 | Abstract 548The relation between herbage attributes, stocking rate and body mass changes of steers grazing thornveld on red clay soil.Denny,-RP; Mavedzenge,BZ; Stead,-JWA Matopos Res. Sta., Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Annual Report 1980-81, Division of Livestock and Pastures, Zimbabwe. 1983, 186-187. Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Research and Specialist Services. In a trial initiated in 1980, thornveld was grazed by 2-yr-old steers at stocking rates of 0.30, 0.26, 0.22, 0.18 or 0.14 livestock units/ha. There were no significant differences in available herbage or steer liveweight gains from Dec. 1980 to May 1981 between stocking rates. In June total herbage yield was lowest with the highest stocking rate.Heteropogon contortus, Digitaria spp., Cymbopogon pospischilii, Themeda triandra and Dichanthium insculptum generally accounted for 80% of total herbage. The most grazed spp. were D. insculptum, Digitaria spp., Cynodon dactylon, Rhynchelytrum nerviglume, Setaria sphacelata and Urochloa spp.; Cymbopogon spp. were rarely grazed. With all treatments, yields of most spp. and of total herbage were generally lowest in Dec., highest in March and had decreased again by June. Steer liveweight increased by June but had decreased by Aug. This abstract relates to the following species:
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