FAYETTE, Mo. – Left on their own, cows make a mess of grass they should eat. When managed by the farmer, pasture carrying capacity goes up by 25 percent. More cattle are fed on fewer acres.

The why and how of management-intensive grazing will be taught at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Boone County, May 17-18.

The first step in better grazing takes dividing big pastures into small paddocks. By grazing small areas, cows do less walking on their feed.

With rotational grazing, cattle are turned into fresh grass every few days. That boosts feed intake. Quality goes up also. Fresh grass is better than mature, stemmy grass.

The two-day conference covers topics from nutrition to economics. Fence building is included.

For full agenda, go to extension.missouri.edu/howard, says Heather Conrow, MU Extension livestock specialist, Fayette. To enroll, call her at 660-248-2272.

The class will tour a farm to see a plan at work. Classes are taught by specialists from MU Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District.

Business and agency people can attend as well as farmers.

Conrow urges early action. For hands-on work, the attendance limit is 25. There’s a fee with a discount for couples. Cost covers grazing guides, lunch and treats.

The Boone County Extension Center is west of Columbia and south of Midway, Mo., on Highway UU off Interstate 70.