Overpasture: meaning, definitions and examples

🐄
Add to dictionary

overpasture

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈpæs.tʃɚ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

agriculture, land

Overpasture refers to the excessive grazing of livestock on a particular piece of land, leading to the degradation of vegetation and soil quality. This phenomenon can result in the destruction of habitats and a decrease in biodiversity. Overpasturing can also lead to soil erosion and increased runoff, adversely affecting the environment.

Synonyms

overgrazing, overuse

Examples of usage

  • The area suffered from overpasture due to the large number of cows.
  • Farmers need to monitor their grazing to avoid overpasture.
  • Overpasture can lead to long-term damage to the ecosystem.

Translations

Translations of the word "overpasture" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrepastoreio

🇮🇳 अधिक चराई

🇩🇪 Überweidung

🇮🇩 penggembalaan berlebihan

🇺🇦 перегонна пастьба

🇵🇱 przeżuwanie

🇯🇵 過放牧

🇫🇷 surpâturage

🇪🇸 sobrepastoreo

🇹🇷 aşırı otlatma

🇰🇷 과도한 방목

🇸🇦 الرعي المفرط

🇨🇿 přepásání

🇸🇰 prepasenie

🇨🇳 过度放牧

🇸🇮 prepastirjanje

🇮🇸 ofbeit

🇰🇿 артық жайылым

🇬🇪 გაუმჯობესებული პასტორინგი

🇦🇿 artıq otlaq

🇲🇽 sobrepastoreo

Etymology

The word 'overpasture' is a combination of 'over,' meaning excessively, and 'pasture,' which comes from the Old French 'pasture' derived from 'pastre,' meaning 'to graze or feed livestock.' The practice of pasturing animals has been prevalent in agriculture for centuries, and the term emerged as the necessity to describe the consequences of allowing too many animals to graze in a limited area. Over time, as agricultural practices evolved and the awareness of environmental sustainability grew, the term became increasingly relevant in discussions about land use and conservation. The consequences of overpasture are critical in modern farming, as they affect soil health, animal welfare, and ecological balance.