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Understanding the impacts of intensity and selection of grazing on the performance of grasses is important in the management of grazing areas. It is especially important in semi-arid environments where, apart from moisture, the levels at which grasses are utilized has a major influence on their persistence in the environment. The effects of selective defoliation and height of defoliation (5 cm and 10 cm stubble heights) on the performance of the grass, Themeda triandra, were investigated in a field experiment for two growing seasons. Performance was measured as tiller production, rate of production, tiller mortality, herbage yield and quality. Tiller production was greater (81 tillers per plant) under non-selective defoliation than under selective defoliation (49 tillers per plant) in the 1995/1996 season. Tiller mortality was higher (66.45%) under heavy selective defoliation than under nonselective defoliation (21.98%). Herbage yield, apart from the control treatment, was high (13.6 g per plant) under light non-selective defoliation. Heavy selective defoliation reduced the nutrient levels (e.g. levels of soluble carbohydrates under heavy selective defoliation were 6 g kg−1 glucose compared to 20 g kg−1 glucose under light non-selective defoliation).