Multi-species wild herbivore systems vs. domestic single species systems: a comparison of net animal productivity.

Abstract

Reports the results of a study conducted to compare the short and medium term net annual harvested animal production for six areas situated in the semi-arid bushveld of north eastern KwaZulu/Natal; Short and medium term net annual harvested animal production is compared for six areas situated in the semi-arid bushveld of north eastern Natal. The landuse on these areas was conservation, commercial game ranching and commercial cattle ranching. The objectives of each enterprise differed. Net production from the cattle enterprises, which was more than twice the regional average, exceeded production from the game ranches by a factor of three and that from the game reserves by a factor of six. Although production derived from browse in mixed systems could reach 20%, the absolute production was trivial when compared with production from cattle. It is concluded that maximum sustained yield from extensive game systems cannot compare with that of intensively managed cattle systems and for this reason game systems cannot be justified on the basis of long term meat production alone.

Keywords: animal production; Animal productivity; browse; Browser production; bushveld; cattle; Cattle ranching; Domestic single species systems; Game ranching; game reserves; KwaZulu/Natal; land-use; meat production; Multi-species systems; Multi-species wild herbivore systems; natal; productivity; Semi-arid bushveld; Single species systems; south africa; yield

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.