1. Rangelands and the veld
The basic resource, veld, is still not utilised to best effect on a sustainable basis.
Although veld management systems remain controversial, the focus on veld
management should be restored. Sufficient data and experience has now
accumulated to be collated and put into practice:
- Consider different veld types e.g. Highveld (sour), lowveld (sweet), mixed
veld, topland, wetlands (vleis and dambos)
- Evaluate veld management systems in relation to veld vitality and
sustainability and animal health and productivity
- Re-assess veld evaluation procedures (e.g. use of oesophageal fistulated
cattle, species balance). This will lead to more efficient utilisation and
supplementation procedures
- Consider animal species and type. Assess contributions from natural browse
Proposals:
- Produce basic practical handbooks on veld management for large scale and
small scale (communal) farmers. Add appendices which are appropriate for
different countries and areas in the region.
- For small scale communal farmers develop training courses for extension
staff and farmers
- Use demonstration plots in communal areas
- Disseminate information through carefully planned workshops and
discussion groups, and via the media.
- Make individual farmers within an area/community responsible for
conservation of the natural resource. Provide active support from the
formal agricultural sector.
2. Dry season supplementation
Once a sound knowledge of veld management is established, it is a natural
progression for a farmer to supplementary feed.
Uptake of supplementary feeding techniques has been very good amongst
commercial farmers.
Although there is interest amongst small scale/communal farmers, uptake has
been poor. Cost and availability of inputs (e.g. urea) are a major constraint.
Proposals:
- Need to motivate small scale farmers by demonstrating the benefits of
supplementation. On farm field days and demonstrations, improving
motivation by indicating the increased returns on investment.
- Organisation of workshops to stimulate regional cross-pollination of ideas
on supplementation in different veld management situations
- A research project aimed at fine tuning of supplementation techniques
based on more effective veld evaluation procedures and defining specific
deficiencies.
3. Use of crop residues
The critical importance of the use of crop residues as a dry season resource for
animals is accepted at both commercial and communal levels.
Proposals:
- Development work is required to improve harvesting and storage of crop
residues, especially at communal level, so that they can be used at the most
effective time in a managed feeding programme.
- Further research and development on treatment of crop residues to improve
quality and intake. For the small scale sector, emphasis should be on least-cost
storage and treatment techniques.
4. Tree legumes
Although a relatively new approach, advances in selection, management,
treatment and use of browse legumes and forage tree legumes have been made.
Clearly there is tremendous potential for improving knowledge in this area in
order to provide for sound future development.
Proposals:
- A project to assess the impact of introductions on the environment and the
ecology of wildlife
- Research aimed at further understanding the action of tannins, their
identification, interaction and effect on animal intake, health and
productivity.
- Further evaluation of suitable species for different agro-ecological areas
also involving the most effective management systems for forage tree
legumes
- Research work on digestive modifiers aimed at minimising protein
precipitation while protecting the beneficial effects of tannins.
- Assessing the effects of feeding browse legumes conserved as dry leaf meal
or in silage.
5. Forage production and conservation for dry season feeding
With the steady decrease in the area of effective rangelands in the region,
conservation of forage for use in the dry season becomes increasingly important.
Moreover, by providing sufficient forage for zero-grazing systems it allows for
improved rest periods for rangelands, thereby helping to prevent overgrazing and
subsequent degradation. Significant advances have already been made in both
forage production and conservation.
Proposals:
- Development systems for high quality forage production on small arable
areas especially in the semi-arid regions
- Continuing to improve silage making techniques, particularly for the small-scale
farmer but also at commercial level.
- Research into ensilage of different crops, mixed crops, natural pastures, by-products,
production of total mixed rations in a bag
- Research and development into improved management, harvesting and
storage of dryland forages
- Investigation into the use and role of agro-forestry products in conserved
forages
- Planned integration of forage banks into rangeland management systems
6. Wildlife management with particular reference to integrated management
with domestic livestock.
There is relatively little knowledge on wildlife in the game farming context.
Proposals:
- Basic studies to improve understanding of the nutritional requirements,
health, conditions for optimum reproduction and behavioral stressors in
game animals
- Develop systems for integration of several species with domestic livestock,
including measuring the impact on rangelands
7. Climatic effects
Research has shown that satellite imaging and database production can be used to
project the production of dry season resources for the animal. This involves not
only total biomass production but the probability of patterns of rainfall and
vegetative growth during the growing season.
Proposals:
- A project to expand and develop this technology for the region. This would
involve developing databases in different areas. Iterative work would be
required to test the robustness of the system in different situations. From
there, work could be concentrated on improving the accuracy of prediction
so that tools could be developed for planning animal and rangeland
management for the next season.
8. Drought management
It was agreed that droughts are inevitable in the region. A major problem in
coping with droughts is the delayed reaction. As far as possible, drought
strategies must involve an early reaction.
Proposal:
- A number of positive ideas came out of the workshop. These included
definition of the types of drought to be encountered, predictive methods,
and both short and long term measures for dealing with drought situations.
It is suggested that collation of this information into a drought strategy
handbook would prove of value to farmers and extension staff at all levels
9. Breeding indigenous animals
Some advances have been made in breeding for productivity in indigenous
animals.
Proposal:
New research, or support for current research, is required to further our
understanding of the impact of selection for production traits on the special
adaptive traits of indigenous animals (i.e. survival in harsh environments). This
needs to be integrated with production responses to improved dry season
nutrition.
10. Uptake of technology and methods by communal farmers
A major these throughout the workshop was that although uptake of new
technology by commercial farmers was reasonable, in communal areas it was
very poor. In addition, several systems had been tried and failed, e.g. grazing
management, pasture improvement, controlled stocking etc.
Proposals:
- A high priority adaptive research/development project to consider ways and
means of overcoming the problem. Aspects to be included:
- The best uptake of technology by communal/small scale farmers would
appear to have occurred when there is an immediate cash return (e.g. in
Zimbabwe, smallholder dairies selling milk, pen-finished beef and income
from campfire).
It is suggested that a project worth developing would be the idea of selling
‘indigenous beef’ into a niche market at a premium price. This would be
based on quality (information available), taste and being ‘organically -reared’.
Promotion and marketing would be required for selling into the
hotel and tourist industries and possibly for export.