Strategic Grazing | City of Louisville Open Space

Louisville Open Space uses cattle and goats as part of its integrated weed management and wildfire mitigation efforts.

2026 grazing program

Strategic grazing is an important land management tool used on Louisville Open Space properties. Livestock are placed in specific areas for short periods to help manage vegetation, reduce wildfire risk, improve soil health, and control invasive plants. Animals are moved regularly to prevent overgrazing and protect healthy plant communities.

Davidson Mesa Open Space

Cattle grazing

May 11–28, 2026
Approximately 50 cattle

Cattle Help:

Reduce excess vegetation
Add natural fertilizer through manure
Break down plant material into organic matter
Support healthy soil microbes
Improve nutrient cycling

Davidson Mesa Open Space

Goat grazing

June 2–12, 2026
Approximately 200 goats

Goats help:

Reduce vegetation height
Remove woody vegetation
Reduce ladder fuels that can carry wildfire into tree canopies
Control invasive plants and noxious weeds

Grazing is one of the actions recommended in the City's Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment for Public Lands and is part of Louisville's broader wildfire mitigation program.

To learn more about current projects, treatment areas, and wildfire risk reduction efforts across Louisville Open Space, visit the Open Space wildfire mitigation story map.

Learn more about how Louisville's grazing program is managed and what to expect when visiting Open Space during grazing operations:

Grazing operations

The Open Space Division partners with local ranchers who use regenerative grazing practices on public and private lands.

The cattle used in Louisville's grazing program are Angus and Angus-Hereford crossbreeds.

Ranchers are responsible for:

Moving livestock between grazing areas
Monitoring animal health
Providing food, water, and shelter
Managing fencing and grazing schedules

Both cattle and goats leave manure on the landscape. Manure helps improve soil health by adding nutrients and organic matter that support plant growth.

Visiting Open Space during grazing

Residents may encounter livestock during grazing operations.

To help keep visitors and animals safe:

Keep dogs leashed and under physical control at all times.
Do not touch electric fencing.
Follow all temporary trail closures.
Do not feed or pet livestock.

Trail access

The Davidson Mesa Trail generally remains open during grazing operations.

To protect visitors and livestock:

Animals are contained within electrified fencing.
A secondary non-electrified fence is installed near trails.
Temporary trail closures may occur when animals are moved between grazing areas.

Livestock may be present day and night during grazing periods.

Louisville grazing history

Past grazing dates and locations on Louisville Open Space properties.

Past grazing history

2024 Grazing

Spring 2024

Cattle: May 8 to June 8 at North Open Space
Goats: May 20 to 31 at Dutch Creek Open Space
Goats: Fall 2024 at North Open Space

Fall 2024

Cattle: September 16 at North Open Space
Cattle: Fourth week of September at Davidson Mesa Open Space
Goats: October at North Open Space

2023 Grazing

Goats: October 9 to 18 at North Open Space as part of Marshall Fire recovery work
Cattle: September 5 to October 3 at Davidson Mesa Open Space
About 35 cattle grazed in three areas at Davidson Mesa. Ranchers moved them from the west side near Highway 36 to the east side with a public cattle drive.

Grazing