Evaluation of cenchrus ciliaris: II. A comparison of bushveld, de‐bushed veld and bushveld combined with cenchrus pastures

Abstract

During the period 1974/77 a comparison of natural bushveld (treatment A), veld mechanically cleared during July 1973 of most woody plants (treatment B) and a combination of natural bushveld and Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Molopo pastures (treatment C) was carried out at the Mara Research Station. The areas were grazed by beef cows and calves.

Fodder production from the three treatments never reached a level where the animals were unduly stressed by a scarcity of feed. The mean stocking rate of treatments A, B and C (over three seasons) was approximately 9,1, 7,3 and 5,3 ha per animal unit respectively.

Although the livemass gains of the dry cows and weaning livemass of the calves in treatments B and C were on the average greater than those of treatment A, the lactating cows of treatment C generally showed a loss of livemass. It is suggested that this result could have an adverse effect on the efficiency of an animal production system as a whole. Methods to overcome this problem are postulated.

It is concluded that the use of C. ciliaris pastures or bush control measures could play an important role in the improvement of veld and in increasing livestock production in the bushveld area. The economical use of such practices would probably depend on the application of highly sophisticated management techniques.

Uittreksel

Tussen 1974 en 1977 is natuurlike bosveld (behandeling A), meganies ontboste bosveld (behandeling B) en natuur‐like bosveld in kombinasie met aangeplante, Cenchrus ciliaris, weldings (behandeling C) met mekaar vergelyk. Hiervoor is koei‐kalf eenhede gebruik.

Voer produksie van al drie behandelings het nooit ‘n peil bereik waar diere nadelig gestrem is as gevolg van ‘n tekort aan benutbare materiaal. Die gemiddelde benaderde veebelading vir drie seisoene vir behandelings A, B en C was 9,1; 7, 3 en 5,3 ha per groot vee eenheid respektiewelik.

Alhoewel die toename in lewendige massa van droë koeie en die lewendige speenmassa van kalwers vir behandelings B en C gemiddeld hoër was as die van behandeling A, het ook alleen die lakterende koeie van behandeling C ‘n algemene afname in lewendige massa getoon. Daar word voorgestel dat hierdie verskynsel in die geheel ‘n nadelige effek op die effektiwiteit van ‘n diere produksie stelsel kan hê. Metodes om hierdie probleme te oorbrug word voorgestel.

Daar is tot die slotsom geraak dat die benutting van C. ciliaris weiding asook bosbeheer, ‘n groot rol tot veldverbeter‐ing en veral veeproduksie in bosvelddele kan speel. Heelwaarskynlik egter, sal hierdie praktyke alleen ekonomies toege‐pas kan word wanneer hoogs gesofistikeerde bestuurs tegnieke toegepas word.