Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder August 2017 | Page 23

IN THE FIELD
From page 20
changes, it alters the carrying Veld condition depends on
capacity to a greater or lesser plant cover, plant composi-
livestock unit (LSU) is a
extent.
tion and production, with
standard unit used in
several factors play ing a role
calculating the relative grazing It is obvious, too, that the
in determining veld condi-
impact of different kinds and grazing capacity of veld will
tion. These include species
vary considerably from area
classes of livestock. A
composition, the vigour of
to area – and on bigger
livestock unit is an animal
smallholdings it can vary from the palatable species, basal
with a weight of 450 kg. All
cover and soil surface
pasture to pasture.
animals can be converted to
condition.
Average annual rainfall in
livestock units or LSU:
A simple method of ascertain-
Gauteng varies from 560 –
Roughly, a cow = 1,10 LSU,
ing the species composition
a bull = 1,36 LSU , a horse = 710 mm and this will
in your paddock is to mark a
1.25 LSU , a ewe = 0,17 LSU obviously affect the quality
and quantity of grazing. Few line of about 50 m across the
and a ram = 0,22 LSU.
field. If this marking is
smallholders can afford to
Stocking within the grazing
permanent it will help in the
capacity of the veld is one of irrigate their fields.
assessment of
the most important grazing
the condition
principles. Failing to stock
of
your field
correctly, irrespective of how
at
a
later
diligently the other veld
date.
Then
management principles are
take a
applied, will lead to veld
sharpened
deterioration.
spike
Grazing capacity is depend-
approxi-
ent on a number of factors
mately 1.2 m
such as rainfall, veld condi-
in length and
tion, slope, aspect and soil,
walk along
among others. And, when
the transect.
any specific factor – from
Each type of livestock equates to a different number
At every step
rainfall to management –
of LSU, depending on its weight.
21
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thrust the spike randomly into
the ground ahead of you. The
plant nearest to the spike
point is identified and
recorded.
About 50 spike-point
observations should be made.
The vigour of each of the
important indicator species
should also be noted.
There are books available to
help you to identify the
grasses in your field, ranging
from the pocket book First
Field Guide to Grasses of
Southern Africa (Struik) to the
more comprehensive Guide
to Grasses of southern Africa
(Revised edition) by Frits van
Oudtshoorn (Briza
Publications).
Once you have identified the
species in your field you
need to establish whether
each grass is a decreaser (a
plant which decreases under
heavy grazing) or an increaser
(which increases in number
as the decreaser plants are
Continued on page 23