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Abstract
The Highland Sourveld of Natal is an important beef producing area. Although it covers only 13% of the total area of the province, it supports 18% of the beef cattle population.
The performance of cows and their calves stocked at four stocking rates on Highland Sourveld was studied. Two stocking rates were duplicated to test the benefit of an energy lick against a mineral lick. The effect of stocking rate on the veld was monitored in terms of compositional change.
Stocking rate significantly affected cow performance and consequently calf performance. An energy lick supplement, as opposed to a mineral lick supplement, was beneficial at the 1,0 LSU/ha stocking rate, but not at the 1,67 LSU/ha stocking rate.
The composition of the veld in the low to moderately stocked treatments changed relatively little, over the recording period, whilst the very high stocking rate treatments showed a rapid delcine in veld composition score.
Uittreksel
Die Hoogland‐suurveld van Natal is ‘n belangrike vleisproduserende gebied. Die suurveld dek slegs 13% van die totale oppervlakte van die provinsie maar dra 18% van die vleisbeeste.
Die prestasie van koeie en kalwers by verskillende veeladings op Hoogland‐suurveld met of sonder lekaanvullings is bestudeer. Daar is bevind dat die prestasie van die koeie en dié van hul kalwers grootliks beïnvloed is deur die belading van die veld. By ‘n veelading van 1 GVE/ha het ‘n energie lek die prestasie van beide koeie en kalwers betekenisvol beïnvloed, maar hierdie effek was nie waarneembaar by ‘n veelading van 1,67 GVE/ha.
Die veldsamestelling van die lae tot matige veelading behandelings het relatief min oor die proeftydperk verander, terwyl daar ‘n skielike afname in die veldspesie samestelling was met die baie hoë veelading behandelings.
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