Strip Grazing Versus Paddock Grazing Under Tropical Conditions

Abstract

A sixteen-month trial is described where strip grazing was compared with a 3-paddock system of rotational grazing. 7i acres of grazing was allotted to each group, but the strip-grazed cattle were limited to half an acre of grazing while the paddock-grazed beasts had access to 24 acres at a time. The pasture was rested for 6 weeks after strip grazing and 2 weeks after paddock grazing.Treatment effects were found to vary with the pasture conditions. The paddock-grazed cattle benefited most when average grass quality was declining following the onset of drying conditions. The strip-grazed group showed to advantage when drying conditions persisted for several months and the usefulness of a rationed system of grazing management became apparent. There was an overall trend in favour of paddock grazing which is interpreted as suggesting that, under the conditions of the experiment, pasture quality was more frequently limiting animal production than was pasture quantity.After one year's grazing the liveweight gains per acre were 221 lb from strip grazing and 251 lb from paddock grazing.

The Use of Liveweight‐gain Trials for Pasture Evaluation in the Tropics

“…Over the 2-year period the average liveweight gain was a little below 200 Ib per acre per annum. This is less than that reported by Joblin (8), most probably because of the fixed stocking rate used and because a proportion of the pastures were in their second and third year of A severe dry period early in 1961 also reduced production.…”

Beef Production From Pasture Leys in Uganda*

“…Trials have shown that rotational grazing is desirable to maintain botanical composition and to achieve good liveweight gains (18,26). A 3-paddock system is recommended in which each paddock is grazed for 2 weeks and rested for 4 weeks.…”

“…Night grazing, particularly at times of pasture shortage, has been shown by Joblin (17) to be necessary to achieve optimum animal production, and night paddocking has obvious advantages over the present system of returning stock to a small enclosure, or boma, at sunset to protect them from predators. Trials have shown that rotational grazing is desirable to maintain botanical composition and to achieve good liveweight gains (18,26). A 3-paddock system is recommended in which each paddock is grazed for 2 weeks and rested for 4 weeks.…”