Infopak Research & Technology Development Services

Nelmarié Saayman Basic guidelines to Veld Management Directorate: Sciences Elsenburg – Little Karoo The Little Karoo mainly represents a winter rainfall knowledge of the in the veld, and to know in area in the Succulent Karoo biome. The average what condition the veld is. rainfall increases from 200 – 400 mm per year from Veld condition is the condition of the vegetation in west to east and the area can be described as relation to certain characteristics such as the species arid. All veld types are sensitive to incorrect grazing composition, cover, productivity, palatability and practices and it is therefore extremely important that nutritional value. Grazing capacity depends on the good veld management is practised in order to en- condition of a camp or the farm’s veld. sure conservation of the veld by proper utilisation. How does livestock utilise the veld? Pasture management can be divided into two com- They first eat the plants that are palatable and leave ponents, namely: the unpalatable ones until last. Palatable plants • pastures (natural grazing land (veld), cultivated include the following: Karoo bietou (Triperis sinuata), pastures, etc.); and Granaatbos (Rhigozum obovatum), Rooisaadgras/ • management (plant production, seed produc- Veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) and Hartbees grass tion, seedling establishment). (Chaetobromus dregeanus). Although What are pastures and why are they important? these plants are dependent on a certain Pastures provide food for animals. amount of grazing to stimulate growth, This is determined by: excessive utilisation thereof can nega- • plant cover; tively influence their growth • species composition and therefore careful note (different types of must be taken of the utilisation plants in the veld); of all plants in the veld, and particularly the palatable • productivity (yield of plants. In order to build up plants). reserves for dry periods, no more than 40% of a plant should be used in one season. This is influenced by: • Soil – can be improved by leaving organic materi- If there are too many animals or if they are in a al on the ground, which leads to better water in- camp for too long, they will eat up all the palatable filtration resulting in a denser plant cover, more species while only the unpalatable ones remain and food and less erosion. multiply and therefore the farmer can keep fewer • Climate (rainfall, temperature, etc.) animals over a period of time in the same camp. It • MANAGEMENT – this is where humans fit in. If a also leads to trampling of the vegetation and as a farmer does not look after and takes care of his result a hard and impermeable soil layer may form veld, he will not have food for his animals. which can hinder the germination of seeds. Veld: It is therefore important for the farmer to know his The number of plants or the plant cover, the type veld, which species are desirable, which types he of plants (species composition) found in the veld, would like a lot of and which are the unpalatable the size of the plants and how well they grow (pro- and poisonous species of which he wants little or ductivity) determine how much food there will be none in the veld. He must also know which are inva- and apart from the environment, the farmer has sive species, such as Prosopis spp. (mesquite ), the greatest impact on this. It is therefore important cactuses, slangbos/bankrupt bush, etc. and certified to know how the livestock utilises the veld, to have weeds such as burweed, cocklebur, etc.

Western Cape Department of Agriculture www.elsenburg.com Does the veld improve with time or does it deterio- plants, etc.). As already mentioned, this is depend- rate? ent on the condition of the veld. Grazing capacity is Do the palatable species increase and grow bigger, expressed in ha/LSU (hectare per large-stock unit), or thereby creating better cover and providing more roughly how many hectares are required to provide food and causing less soil erosion, or are the plants food for a year for one head of cattle weighing 450 grazed away with only gnarly bits remaining, totally kg. Meissner and others (1983) divided all livestock gone or very scarce? Vegetation and game as a factor of a large-stock unit. For ex- cover in the Little Karoo increases ample: one wool-bearing ewe (dry) = 0.15 LSU, while from west to east from 20% to 40% a wool-bearing ewe with a lamb is equal to 0.20 LSU. as a result of the increasing aver- age rainfall. An indication that The TOTAL number of livestock should not exceed the veld has deteriorated is the the recommended grazing increasing presence of kraalbos, scholtzbos, bitterbos, etc. For example: A grazing capacity of 54 ha/LSU Another good indicator of the con- means that the farmer needs 54 ha to provide food dition of the veld is whether there are seedlings and for one cow over a period of a year, that is to say young plants of the palatable species growing in the that approximately 55 head of cattle can be kept veld, or whether there are only seedlings of the un- on a farm of 3 000 ha. For sheep this means that ap- palatable species and some ephemerals (opslag). proximately eight hectare is required for one sheep (seven wool-bearing sheep (ewes) are equal to one Soil small-frame cow). The farmer can therefore keep The way in which veld is managed will have a long- approximately 300 sheep on his 3 000 ha farm, in term impact on the soil. If the veld is overgrazed and other words 220 breeding ewes plus the lambs, rams trampled by animals as a result of incorrect man- and replacement ewes. agement, erosion can take place or the soil surface can form an impermeable layer. This means that the In die Little Karoo the grazing capacity in the west seeds that are present and germinate cannot get