Help Veld Recover With Good Management

Following a drought, farmers should sow seed to help grasses become re-established, as well as follow a sound grazing management programme. This combination will improve grazing and create a sustainable fodder bank. Pasture consultant Frits van Oudtshoorn spoke to Gerhard Uys.

- Gerhard Uys

A deterioration in veld condition is inevitable during a drought. But according to pasture consultant Frits van Oudsthoorn, poorly managed grazing will result in the veld taking even longer to recover, or never recovering sufficiently to ensure optimal beef cattle production in a specific area.

In nature, without human interference, the number of watering points is reduced during a drought. This means that grazing in some areas is spared and allowed to recover as animals are less likely to graze where watering holes have dried up.

During a drought, animals also die off naturally, and those that survive tend to be in poorer physical shape due to insufficient or poor grazing. As a result, reproduction decreases. Moreover, in a balanced ecosystem, predators kill some species that they would not normally feed on, which further reduces pressure on grazing that is on the decline. This in turn helps the veld to recover.

THE FARMER MUST TAKE CONTROL

In a man-made system, by contrast, the farmer must act as the ‘predator’ and regulate animal numbers. During a drought, the carrying capacity of veld is lower and animal numbers must be kept in line with this, Frits says.

“Without sufficient moisture, the volume of grass produced (kg/ ha) is reduced, and certain tufts of perennial grasses will not survive a drought at all. Less germination also takes place during a drought, which means less plant succession in a given year. Over a prolonged drought this process intensifies. On farms, a secondary consequence is overgrazing, which further impedes growth,” he explains.

Even if cattle receive feed, overgrazing can occur. However, this period presents an opportunity to cull nonproductive animals.