A review of experiments comparing systems of grazing management on natural pastures

Abstract

Experiments comparing different systems of grazing management on natural pastures in various parts of the world are reviewed. In experiments in which various rotational systems were tested against continuous grazing, fewer than half revealed pasture improvement relative to continuous grazing. In the majority of experiments animal production in the rotational system was either similar to or poorer than was achieved under continuous grazing. No rotational system consistently resulted in improved pasture or increased animal production. Where benefits in terms of pasture or animal production have been revealed these have been modest. In comparisons between different rotational systems the more intensive systems with larger numbers of paddocks have generally failed to show marked advantages over systems with fewer paddocks. The faüure of experiments to reveal potential differences between systems, limitations to the potential differences and restrictions to production in rotational systems are discussed.

Uittreksel

Eksperimente waarin verskillende stelsels van weidingsbeheer op natuurlike weidings in verskillende dele van die wêreld vergelyk word, word in oorsig geneem. In eksperimente waarin verskillende wisselweidingstelsels vergelyk is met aanhoudende beweiding, het minder as helfte verbetering van die weiding getoon relatief tot aanhoudende beweiding. In die meerderheid van eksperimente was diere‐produksie op die wisselweidingstelsel dieselfde, of self swakker, as op aanhoudende beweiding. Geen wisselweidingstelsel het steekhoudend voordele gelewer nie. Waar voordele ten opsigte van weidings‐ of diere‐produksie getoon is, was dit maar van ‘n geringe aard. In vergelykings tussen die verskillende wisselweidingstelsels het die meer intensiewe stelsels met ‘n groter aantal kampe oor die algemeen nie daarin geslaag om merkbare voordele teenoor die stelsels met minder kampe te toon nie. Die mislukking van eksperimente om potensiële verskille tussen die stelsels aan te toon, beperkinge aan die potensiële verskille, en die beperkinge aan produksie op wisselweidingstelsels, word bespreek.