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Publication Date

1993

Location

New Zealand

Description

The game industry on private land in South Africa has grown considerably in the last 30 years, resulting in a greatly increased biodiversity on private rangeland. However, animals are not domesticated and management is difficult. Management becomes even more complex because commercial game production normally involves a number of species, including domestic stock, in the same production system. Mixed livestock-game ranching holds certain advantages for management and is generally perceived to be more profitable than either alone. Because of human preferences, a lack of clearly defined management objectives and lack of practical management recommendations, veld is generally heavily utilised and herbaceous species composition scores on many game ranches are less than 50% of the theoretical maximum. Owing to high stocking rates and continuous utilisation, serious veld deterioration and a decrease of biodiversity may be expected in the long term.

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Game Production on Private Land in South Africa

New Zealand

The game industry on private land in South Africa has grown considerably in the last 30 years, resulting in a greatly increased biodiversity on private rangeland. However, animals are not domesticated and management is difficult. Management becomes even more complex because commercial game production normally involves a number of species, including domestic stock, in the same production system. Mixed livestock-game ranching holds certain advantages for management and is generally perceived to be more profitable than either alone. Because of human preferences, a lack of clearly defined management objectives and lack of practical management recommendations, veld is generally heavily utilised and herbaceous species composition scores on many game ranches are less than 50% of the theoretical maximum. Owing to high stocking rates and continuous utilisation, serious veld deterioration and a decrease of biodiversity may be expected in the long term.