Abstract: The published literature was reviewed for effects of grazing on soil physical properties (bulk density, water infiltration) and chemical properties (soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus). The effects on soil properties were inconsistent because of the complexity and resilience of grassland soil ecosystems to perturbation. In general, because the impact of livestock trampling led to increased soil bulk density as grazing intensities increased, and to reduced soil infiltration and water holding capacity, although this phenomenon decreased as soil layers increased. Soil bulk density may decrease in sandy soil with lower organic matter content, because overgrazing reduces soil organic matter thus influencing the stability of soil aggregates and resulting in a collapsed soil structure. The transformation process of organic matter is very complicated because the effects of grazing on soil organic matter are affected by many factors, such as temperature, precipitation, vegetation, soil and management measures (e.g. continuous grazing, rotation grazing, and enclosure). The effects of grazing on soil organic matter is not consistent in the published literature: It may increase, decrease, or have no-effect. Livestock interacts with soil nitrogen content of grassland by feeding, trampling and excreting. Based on reported literature, total nitrogen may be increased and decreased or show no change as grazing intensity is increased. The effect of grazing on soil phosphorus is different. Soil total phosphorus is reduced while available phosphorus is increased as grazing intensity is increased. However, some researchers report that soil total phosphorus and available phosphorus of grasslands have little change under long-term grazing conditions. Overgrazing is the most common cause of soil degradation. The awareness of this process and mechanism of overgrazing is of great significance for curbing grassland degradation and achieving sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.