Pasture refers to land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Pasture lands are crucial for livestock farming, providing a natural food source rich in nutrients.
In Kenya, pasture is a fundamental resource for livestock production, particularly in the extensive pastoral systems practiced in the arid and semi-arid regions. The health and productivity of livestock, and thus the livelihoods of pastoralist communities, heavily depend on the availability and quality of pasture.
Examples:
- Rotational grazing, where animals are moved between different pasture areas, can help maintain the health of the grasslands, prevent overgrazing, and sustain the land’s productivity.
- Improvement of pasture can be achieved through practices such as reseeding, controlled grazing, and the introduction of high-quality forage species.
Sustainable pasture management ensures the long-term productivity of grasslands, supports biodiversity, and helps in the mitigation of climate change by enhancing soil carbon sequestration.
Related Terms: Grazing, Rangeland management, Forage, Sustainable agriculture, Livestock nutrition
