How to manage veld recovery during rotational grazing

Rotational grazing involves moving livestock between camps or paddocks according to a planned management system. Unlike continuous grazing, where animals remain in the same area for extended periods, rotational grazing allows farmers to manage grazing pressure and provide vegetation with opportunities to recover.

“Rotational grazing controls the grazing pressure and the recovery time for our rangeland,” says Motshekga.

Allowing grasses to recover before livestock return can improve forage production, strengthen plants, and help maintain ground cover. It can also improve the ability of desirable grass species to compete with unpalatable plants.

However, Motshekga cautions that rotational grazing will not automatically improve veld condition if farmers continue to keep more animals than their land can support.

An effective rotational grazing programme should be based on the farm’s available resources and the condition of its grazing land, rather than a fixed schedule applied throughout the year.

Motshekga says farmers should first understand their local rainfall patterns, seasonal grass growth, veld condition, and the dominant palatable grass species on their farms. This information can help them estimate grazing capacity, which determines how many livestock units the land can support under average rainfall conditions.

The number and size of camps must also be considered, alongside the availability of water, labour, and infrastructure.

Although additional camps can provide greater flexibility, they do not necessarily guarantee better grazing management.

“More camps do not automatically mean better grazing management,” says Motshekga.

A system with fewer camps can be successful if stocking rates are appropriate and animals are moved according to the condition of the vegetation. Conversely, a farm with numerous camps can still experience veld degradation if animals remain too long in a camp or return before the grasses have recovered.

Farmers should therefore develop a system that is both financially viable and suited to the biological needs of their grazing land. The costs of fencing, maintaining water points, moving livestock, and providing labour must be considered before implementing a rotational grazing programme.

Water availability is particularly important. Each camp should have reliable access to water to limit unnecessary animal movement and ensure that livestock can use the available grazing effectively.

Farmers can also group animals according to their production requirements. Growing animals, lactating livestock, and breeding stock should receive priority access to better-quality forage than dry, non-productive animals.

One of the most important principles of rotational grazing is knowing when to remove animals from a camp.

Motshekga recommends that farmers avoid allowing livestock to graze grasses too severely. As a practical guideline, farmers should aim to move animals when approximately 40% to 50% of the available leaf material has been consumed.

“The principle that we recommend is to take half, leave half. Half can be consumed by the animals, then half can be reserved and left to allow a rapid regrowth,” she says.

Leaving sufficient plant material helps grasses maintain the leaf area needed for regrowth. Severe defoliation can extend the time plants need to recover and replenish their reserves.

However, the appropriate grazing period will depend on factors such as camp size, stocking rate, the number of animals, and the season.

Motshekga warns against relying on fixed grazing periods, such as keeping animals in a camp for 14 or 21 days, without checking the condition of the vegetation.

During periods of low rainfall, grass growth slows down, meaning that a grazing period that might be manageable under favourable conditions could result in overgrazing during a dry season.

Farmers should regularly inspect their camps, assess how much grass has been consumed, and determine whether the remaining vegetation is sufficient to support recovery.

“Farmers should focus more on the vegetation recovery when planning the grazing and rotation rather than using a calendar,” says Motshekga.

In Limpopo’s semi-arid conditions, grass growth is closely linked to rainfall and seasonal changes. Motshekga identifies October to April as the main growing season, although the timing and rate of growth depend on rainfall.

During spring, when perennial grasses begin producing new shoots after winter dormancy, farmers should avoid severe or repeated grazing. Plants have limited leaf area at this stage and depend on stored carbohydrate reserves to support new growth.

As grass growth increases in early summer, farmers should keep grazing periods relatively short and allow longer recovery periods. Motshekga suggests that grazing could last approximately three to 10 days during this phase, depending on the number of camps, animals, and grazing pressure.

During January and February, when grass growth and biomass production are generally at their peak, farmers may be able to increase the number of grazing days and shorten rest periods, provided vegetation is recovering adequately.

By March and April, growth begins to slow and grasses start storing nutrients and reserves in preparation for winter dormancy. Farmers should reduce grazing pressure and allow longer recovery periods to help plants complete their growth and reproductive cycles.

Motshekga stresses that winter should not automatically be regarded as a recovery period. In semi-arid areas where grasses become dormant, the absence of livestock does not necessarily mean that plants are actively recovering.

In addition to adjusting grazing and recovery periods throughout the year, Motshekga recommends that farmers consider setting aside selected camps for a full growing season.

Full-season rest involves allowing grasses to complete their growth cycle, from germination through to seed production and maturity, without being grazed. In the Limpopo context discussed by Motshekga, this could mean resting selected camps or portions of the farm from October to April.

This gives perennial grasses time to develop a fuller leaf canopy, strengthen their root systems, produce new shoots, and set seed.

Allowing seeds to mature and disperse also helps replenish the soil seed bank, which is the reserve of viable seeds in the soil. This can support natural vegetation recovery following disturbances such as drought, fire, and overgrazing.

Motshekga says full-season rest is particularly relevant in semi-arid farming systems, where drought can place considerable pressure on rangeland.

Seasonal rest and full-season rest serve different purposes, but both can contribute to the long-term vigour and sustainability of productive grass species when implemented appropriately.

According to Motshekga, one of the most common mistakes farmers make is maintaining stocking rates that exceed the productive capacity of their land.

Moving too many animals between camps does not solve the underlying problem of insufficient forage. If the farm cannot support the number of animals being kept, overgrazing can occur regardless of how frequently livestock are moved.

Farmers should assess their veld condition and available forage and adjust livestock numbers when necessary, particularly during poor rainfall years, like this year which faces the El Niño challenge.

Motshekga says farmers in semi-arid regions should be cautious about increasing stocking rates after a productive season, as conditions may change when rainfall declines.

She also advises farmers to pay attention to where water points and supplementary feed are placed. Animals tend to congregate around these areas, which can lead to uneven grazing and concentrated pressure on particular parts of a camp.

Where possible, farmers should move feeding troughs between suitable locations to distribute livestock activity more evenly.

Regular monitoring is essential. Farmers should inspect their camps before and during grazing, assess the remaining leaf material, and avoid allowing livestock to repeatedly graze new shoots.

Determining how many animals a farm can support can be challenging, particularly when farmers struggle to estimate how much forage their camps produce.

Motshekga recommends that farmers become familiar with their farms and assess grass production towards the end of the rainy season. Visual assessments of veld condition and available grass can help farmers identify whether a season has been productive or whether drought and low rainfall have reduced forage availability.

As a general feeding estimate, she said a mature cow weighing approximately 450kg requires about 10kg to 12kg of dry matter daily, equivalent to roughly 40kg to 50kg of fresh grass, depending on its moisture content.

This estimate can help farmers understand the amount of forage required by their livestock, but it must be considered alongside the quantity of usable grass available on the farm.

When rainfall is poor and grass production declines, farmers may need to reduce livestock numbers to prevent the remaining vegetation from being overutilised. In a more productive season, they can assess whether additional animals can be supported without exceeding the farm’s grazing capacity.

“For farmers in semi-arid areas of Limpopo, it is safer to stock below what they can support,” says Motshekga.