positive impacts throughout the entire farm ecosystem while building long-term sustainability and profitability.

    You will learn:

    • Master forage plant physiology and species selection for optimal nutrition and production
    • Design efficient fencing and water infrastructure systems for your farm and location
    • Understand livestock genetics and their critical role in grass-based operation success
    • Implement grazing strategies that enhance soil health, water quality, and farm productivity
    • Apply technology tools and monitoring systems to optimize grazing decisions
    • Evaluate the economic and environmental benefits of well-managed grazing systems

    What's included?

    Enrolling in this course gives you access to a rich and supportive learning experience designed for all levels. Here’s what you can look forward to:

    Ongoing Support

    Receive feedback and support throughout the course to help you succeed.

    Self-Paced Learning Modules

    Access engaging video lectures, readings, and activities anytime, anywhere.

    Weekly Live Sessions with the Instructor

    Connect in real time for Q&A, interactive lessons, and expert guidance.

    Assignments and Quizzes

    Apply what you learn through hands-on assignments and quizzes that reinforce key concepts.

    Discuss with others

    Participate in our online forum, share thoughts and ideas, increase connection, get help with your studies

    Student Forum & Community

    Join a vibrant online forum to discuss ideas, ask questions, and connect with classmates and instructors.

    Amanda Shine

    Expertise:
    Biology
    Soil Health
    Managed Grazing Systems
    Sustainable Agriculture

    About

    My agricultural journey started in my early 20's when I unexpectedly landed in an apprenticeship on a grass-based dairy in southern Wisconsin. I fell in love with dairying, grazing, and all things farming, and from there pursued additional training through the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy Farmers (at UW-Madison).
    I hold bachelor's degrees in biology and agriculture, and a master's degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska, where I studied nutrient cycling in grazed ecosystems using a drone and geospatial analysis. I have also worked as a research associate for Montana State University assisting with field crop and forage research in northwestern Montana.
    I am passionate about all things soil- and forage-related and continually fascinated by the synergistic relationship between plants, soil and livestock and the potential for ecosystem restoration using well-managed grazing.
    Currently, my husband and I operate Roving Ram Ranch, LLC, a sheep operation near Kalispell, Montana. We focus on producing grass-finished lamb and high quality fleeces while providing targeted and regenerative grazing services to landowners in our area. We also breed and raise livestock guardian dogs.