J E. Danckwerts, Eastern Cape Region

Publication Date

1989

Description

Rotational grazing with beef cattle is widely advocated and practised under commercial pastoralism in semi-arid grassland in southern Africa. Since animal performance is largely a func­tion of the quality and quantity of forage ingested, changes in herbage quality and availability in these situations are likely to have an important influence on animal production. The objective of this paper is therefore to quantify changes in the quality of herbage ingested by beef cattle at different times of the year and as grazing pressure increases within periods of occupation on rotationally grazed semi-arid grass­land in southern Africa. The effect of these changes will be eva­luated in terms of their influence on herbage intake and on ani­mal performance.

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Animal Performance as Effected by Herbage Availability and Quality in Semi-Arid Southern African Grassland

Rotational grazing with beef cattle is widely advocated and practised under commercial pastoralism in semi-arid grassland in southern Africa. Since animal performance is largely a func­tion of the quality and quantity of forage ingested, changes in herbage quality and availability in these situations are likely to have an important influence on animal production. The objective of this paper is therefore to quantify changes in the quality of herbage ingested by beef cattle at different times of the year and as grazing pressure increases within periods of occupation on rotationally grazed semi-arid grass­land in southern Africa. The effect of these changes will be eva­luated in terms of their influence on herbage intake and on ani­mal performance.