Pasture degradation / A silent threat to food security and the environment.

The production of grazing ruminant animals is sometimes limited by the low availability of forage biomass, caused by a wide variety of factors that cause the degradation of pastures where they begin to lose vigor, productivity and natural recovery capacity. This situation generates high costs for producers since, the pastures of said productive spaces must be replaced or recovered, since, from having species with an adequate productive condition to species with a lower yield and a lower quality which significantly interferes with the productive levels of the livestock present in the agricultural production unit.

In the same sense, and emphasizing the aforementioned, we can say that the degradation of pastures is a complex phenomenon with multiple interrelated causes, among which we can mention overgrazing consisting of excess animal load, that is, the presence of an excessive number of animals grazing in a certain area, this is one of the main causes of degradation. Excessive trampling compacts the soil, reduces vegetation cover and erodes the surface, leading to loss of fertility and the proliferation of weeds.

In addition, overgrazing begins to weaken the pastures progressively because the pastures do not finish completing their regrowth when they are cut again by the animal, depleting the reserves of its radical system and progressively delaying its growth. In addition, there is the poor management of the pastures, with this we refer to not having determined the days of rest and occupation of the pastures that allows them to recover properly after grazing and also to avoid as mentioned above overgrazing, since the animal will not spend more than three days in a paddock.

In the same way, some climatic factors also influence, such as prolonged droughts and floods, since, when the metabolic process of the plant gets into imbalance, it affects the growth of grasses. Prolonged droughts can reduce plant productivity and increase susceptibility to erosion, while flooding can cause low or no aeration in the soil and the plant suffers anoxia.

Of course, the degradation of pastures not only affects production but also has serious consequences for the environment, among which can be mentioned soil erosion, because the loss of vegetation cover and soil compaction increase the susceptibility to erosion, which leads to loss of fertility and degradation of the landscape. A loss of biodiversity can also be generated because the degradation of grasslands leads to habitat loss, which affects the populations of wild plants and animals.

In order to reverse the degradation of pastures and restore their health and productivity, it is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive approach with sustainable grazing management. Implementing practices such as paddock rotation, animal load control and the use of adaptive grazing techniques can help reduce the impact on rangelands. Also soil restoration techniques, such as planting grasses that are adapted to climatic conditions, adding organic matter and reducing tillage, can improve soil fertility and structure. This will greatly help the conservation of biodiversity in grasslands which is essential to maintain their resilience and functionality. This includes the conservation of natural habitats, the control of invasive species and the promotion of biodiversity-friendly agricultural and livestock practices.

Dear readers, as it could be evidenced, the degradation of pastures reduces the capacity of pastures to produce fodder, which negatively affects livestock production and food security, but this situation can be reversed by implementing appropriate management practices that do not disturb their habitat and in this way it will be possible to have optimal forage availability for feeding ruminant animals.