Assessing veld condition

Taking a good look at every camp on your farm will reveal if your veld management system is on the right track, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

- Roelof Bezuidenhout

There are three types of livestock farmers: those who focus more on the condition of their animals than on the veld; those who pay more attention to their grazing than to their animals; and those who try to strike a balance between the two, trying to see to the needs of animals and the veld they graze.

Of the three, the first is the easiest to do. If your herd or flock is losing condition, you simply move it to a better or a rested camp where they can pick up weight again. This is often bad for the veld, however, especially if the camp is being overgrazed or has not rested for long enough.

In the second case, the animals are usually moved to another camp according to a grazing plan that does not always take the needs of the animals into consideration. The herd might then lose weight, which is bad for production and reproduction.

Moreover, in regions where the rainfall is erratic, a lack of rain could leave you in the lurch, making it impossible for you to execute your grazing plan. Put another way, the animals could simply run out of veld to graze.

The third example is the most difficult one to comply with, as it requires knowledge about the growth needs of both plants and animals.