Established pastures in the Natal Midlands provide a very substantial proportion of the roughage requirements of dairy enterprises both in summer and winter. There is some evidence that good pastures, producing high quality roughage, can maintain high herd average yields, and at the same time reduce the cost of feed per kg of milk. However, reducing the feed cost per kg of milk depends on strict control of concentrate supplementation in accordance with animal performance and the quality of pasture on offer. The importance of pastures for beef enterprises appears to be mainly in the provision of cheap winter keep in the form of foggage, hay and silage. A substantial proportion of the winter roughage requirements of beef farms in bioregion 4E is provided from established pastures.
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.