Optimal management of cattle grazing in a seasonally dry tropical forest ecosystem under rainfall fluctuations.

• Grazing intensity did not affect the ecosystem water balance at the annual timescale. • Vegetation biomass was strongly affected by grazing intensity. • Maximum cattle weight was reached after the peak of rainfall and vegetation growth. • Hydrology-vegetation-livestock interactions are sensitive to rainfall fluctuations. • Tradeoffs occur between water input, vegetation biomass, and animal weight. Climate change will likely trigger shifts in rainfall regimes that may intensify water scarcity in semi-arid regions. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, the seasonally dry ecosystem is the primary source of forage for livestock. Because the correct stocking rate of livestock (animals per area) is not well understood, overgrazing tends to advance rangeland degradation in this ecosystem. This implies that the region may become even more vulnerable under changing rainfall regimes, which in turn may exacerbate livestock and food insecurity. We developed a coupled soil water balance, vegetation, and cattle biomass model to illustrate the impacts of rainfall seasonality on the dynamics of vegetation and animal growth. The outcomes were simulated by considering different stocking rates and the timing of animal placement and removal from the rangeland. A more pronounced reduction in vegetation biomass was found in grazed vs. non-grazed paddocks. Under strongly seasonal rainfall patterns, the maximum animal weight gain decreases with average rainfall inter-arrival time and increases with total annual rainfall. Thus, a forecast of dry spells could benefit farmers in planning grazing management strategies. Our model can be used to test different management scenarios and give feedback for local herders, and to guide future experiments to reduce the time and cost of acquiring data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]