Goats and/or cattle on Mopani veld

Abstract

The effects of running steers and Boer goats separately and together on animal performance and vegetational changes were studied in Mopani bushveld over a 6 year period. Over this period the steer alone treatment produced more livemass per hectare than the goat only and goat with steer treatments. The cumulative effect of the three treatments on Mopani veld was also determined in a 2 year post‐experimental period by stocking each respective treatment with the same number of steers and goats. Over this period the steers of the camps previously stocked with goats only for a 6 year period gained 26,5 kg more per steer than the steers run in camps previously stocked with steers only. The goats of the treatment previously stocked with steers gained 7,3 kg more than the goats in the treatment previously stocked with goats only. The goat treatments resulted in a marked reduction in the browse and in increased growth of grass. This phenomenon had a marked influence on the outcome of the results of the trial. It was concluded that the use of both cattle and goats is desirable in order to utilize and control woody plants. A cattle:goat ratio of less than 1:2 should be applied if the goats are to attain optimum production.

Uittreksel

Die invloed van beeste, bokke en bees en bok op diereproduksie en plantkundige samestelling is oor ‘n periode van 6 jaar in Mopaniveld bestudeer. Oor hierdie periode het die bees behandeling meer lewendige massa per ha gelewer as die bok behandelings. Die akkumulatiewe veranderinge aan plantegroei van Mopani bosveld na die 6 jaar proef periode is gemeet deur die kampe van elke van genoemde behandelings met dieselfde getal osse en bokke te bewei Oor hierdie periode het die osse, op die kampe wat voorheen deur bokke alleen bewei is, 26,5 kg meer per os in massa toegeneem as die osse van die behandeling wat voorheen deur osse alleen bewei is. Die bokke van die behandeling wat voorheen alleen deur osse bewei is, het 7,3 kg meer toegeneem. dan bokke van die behandeling wat voorheen net deur bokke bewei is. Die bok behandelings het gevolg in ‘n drastiese vermindering in die beweibare bos en ‘n vermeerdering in gras produksie. Hierdie verskynsel het ‘n merkbare invloed op die resultate van die proef gehad. Daar is tot die slotsom geraak dat die oordeelkundige gesarnentlike gebruik van bok en bees wel wenslik blyk te wees vir die effektiewe benut‐ting en beheer van houtagtige plante. Dit wil egter voorkom dat indien optimale bok produksie gehandhaaf wil word, ‘n bees: bok verhouding van minder as 1:2 aangewend behoort te word.