Grazing Systems for C 4 Grasslands: A Global Perspective

Stocking rate is the relationship between number of animals and the area of the grazing management unit. This chapter focuses on the C4 grass regions of the several continents that have major grassland zones and the types of grazing systems that have evolved. The grasses of southern Africa are well classified for the purpose of assessing range condition. Both wild game animals and domestic livestock are critically important animal resources in many African countries. Native and sown grasslands constitute the major land use system in tropical South America, where there is a 4: 1 ratio of grazinglands to cropland. Tropical South America is the center of origin of numerous herbaceous legumes and many were selected, bred, and adopted in Australia. In many parts of the tropics, grazing systems, as such, are not well developed because of social and economic aspects associated with small land holdings and limited capacity for livestock.