The growth of young cattle and sheep managed on a preference and follower herd basis within a rotational grazing system on veld

Abstract

The trial was carried out at the Kokstad Research Station in the summer rainfall area on the Eastern sea board of South Africa. Growing cattle and sheep in the first season and cattle only in the second were run on a preference and follower herd basis within a rotational grazing system on veld. This resulted in better mass gains in the preference cattle which reached statistical significance in both seasons. The cattle and sheep in the preference herd selected a diet higher in crude protein than the follower herd. The sheep selected samples which were higher in crude protein than those selected by the cattle.

Uittreksel

Die proef is by die Kokstad Navorsingstasie, wat in die somer reenval gebied aan die Ooskus van Suid Afrika geleë is, uitgevoer. Groeiende beeste en skape is gedurende die eerste seisoen gebruik en net beeste in die tweede seisoen. Die diere was op ‘n voorkeur en opvolgkudde basis in ‘n wisselweiding stelsel op somer veld gewei. Die voorkeur beeste het vir beide seisoene ‘n statisties betekenisvol beter gewigs toename getoon. Die beeste en skape in die voorkeurkudde het plant materiaal met ‘n hoer persentasie ru‐protein geselekteer as die opvolg kudde. Die skape het plant materiaal met ‘n hoer proteininhoud as die beeste geselekteer.