The central theme of the recent Herdscape article on why stock density is the “muscle” in veld management is that stock density is powerful, but it is not a shortcut. Its value depends on timing, duration, veld recovery, rainfall, grazing capacity and the skill of the...

Among all the grazing management practices we can use stock density exerts a disproportionately beneficial influence on regenerative outcomes for the veld. Stock density and herd effect are central to the argument that carrying capacity is not fixed and that it can be...

Regeneration Is Enabled, Not Manufactured. There is an important distinction that is often lost in discussions about regenerative agriculture: regeneration is not managed into existence; it is enabled through management. The potential for regeneration already exists,...

Carrying capacity and stocking rate are not the same thing. Grazing capacity is different to carrying capacity and stock density is not the same as stocking rate. Carrying capacity is the total number of animals (livestock and all wildlife) an entire environment can...

The debate around regenerative grazing may be intellectually stimulating for some, but livestock farmers are asking more fundamental questions. Instead of asking: "What is regenerative grazing?" perhaps we should first ask: "What management changes will increase veld...

Much of the confusion around regenerative grazing comes from complex terminology and the mistaken belief that it is a specific system or recipe. In reality, regenerative grazing is simply a practical way of managing animals, plants, soil, water and time so that animal...

Regenerative grazing and livestock management courses are presented under many different names. Each has its own emphasis but they all share a common objective: to improve the ecological and financial performance of the farming business. While the terminology may...

More Productive Veld Starts with Better Water and Better Rotation A good livestock year should do more than improve the bank balance — it should strengthen the veld base that carries the business through the next drought. Before buying more stock, building another...

Successful extensive (veld-based) livestock businesses are not built on knowing more—you build yours by consistently executing the few management actions that matter most. The actions that matter most this year are not always the same as last year. Where livestock...

Profitability in farming is achieved by consistently executing the few management actions that actually drive profit. Everything else, however interesting, is just a distraction. The missing link is not knowledge—it is recognising that the drivers of profit are...