What are the benefits and risks of grazing for cattle health?

In this literature review, we found that, in general, grazing improves cattle health and reduces cattle mortality. Grazing cattle were less likely to become infected with common livestock diseases: lameness and other foot/leg conditions; mastitis; metritis; respiratory problems; and certain cutaneous parasitoses (i.e., pulicosis, scabies, dermatophytosis). However, grazing can also increase certain health risks that farmers must learn to manage. These risks include endoparasitoses (caused by gastrointestinal strongyles); fly and tick infestations (which can increase the likelihood of infectious keratoconjunctivitis); bacterial diseases (e.g., ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis); viral diseases (e.g., bluetongue disease, Schmallenberg disease); or protozoan diseases (e.g., babesiosis, theileriosis). Furthermore, cattle that graze on young grass plants are at increased risk for grass tetany, frothy bloat, and enterotoxemia.