Publication Date
1993
Description
We review the evolutionary (species-specific) and ecological (individual behavioural) strategies of African grazing ungulates. The contexts considered are free-ranging wild ungulates, traditional livestock pastoralism and extensive commercial ranching. Particularly successful are (1) buffalo, able to digest grass fibre effectively in mesic grasslands; (2) wildebeest, exploiting semi-arid grasslands through migration; (3) megaherbivores (elephant, hippopotamus and white rhinoceros) utilising a wide range of vegetation components. Species-specific adaptations include body size and metabolic rate, digestive efficiency and passage rate, oral and dental anatomy, water dependence and detoxification capacity. Species overlap in grass species se'lected, with dietary differences apparent in grass height favoured, and in plant parts and browse components consumed. Rotational grazing is typical of buffalo herds, but migration only of some populations of wildebeest, zebra, kob and perhaps other species. Many ungulate species are sedentary. Habitat segregation reduces competitive overlap, but predation risk may promote multispecies aggregations. Large bulk grazers facilitate access to shorter grass by smaller species. Short grass grazers may suppress grassland recovery over more or less localised areas, Optimal foraging models have had limited predictive success. Traditional pastoral systems use multiple livestock species to stabilise the supply of many animal products, Commercial ranching has been dependent on cattle, and on government subsidies. Multispecies ranching systems hold promise for the future. Wildlife communities lacking buffalo or megaherbivores cannot match the productive potential of cattle alone in mesic grasslands. Successful exploitation of regions with under 600 mm annual rainfall depends on opportunities for migration, and upon supplementing grazers with other species able to make effective use of the browse component.
Citation
Owen-Smith, N and Cumming, D H.M, "Comparative Foraging Strategies of Grazing Ungulates in African Savanna Grasslands" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 26.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session18/26
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Comparative Foraging Strategies of Grazing Ungulates in African Savanna Grasslands
We review the evolutionary (species-specific) and ecological (individual behavioural) strategies of African grazing ungulates. The contexts considered are free-ranging wild ungulates, traditional livestock pastoralism and extensive commercial ranching. Particularly successful are (1) buffalo, able to digest grass fibre effectively in mesic grasslands; (2) wildebeest, exploiting semi-arid grasslands through migration; (3) megaherbivores (elephant, hippopotamus and white rhinoceros) utilising a wide range of vegetation components. Species-specific adaptations include body size and metabolic rate, digestive efficiency and passage rate, oral and dental anatomy, water dependence and detoxification capacity. Species overlap in grass species se'lected, with dietary differences apparent in grass height favoured, and in plant parts and browse components consumed. Rotational grazing is typical of buffalo herds, but migration only of some populations of wildebeest, zebra, kob and perhaps other species. Many ungulate species are sedentary. Habitat segregation reduces competitive overlap, but predation risk may promote multispecies aggregations. Large bulk grazers facilitate access to shorter grass by smaller species. Short grass grazers may suppress grassland recovery over more or less localised areas, Optimal foraging models have had limited predictive success. Traditional pastoral systems use multiple livestock species to stabilise the supply of many animal products, Commercial ranching has been dependent on cattle, and on government subsidies. Multispecies ranching systems hold promise for the future. Wildlife communities lacking buffalo or megaherbivores cannot match the productive potential of cattle alone in mesic grasslands. Successful exploitation of regions with under 600 mm annual rainfall depends on opportunities for migration, and upon supplementing grazers with other species able to make effective use of the browse component.
