The influence of various types and frequencies of rest on the production and condition of sourveld grazed by sheep or cattle. 2. Vigour

Abstract

Treatments involving a full growing season rest in alternate years, half a growing season rest (late season) in alternate years and no rest were applied to veld grazed by sheep or cattle at similar stocking rates. Residual effects of the treatments on veld vigour were determined by measuring species regrowth during the season following treatment application, compared to ungrazed controls. The vigour of veld grazed by sheep declined rapidly relative to veld grazed by cattle. The vigour of palatable species was severely impacted, vigour of intermediate species was variably impacted and vigour of unpalatable species increased dramatically on veld grazed by sheep. Similar trends occurred in veld grazed by cattle, but to a lesser degree. Resting was beneficial for vigour recovery in both sheep and cattle treatments but it seems that the grazing treatment between rests has an over-riding influence on veld vigour. The veld grazed by sheep remained at a lower productivity level than veld grazed by cattle. Principles related to resting and the impacts of sheep and cattle grazing are briefly discussed with a view to formulating management strategies.


Keywords: veld management; livestock type; livestock movement; dry-weight-rank


African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2002, 19(2): 93-105