ranges from 54 ha/LSU on the flats to 72 ha/LSU in their roots through the soil crust in order to establish die Renosterveld up to 140 ha/LSU in die fynbosveld themselves, and the water runs off instead of pen- up in the mountains. East of the Rooiberge it ranges etrating. Consequently rain becomes less effective, from 42 ha/LSU in the low-lying areas to 72 ha/LSU in the top layer gets washed away and this can lead the Renosterveld and 108-140 ha/LSU in the fynbos- to donga erosion. veld up in the mountains. To create an effective seed bed for germination Stocking rate is the number of animals that a farmer and the establishment of plants the farmer can can keep for a specific period on a certain area by means of good management and observation of the grazing land (camp/farm). This includes all ensure that there is organic material (twigs, leaves, animals on the farm, large and small, sheep, cattle, etc.) on the ground that can decompose and gets goats, donkeys, ostriches, game, etc. Remember converted by microbes to food for the plants (or- that animals breed and therefore all animals, large ganic carbon). Together with the plant cover, this and small, must be taken into account when deter- will help to regulate the mining the stocking rate. soil temperature and Grazing capacity and stocking rate should be with holes/hollows in reconciled with one another in order to ensure the the ground it will help sustainability of a production system on the farm. with better water infil- tration because water The farm’s grazing capacity is an indication of how will flow away much many animals can be kept there, while stocking rate slower; it also help to is an indication of how many animals are kept there. catch the seed and to If the farmer keeps more animals than his grazing provide shelter for the capacity permits, the condition of the grazing land young seedlings. will deteriorate with the result that he can keep fewer animals over the long term. How is the farmer going to make sure that the veld provides enough food for his animals? Grazing capacity is how many animals you can He can do this by applying the correct manage- keep on the farm. ment. The following are a few points that should be Stocking rate is how many animals you are really noted: keeping on the farm. 1. the number of animals that the farm can support (grazing capacity); and 2. the management system that is followed. If the farmer keeps fewer animals than he is allowed to keep according to the recommended grazing Grazing capacity and stocking rate capacity, this will be to the benefit of the veld and Grazing capacity is the ability of a specific piece of the animals because the veld will build up reserves veld to produce food, therefore the number of ani- (new plants, regrowth of existing plants, flowers, seed mals a farmer can keep in a camp or on the farm, formation, etc.) and the veld will improve over the without the deterioration of natural resources (soil, long term. The farmer will find it easier to overcome drought periods (may not have to supply additional ducted from the total which the veld can carry fodder – cost implication) and he will be able to before determining how many small stock units can keep more animals over the long term, thereby giv- be supported. ing more stability to the farm. Additional animals on the farm = 17.1 LSU (springbok, The recommendation is usually to keep fewer ani- cattle, horses). mals than those that can be kept according to the Therefore an equivalent of 55 – 17.1 = 37.9 LSU of recommended grazing small stock can be kept. capacity. Grazing days What is the ideal stocking rate (small stock)? The recommended Referring to our example, 120 breeding ewes x 0.15 LSU = 18 LSU grazing capacity is a let’s look at the number of 24 replacement ewes x 0.15 LSU = 3.6 LSU long-term value and grazing days in the veld: 144 lambs x 0.10 LSU = 14.4 LSU an indication of graz- Grazing days = 4 rams x 0.19 = 0.8 LSU ing capacity under farm size÷grazing capacity Total number of small stock on farm: 36.8 LSU optimal conditions x 365 days and for large parts of = 3 000 ha÷54 ha/LSU In order to be able to keep more small stock on the Little Karoo this is x 365 days this farm, the number of “extra” animals should be 54 ha/LSU. There will = 20 278 grazing days/LSU. reduced. be above and below If the farmer wants to keep more animals than al- average rainfall years How many days’ food is lowed according to the grazing capacity of the over a 10-year period available for 55 LSU? farm, he has to give them additional fodder – in a when more or fewer (small stock+ extra animals) feeding-lot. Even if animals are fed in the veld, they animals can be kept, = total grazing days÷LSU will still graze. That is why they should not be fed in but on average this = 20 278÷55 the veld since this leads to overgrazing and dete- should not be more = 369 grazing days rioration of the condition of the veld. If the farmer than one head of wants to keep more animals, the period for which cattle per 54 ha over How much food is available the veld can be used also becomes shorter (see the 10-year period. In for 155 LSU? The number of the box with the example of grazing days). The ad- drier years the number animals presently on the ditional fodder leads to higher costs. If the farmer is of animals should be farm in the example: not going to feed, this will lead reduced to adapt to = total grazing days÷LSU to deterioration of the veld as the amount of food = 20 278÷155 well as lower animal produc- that is available. Dur- = 131 days (4.4 months) tion (therefore a poorer lamb ing good years the The same method can percentage, a lower mating numbers can be grad- be used to determine percentage and the growth ually increased but not how many grazing days of animals will decrease). All more than the