Take half, leave half: the grazing rule that rebuilds veld

Move livestock when 40% to 50% of the leaf material in a camp has been eaten. That single number, according to grazing specialist Motshekga, is the difference between veld that recovers and veld that quietly degrades.

Speaking on rotational grazing management in semi-arid regions such as Limpopo, where rainfall patterns and seasonal fluctuations in grass growth dictate how much forage is available, Motshekga set out a straightforward principle: "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."

Rotational grazing involves moving livestock between camps or paddocks according to a planned system. Unlike continuous grazing, where animals stay in the same area for extended periods, it lets farmers manage grazing pressure and give vegetation time to recover.

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

What does the rotation actually change?

Recovery before livestock return improves forage production, strengthens plants, and maintains ground cover. It also helps desirable grass species outcompete unpalatable ones.

But there's a catch, and Motshekga doesn't soften it. Rotational grazing will not automatically improve veld condition if farmers keep more animals than the land can support. Moving too many animals between camps does not solve the underlying problem of insufficient forage. Overgrazing can occur regardless of how frequently livestock are moved.

The most common mistake, she says, is maintaining stocking rates that exceed the productive capacity of the land. That's worth repeating slowly to anyone who thinks a new fence is a management plan.

Plan around the veld, not the calendar

An effective programme should be based on the farm's available resources and the condition of its grazing land, not a fixed schedule applied all year. Farmers should first understand their local rainfall patterns, seasonal grass growth, veld condition, and the dominant palatable grass species. That information helps estimate grazing capacity — how many livestock units the land can support under average rainfall.

Camp numbers, water availability, labour, and infrastructure all shape the system. More camps give flexibility, but flexibility isn't the same as good management.

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

A system with fewer camps can work if stocking rates are appropriate and animals move according to vegetation condition. A farm with many camps can still degrade if animals stay too long or return before grasses have recovered.

Fencing costs, water-point maintenance, moving livestock, and labour must all be weighed before implementation. Each camp needs reliable water access to limit unnecessary animal movement and ensure livestock use the available grazing effectively.

Grouping animals by production stage also pays. Growing animals, lactating livestock, and breeding stock should get priority access to better-quality forage ahead of dry, non-productive animals.

When to move livestock

Avoid grazing grasses too severely. Severe defoliation extends recovery time because plants lose the leaf area needed to replenish their reserves.

The right grazing period depends on camp size, stocking rate, animal numbers, and season. Motshekga warns against fixed periods — 14 or 21 days in a camp, say — without checking the vegetation. During low rainfall, grass growth slows, and a period that works in a good season can overgraze in a dry one.

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

Adjust grazing to seasonal growth

In Limpopo's semi-arid conditions, October to April is the main growing season, though timing and rate depend on rainfall. The seasonal playbook looks like this:

• Spring: Perennial grasses produce new shoots after winter dormancy. Avoid severe or repeated grazing — plants have limited leaf area and run on stored carbohydrate reserves.
• Early summer: Keep grazing periods short, roughly three to 10 days, with longer recovery, depending on camps, animals, and grazing pressure.
• January and February: Growth and biomass peak. Farmers may increase grazing days and shorten rest periods, provided vegetation recovers adequately.
• March and April: Growth slows and grasses store nutrients for winter dormancy. Reduce grazing pressure and allow longer recovery so plants complete their growth and reproductive cycles.

And winter? Not a recovery period, Motshekga stresses. In semi-arid areas where grasses go dormant, the absence of livestock doesn't mean plants are actively recovering.

The value of full-season rest

Beyond seasonal adjustments, Motshekga recommends resting selected camps for a full growing season — in Limpopo, effectively October to April. Grasses then complete their entire cycle, from germination through seed production and maturity, without being grazed.

This lets perennial grasses develop a fuller leaf canopy, strengthen root systems, produce new shoots, and set seed. Seed dispersal replenishes the soil seed bank — the reserve of viable seeds in the soil — which supports natural recovery after drought, fire, and overgrazing. Full-season rest is particularly relevant in semi-arid systems where drought places considerable pressure on rangeland.

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

Match stocking rates to available forage

Assessing how many animals a farm can support is hard, especially when farmers struggle to estimate forage production. Motshekga recommends assessing grass production towards the end of the rainy season. Visual assessments of veld condition show whether a season has been productive or whether drought has cut forage availability.

As a feeding estimate, a mature cow of approximately 450kg requires about 10kg to 12kg of dry matter daily — roughly 40kg to 50kg of fresh grass, depending on moisture content. That figure must sit alongside the quantity of usable grass actually available.

When rainfall is poor, farmers may need to reduce livestock numbers to prevent overutilisation. In a productive season, they can assess whether additional animals are supportable. Farmers should be cautious about increasing stocking rates after a good season, because conditions change when rainfall declines — a pointed warning for this year, which faces the El Niño challenge.

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

Watch water points and feed placement too. Animals congregate around troughs and supplementary feed, causing uneven grazing. Moving feeding troughs between suitable locations distributes livestock activity more evenly. Regular monitoring — inspecting camps before and during grazing, assessing remaining leaf material, and never letting livestock repeatedly graze new shoots — remains the boring, decisive work of veld management.