farmers’ knowledge of livestock and rangelands management...

Farmers’ knowledge of livestock and rangelands

management in the Gauteng Province, South Africa  

Ngoako L Letsoalo1,2, Hosiah T Pule1, Julius T Tjelele1, Ntuthuko R Mkhize1, Khanyisile R Mbatha2 and M Ndlovu3

1Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production Institute;

2 Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa

3Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Introduction • Emerging livestock farmers own 5.5 million of the 14.1

million cattle in South Africa.

• The livestock management systems:

 Indigenous knowledge

 Farmer objectives

 Economic pressures

  Affordability

Introduction cont.…

10% Good condition

60% Extremely bad condition

30% Average condition

Vetter 2003

Introduction cont…

•  Shortage of forage during dry season

•  High livestock mortality

 Compliment scientific knowledge and contribute to improved

understanding and sustainability of both rangelands and

livestock productivity.

Objectives

1) Document indigenous knowledge of emerging farmers on

livestock and rangeland management,

2) The perceived constraints related to livestock-rangeland

management and,

3) Drought coping strategies implemented by farmers.  

Study area

Semi- structured Questionnaire

  Demographic profile

  Knowledge of livestock

  Knowledge of veld management

  Drought coping strategies

Results and Discussion

Results and Discussion

Livestock knowledge

Questions Communal + private farms (%)

Yes No I know the breeds I keep 100 0 I know diseases 29 71 I buy medicines 77 23 I have management plan 38 62 I know my breeding & calving seasons

84 16

Questions Communal + private farms (%)

Yes No I know grasses on the grazing areas/farms

56 44

I monitor rangeland condition

0 100

I have rangeland management plan

0 100

I know grazing capacity and stocking rate

0 100

I have fodder flow plan 2 98

Rangeland management knowledge

Results and Discussion

Drought coping strategies practiced by farmers

Results and Discussion Constrains limiting livestock production

Major constrain Communal + private farms (%)

Forage shortages 60

Water scarcity 18 Land ownership 12

Animal diseases 8

Stock theft 2

Conclusion

•  Lack of co-ordination

•  Lack veld and livestock management plan

•  Heavily relaying on the government assistance

Recommendations

•  There is a need for training of farmers.

•  Government need to include farmers in

development planning.

Acknowledgements

•  Farmers

•  Students

•  Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

(GDARD)