A programme of radical veld improvement applied on a farm in a cool, high rainfall area of East Griqualand is described. The veld was burnt in spring and fertilized with 300 kg/ha superphosphate and 45 to 60 kg/ha N. It was then heavily grazed with cattle and sheep during summer, using an eight?camp rotational system, and in February it was oversown with cocksfoot and given a further 45 kg/N/ha. Grazing, with cattle only, continued into autumn. In the second year clover was sod?seeded into part of the area. With the eight?camp grazing system, the number of MLU grazing days per ha increased from 161 on unimproved veld to 411 in the third year after improvement. In addition, the conception rate of cows increased from 85% to 97% and lambs could be run on the area which previously would support only mature, dry sheep.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.