Silvopasture

Silvopasture combines three managed layers on one piece of land: a tree component, a forage or pasture component, and a grazing livestock component, arranged and timed so each supports rather than undermines the others.

Silvopasture

A deliberately managed combination of trees, forage, and grazing livestock on the same land.

Agroforestry

The broader category of land-use systems that intentionally combine trees with crops or livestock.

Rotational grazing

Moving livestock between paddocks on a planned schedule to manage forage and protect trees.

• Selecting tree species and spacing that allow adequate light for forage growth
• Choosing forage species tolerant of partial shade beneath the tree canopy
• Protecting young trees from grazing damage through fencing or timed exclusion
• Rotating or timing grazing to manage forage recovery and reduce soil compaction
• Thinning or pruning trees over time as the canopy develops

• Trees can provide shade and shelter that may reduce livestock heat stress
• Diversifies farm products across timber, tree crops, and livestock
• Root systems and cover from trees and forage can help reduce soil erosion

• Establishment requires investment and a multi-year period before trees mature and provide full benefit
• Requires more complex management planning than single-enterprise grazing or forestry
• Tree, forage, and livestock compatibility is site-specific, not a fixed formula

Silvopasture is used in both temperate and tropical livestock-raising regions, ranging from managed grazing within existing woodland to deliberately planted tree-and-forage systems established specifically for integrated grazing.