1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Jomo Kenyatta University (Jomo Kenyatta University) - Kenya

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

KARI Headquarters (KARI Headquarters) - Kenya

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/09/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Rotational grazing is a process whereby livestock are strategically moved to fresh paddocks, or partitioned pasture areas, to allow vegetation in previously grazed pastures to regenerate.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Mbeere South District is relatively dry and farmers have large chunks of land as compared to the Embu North District within the same county. Grazing is done on rotation from one piece of land to another depending on grass availability. Animals are either left to graze freely within the paddock or tethered depending on availability of laborer. In Mbeere South District, when the grass in paddocks gets exhausted, animals are fed on dry maize stalked harvested on the previous seasons. The dry maize stalks (fodder) is usually stored on a raised nest/perch where its covered from rain and sun.

Purpose of the Technology: Using this method cattle are concentrated on a smaller area of the pasture for a few days then moved to another section of pasture. This movement allows the grazed paddock a rest period that permits forages to initiate regrowth, renew carbohydrate stores, and improve yield and persistence.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: When the animals have been shifted to the next paddock, this will allow grass and shrub to grow naturally and at the same time, the farmers are able to do repair of fence and hedge.

Natural / human environment: When utilized properly, rotational grazing can help farmers increase forage productivity. Rotational grazing can help improve productivity, weight gain or milk production per acre, and overall net return to the farm. Rotational grazing allows for better manure distribution that acts as a source of nutrients to the soil. Rotational grazing also has the potential to reduce machinery cost, fuel, supplemental feeding and the amount of forage wasted.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The area was predominantly bushy and over grazed with remarkable soil erosion.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Grazing land: Gi: Intensive grazing/ fodder production

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 90, Longest growing period from month to month: January to March

Livestock density (if relevant):

25-50 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: land tenure
Secondary causes of degradation: overgrazing

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technical drawing on the left shows a typical rotational grazing system. The animals are moved from one paddocks to the next on rotational basis.

Location: Mbeere South District. Eastern Province
Date: 30.11.2016

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: Allows for regeneration of pasture
Secondary technical functions: increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)

Change of land use practices / intensity level: Grazing in a particular paddock for sometime before moving the livestock in another paddock.
Major change in timing of activities: Rotational grazing

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kshs

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

100.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Fencing	Management	Initial stage
2.	Clearing the bushes	Management	Initial stage
3.	Building the watering troughs and feeding points	Management	initial stages

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	250.0	250.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	200.0	200.0	100.0
Construction material	Nails and barbes wire	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Wooden post	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					600.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repairing of the fence	Management	when the livestock have moved to other paddocks
2.	Repairing the watering points and feeding troughs	Management	when the livestock have moved to other paddocks
3.	Moving the livestock to the subsequent paddocks	Management	any time of shift

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	200.0	200.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	150.0	150.0	100.0
Construction material	Nails and barbes wire	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Construction material	Wooden post	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					430.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most determining factors of this technology is labour and initial cost of constructing the paddocks and the overall maintenance.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Men build the paddocks while women move the livestocks

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: The rotational grazing technology requires big grazing land unit

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
In rotational grazing, there is increase in forage production.
A well-managed rotational grazing system has low pasture weed establishment, majority of niches are already filled with established forage species.
Spreading of manure around the whole pasture land

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
In rotational grazing, there is need for more fence to be constructed	Construction of temporary fences that can be moved when need arises
More time is required to move the livestock from one paddock to the next one.	Adherence to the time schedules
In rotational grazing, there is a need to have water and access to shade from each smaller paddock.	The watering points can be automated

7.1 Methods/ sources of information