In search of the ultimate grazing strategy: Part One

In the first of a series of two articles, Prof Richard Fynn of the Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, an expert on rangeland ecology, discusses the fear of a second bite’ and why there's a need for a revised approach to high-density grazing. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.

- Roelof Bezuidenhout

Both regenerative grazing (RGEN) and season-long grazing and resting (SLGR - split ranch) boast success stories, which suggests they have some common ground in several key concepts needed for superior veld.

But researchers and ranchers using RGEN or SLGR should move beyond polarised thinking and discuss these similarities and differences. There is always room for improvement and modification in both. Incomplete knowledge of when and where regrazing negatively affects palatable perennial grasses has led to unnecessary attempts to avoid regrazing, leading to unintended consequences.

One needs the veld to rest for an entire growing season and early dormant season. Allowing grass to mature before grazing in higher rainfall areas (>600mm) is a big problem for animal performance. Before discussing similarities and differences in thinking that will aid dialogue between the proponents of the two approaches, let's look at some concepts in the rangeland and herbivore ecology that can support grazing management:

• As grazing ecosystems are variable and dynamic, they cannot be managed by inflexible approaches;

• Because of this variability and the different dynamics affecting recovery after grazing, only a full growing season and early dormant season recovery period can ensure optimal recovery and future productivity of perennial grasses;

• As grasses grow in height and biomass (maturation), their digestibility and nutritional value decline dramatically, with the result that any wild or domestic herbivore population will grow and reproduce poorly if forced to forage in mature grassland. Game animals always select fresh regrowth in previously grazed or burned grassland;