Herbage intake by cattle on Tarchonanthus veld in the Northern Cape as affected by stocking rate and grazing system.

Abstract

Reports the results of a study conducted to quantify the influence of stocking rate and system of grazing on herbage intake and consequently animal production; In a trial with young Bonsmara cattle, four different stocking rates (10, 7, 7 and 4ha/large stock unit) were applied in both a rotational and continuous grazing system. Feed intake was estimated during spring, summer, autumn and winter for four consecutive years starting in 1977. Irrespective of the grazing system, feed intake declined with an increase in stocking rate. On average the highest intake was recorded in January and reached the lowest levels in October and July. Livemass gain was found to be closely related to feed intake.

Keywords: Animal production; botany; Cattle; continuous grazing; Cr2O3 marker; crude protein; Diet; Feed intake; Grazing systems; herbage; Herbage intake; intake; live mass gain; northern cape; oesophageal fistulas; organic matter; south africa; stocking rates; Tarchonanthus; Tarchonanthus veld

Journal of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.