LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN A HIGH RAINFALL, DIVERSIFIED FARMING AREA: THE NORTHERN DRAKENSBERG GRAZING REGION

Abstract

Overwintering of livestock has been regarded as a major problem in the Drakensberg grazing regions, which are characterized by high rainfall, cold winters and uneven topography. The latter limits arable land and this leads to mixed farming. The natural vegetation is predominantly sour veld; natural grazing becomes unpalatable and indigestible in winter. Farmers have for long handled this livestock overwintering problem by moving animals to grazing outside the region. The practice has been dying out. Linear programming was used to determine optimal livestock and cropping systems. The most profitable farming enterprise was shown to be dairying. Grazing and arable land should supply the dairy herd with its roughage needs and after these needs are satisfied, the remainder of arable land should be used for cash crops (maize and dry beans), leaving no room for either beef cattle or woolled sheep. If the farmer does not want to keep dairy cattle, his second best choice—with much lower profitability—is a combination of cash crops and woolled sheep. Sheep numbers have to be adjusted to the ability of natural grazing and crop residues to sustain their nutritional needs. It does not pay to use arable land to produce feed or pastures for sheep. Beef cattle cannot compete economically with either dairy cattle, sheep or cash crops. Thus, the main problem in this region is not overwintering, but rather selection of optimal farming systems.

Samevatting

Die oonvintering van vee word beskou as 'n belangrike probleem in die Drakensbergweistreke wat gekenmerk word deur hoë reënval, koue winters en ongelyke topografie. Laasgenoemde beperk bewerkbaarheid van grond en dit lei tot gemende boerderysisteme. Die natuurlike plantegroei is oonvegend suurveld; natuurlike weiding word onsmaaklik en onverteerbaar in die winter. Boere het lank hierdie vee-oonvinteringsprobleem gehanteer deur met hul vee na weidings buite die gebied te trek. Hierdie praktyk is besig om uit te sterf. Lineêre programmering is gebruik om optimale vee- en gewasproduksiesisteme te bepaal. Dis aangetoon dat suiwelboerdery die mees winsgewende boerderyvertakking is. Weiveld en bewerkbare grond moet die suiwelkudde voorsien van ruvoerbehoeftes en nadat aan hierdie behoeftes voldoen is moet die res van die bewerkbare grond gebruik word vir kontantgewasse (mielies en droëbone). Dit los geen ruimte oor vir vleisbeeste of wolskape nie. As die boer nie suiwelbeeste wil aanhou nie is sy tweede beste keuse—wat heelwat minder winsgewend is—'n kombinasie van kontantgewasse en wolskape. Skaapgetalle moet aangepas word by die vermoë van die natuurlike veld en oesreste om aan hul Mcdingsvereistes te voldoen. Dit betaal nie om bewerkbare grond te gebruik vir voerproduksie of aangeplante weidings vir skape nie. Vleisbeeste is nie in staat om ekonomies met suiwel, skape of kontantgewasse mee te ding nie. Die hoofprobleem in hierdie gebied is dus nie oonvintering nie, maar eerder die keuse van optimale boerderysisteme.