Graze - Definition and Overview

Grazing is the regular consumption of part of one organism without killing it by another organism. Grazing differs from predation because the organism being eaten is not killed and differs from the feeding of parasites by the fact that the two organisms do not stay together very long nor is the grazer so limited in what it can eat.

The most commonly understood example of grazing is mammals feeding on grasslands although it can also refer to any plants, algae or plankton being eaten by reptiles, insects, birds etc.

Common grazing animals

• antelope
• bison
• buffalo
• cattle
• elephants
• horses
• rabbits
• sheep

Major grazing areas

• North American Prairie
• African Savanna
• Asian Steppe