Cattle Performance and Nutritive Value of Pastures on Swazi Nation Land

Changes in soil characteristics and grass layer condition in relation to land management systems in the semi-arid savannas of Swaziland

“…The observation on the grass species composition made in this study was not reported in the earlier studies (Sweet and Khumalo, 1994;Dlamini et al, 2000). Highly desirable species such as C. ciliaris and P. maximum were most frequent in the low stocking rates, whilst T. berteronianus, B. eruciformis and A. bipartita had the highest occurrence in high and medium stocking rates.…”

“…Unfortunately, grazing history of these land management systems has not been well documented. However, it is well known that the communal lands have been grazed with an estimated stocking rate between 2 ha/livestock unit (LSU) (Sweet and Khumalo, 1994) and 0.94 ha/LSU (Dlamini et al, 2000). The government ranches had estimated stocking rate of !6 ha/LSU, while the game reserves fell in between.…”

“…Many rural people in Swaziland maintain a diversity of livestock species on the communal lands in a continuous grazing system. Livestock on the communal lands provide meat, milk and draught power and also represent a store of wealth (Dlamini et al, 2000). Most of the beef cattle in Swaziland are produced from the communal land tenure system.…”

Current range condition in relation to land management systems in semi‐arid savannas of Swaziland

“…The existence of such variation may elucidate the lower stocking rate in the ranch than in the other land uses. The communal lands were grazed with an estimated stocking rate between 2 ha LSU −1 (Sweet & Khumalo, 1994) and 0.94 ha LSU −1 (Dlamini, Khumalo & Xaba, 2000). Past and present high stocking rate in the game reserves (approximately 4.4 ha LSU −1 ) would also suggest that the vegetation may be more affected than at the ranch that has an estimated stocking rate of >6 ha LSU −1 .…”