In most instances livestock should not remain on an individual paddock for longer than 7 days, with 3-4 days a more preferred residency period. The exception to this occurs with lactating dairy cows. In order to maintain consistency of milk production, they should not remain in one paddock for longer than 2 days, with a 1 day residency period preferred. Although there are no optimum rest intervals between grazing periods, it is recommended that during the most active growth periods of spring and early summer, once a paddock is grazed it should be rested between 15 and 20 days, and during the slower growth periods of late summer and fall between 20 and 40 days.

The rotational stocking method is planned around having enough forage available for grazing during the mid-summer period. As a result, during the spring there will be nearly twice as much forage as the livestock need for grazing. Hence, approximately 50 percent of the planned acreage should be closed for grazing during the first two months of the pasture season and the surplus forage mechanically harvested or grazed with other livestock accounted for in the planning process. Once the forage growth rates begin to decline and there is a need for additional feed, the entire planned acreage will become available for grazing.