Stocking rate trials in Ankole, Uganda: I. Weight gain of Ankole steers at intermediate and heavy stocking rates under different managements

Abstract

A series of stocking rate trials running for differing periods between 1961 and 1972 are summarized. Weight gains of steers grazed at 2-4, 1-2, 0-8 and 0-6 ha/300 kg animal on Cymbopogon\Hyparrhe.nia\Themeda pasture are detailed. Subtreatments included continuous and rotational grazing and the removal of the unpalatable Cymbopogon afronardus.Weight gains at 0-6 ha/animal were higher than a linear relationship between stocking rate expressed as animals/ha and weight gain would predict. This was ascribed to the dominance of the high quality grass Brachiaria decumbens at this grazing pressure.Rotational grazing was less productive than continuous grazing, because C. afronardus increased more rapidly under this management, but there was less soil erosion. Removal of C. afronardus increased cattle growth rates and gains/ha by over 40 % at 0-6 ha/animal. The cost of clearing this weed should be recovered in 2 years from a commercial cattle ranch. A grazing pressure of ca. 0-8 ha/animal is expected to maximize long-term profits on C. afronardus-free Ankole rangeland and in 3 years in this trial average gains of 0'29 kg/day/animal were achieved. This was an annual production level of 131 kg/ha/annum, which compared with 53 kg/ha at 2-4 ha/animal and 143 kg/ha at 0-6 ha/animal.

Multifunctional Rangeland in Southern Africa: Managing for Production, Conservation, and Resilience with Fire and Grazing

“…For example, non-equilibrium rangeland might include alternative stable states resilient against heavy grazing in communal areas but considered degraded by commercial grazing standards based solely on species composition [30]. In some cases alternative states are actually more productive [48]. When scrutinized with these considerations in mind, rotational grazing schemes have not been found to increase animal production or protect rangeland from degradation any more than continuous grazing without fences and intensive management [17,49].…”

Stocking rate trials in Ankole, Uganda: II. Botanical analysis and oesophageal fistula sampling of pastures grazed at different stocking rates

“…between stocking rate and weight gain/animal, Weight gains of Ankole steers under different w a s o f P a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t ™ this context. grazing managements and at different stocking rates were detailed and discussed by Thornton & METHODS Harrington (1971) and in Part I of this series (Harrington & Pratchett, 1974). Significant dif-Bota ™cal analysis ferences in cattle weight gains per animal and per/ha…”

Observações sobre o desempenho de bezerras zebuínas submetidas a técnicas de crescimento compensatório

“…O plano de nutrição teve urna influência marcan te na taxa de crescimento dos bezerros. A restrição nas 16 pri mei ras semanas de idade promoveu os menores ganhos de peso, da (1964a, 1964b) kg para es níveis de alimentação alto, médio e baixo, respec tivamente, os quais passaram a 0,567 kg, 0,980 kg e HARRINGTON e PRATCHETT (1974), conduziram outro trabalho em Uga-nda com novilhos zebufnos Sanga da região de A!J kole, com peso mêdio de 200 kg, submetidos a dois sistemas de pastejo,CO!J tínuo e deferido, nas lotações de 0,42; 0,83; 1,25 e 1,67 cabeças/ha.…”