recom- are available in a specific of these factors have financial mended numbers. camp. implications. Example: Management: Farm size (available veld): 3 000 ha The farmer should preferably keep his stocking rate (Total farm size) - (fields+odd pieces of land+roads, equal to or even lower than the grazing capacity etc.)) but with incorrect management the veld can still Recommended grazing capacity: 54 ha/LSU/year deteriorate. This happens for example when ani- Animals that the farm (veld) can support: mals graze in the same camp Farm size÷grazing capacity 3 000÷54 every year at the same time = 55 LSU per year of the year, such as a lambing Present stocking rate on farm (veld) (total number of camp or a mating camp, etc. animals kept on farm): If a camp is used every year 500 breeding ewes (wool-breeding sheep) x 0.15 LSU when the palatable plants are = 75 LSU flowering and form seeds, the 600 lambs x 0.10 LSU = 60 LSU plants are unable to multiply. 15 rams x 0.19 LSU = 3 LSU The palatable plants that die 4 head of cattle = 4 LSU are not replaced and after a 100 springbok ewes x 0.09 LSU = 9 LSU few years all palatable plants, 20 springbok rams x 0.10 LSU = 2 LSU which are the main source of 2 light mares x 1.05 LSU = 2.1 LSU the fodder, are grazed away Total 155.1 LSU and therefore fewer animals can be kept. The production of the animals will also The veld is carrying 100 more LSU’s than recom- decrease because their fodder is substandard. mended and will therefore deteriorate rapidly. It is therefore important that a rotation rest/grazing Should there be any game, cattle, horses, donkeys, system should be followed where the farm is divided etc. in addition to the main farming enterprise, into camps and each camp gets a rest period dur- namely small stock, the numbers must first be de- ing the year. To prevent continuous grazing, the Regardless of whether or not you have a veld man- farm should be divided into camps and the animals agement system, keep the number of animals low should be rotated between the camps throughout so that the impact on the veld is not too great. Get the year. These camps should also have a central to know your veld and take note of the presence/ watering place so that the grazing can be spread absence of seedlings of the palatable species and out evenly throughout the camp. make sure that the plants are not grazed more than Example: 50%. Also make sure there is organic material on The farm consists of four camps where each camp the ground (twigs, leaves, etc.). Lastly you should is more or less of the same size and able to carry the also look at the condition of your animals and their same number of animals. breeding. If the condition of your animals starts to deteriorate, you will often find that the veld has One camp annually gets the opportunity to rest for become impoverished. The most important thing to the whole year. The same camp is never used for remember is that you are a veld farmer and not an grazing in the same season over a four-year period. animal farmer. The camp therefore gets sufficient opportunity to flower, form seeds and seedlings get a chance to Contact your local extension officer (pasture expert) establish themselves while reserves (regrowth) can and LandCare officer for assistance with a veld build up. management plan for a specific farm. A four-camp grazing system:

Dec/Jan/ March/ Jun/Jul/ Sep/Oct/ Rest Feb Apr/May Aug Nov References: Year 1 Camp A Camp B Camp C Camp A Camp D Snyman H. 2012. Gids tot die volhoubare produksie Year 2 camp B Camp C Camp D Camp B Camp A van weiding. Landbouweekblad en Landbou.com, Year 3 Camp C Camp D Camp A Camp C Camp B Kaapstad. Year 4 Camp D Camp A CKamp B CKamp D Camp C Esler KJ, Milton SJ & Dean WRJ. 2006. Karooveld: Ekologie en bestuur. Briza publikasies, Arcadia. Only three camps are used annually, while the fourth camp rests for the whole year and is only used Meissner HH, Hofmeyr HS, van Rensburg WJJ & for grazing again in the third grazing season. The Pienaar JP. 1983. Klassifikasie van vee vir sinvolle camp is therefore rested for 18 months after which beraming van vervangingswaardes in terme van ‘n it gets intermittent rest for 6 - 9 months over a four- biologies-gedefinieerde Grootvee-eenheid. Techni- year period. The 18-month rest period follows after cal communication no 175, Department of Agricul- the camp has been used for grazing twice in the ture, South . previous calendar year with only six months of rest between the grazing periods. Mucina L & Rutherford MC (eds). 2006. The vegeta- tion of , Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelit- Game: zia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Game is not easily rotated in a grazing system with Pretoria. camps. The game continuously grazes in the veld and should therefore be kept at 60%, or even less, of Compiled by: the recommended stocking rate. This will ensure that Nelmarié Saayman, the veld will have a better chance of recovering Directorate Plant Sciences, after the rains. With continuous grazing the animals Western tend to concentrate on the more palatable parts, in other words the flowers and this is the next genera- tion of plants. Remember, you firstly Drought management: farm with your veld and Before an area is hit by a disaster drought the num- then with your animals. If ber of animals has to be reduced. The animals must you do not look after your be moved to the feeding-lot to be rounded off and veld, you will not have to save the reserves of the fodder for your animals veld. The number of animals and therefore generate must be reduced to a core herd by selling the castrated no income! animals first, followed by older animals and then the culls, including ewes that have not lambed in the previous sea- son. Strict breed standards have to be applied when choosing culls.