The effects of mixed‐species grazing on the performance of cattle and sheep in Highland Sourveld

Abstract

The performance of cattle and sheep in relation to cattle‐to‐sheep ratio was measured over four grazing seasons. Rainfall for the first three grazing seasons was similar to the long‐term mean of 790 mm whilst 1992/1993 was a relatively low rainfall season (554 mm). Five cattle‐to‐sheep ratio treatments were applied, each within a four‐paddock rotational grazing system. Sheep performance improved as the proportion of cattle in the species mix increased, whereas cattle performance was affected by the stocking rate of cattle rather than by the presence of sheep. Sheep performance declined in each ratio treatment from the first to the third season. Sheep performed best during the low rainfall season. Animal performance data were used to demonstrate an approach for predicting the effects of varying cattle and sheep stocking rates, in mixed‐species grazing systems, on the performance of cattle and sheep.

Additional keywords:

• Cattle:sheep ratio
• relative resource total
• substitution rates