Grazing System in Arid Zones

The major climatic constraint in arid zones is the very long dry period without any vegetal production. The dryland ecosystems are also characterized by high levels of temporal and spatial variability in rainfall, and consequently in biomass production.
The consequences for livestock are :

- the very low production of biomass for pastures,
- the local uncertainty of pasture availability,
- the scarcity of watering points.

These factors impose the pastoralists to practice extensive livestock systems with a high degree of mobility, following the pasture and water resources everywhere they are available.

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