Rotational stocking requires pastures to be subdivided into individual grazing units called paddocks. The size and number of paddocks depend on the level of pasture productivity, stocking rate of livestock, and the desired residency period. Individual paddocks are grazed one at a time, in a planned order, with livestock occupying each paddock long enough to harvest the existing forage, but generally not so long as to allow grazing of regrowth to occur. After each paddock is grazed to the desired forage stubble height (which depends on the plant species and grazing prescription), the pasture is allowed to regrow and regain vigor before again being grazed.

In a well-managed rotational stocking method, the forage supply is constantly monitored and adjustments to the stocking rate made by increasing or decreasing the amount of pasture acreage grazed during a particular time period (Figure 6).

Generally, development costs for water, fence, and management are greater for rotational stocking than for continuous stocking. However, because it is easier to maintain an effective balance between forage demand and forage supply, rotational stocking methods generally promote higher forage yields, more uniform levels of forage quality, improved harvest efficiencies, and as a result, maximize livestock production per acre of pasture.

Another advantage of using the rotational stocking method is that by controlling the frequency and intensity of grazing, plant species which are capable of producing higher forage yields can be utilized. With continuous stocking, the taller more productive plant species tend to decline in productivity and abundance. With the rotational stocking method, these plants can remain productive and persistent for many years.