The optimum yield of beles forage is obtained by harvesting mature, full-size pads. They contain the lowest water content and, therefore have the highest nutritional value. Under rain-fed conditions in semiarid areas, a beles plant can produce at least one layer of pads. They will grow and reach the maximum size at the end of the rainy season.
It is advisable to collect pads not older than two years, that means collecting no more than two or three layers of cladodes. In order to ensure future productivity, in any of the recommended planting layouts it is necessary to leave at least two branches on top of the original cladode ("rabbit ears").
