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Animal Science Research at Kokstad Research Station

Animal Science Research at Kokstad Research Station. A D Lyle, A Jikijela, B N Dorning & T J Dugmore. Overwintering of pregnant beef cows on rested veld. Overwintering costs the largest cost factor Body condition at calving influences fertility Cannot afford to loose excessive condition

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Animal Science Research at Kokstad Research Station

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  1. Animal Science Research at Kokstad Research Station A D Lyle, A Jikijela, B N Dorning & T J Dugmore

  2. Overwintering of pregnant beef cows on rested veld • Overwintering costs the largest cost factor • Body condition at calving influences fertility • Cannot afford to loose excessive condition • Traditionally cows overwintered on hay • Sour veld inadequate to overwinter cows? • Hay vs rested veld+ protein:energy licks

  3. Trial commenced in May each year for 3 yrs • 33 pregnant Hereford cows per treatment • Hay group fed hay from mid-July (+ prot lick) • Calving commenced mid-August • Both treatments commenced spring grazing in mid-Oct (+P12 salt lick)

  4. Winter licks fed on veld Yr 1 - up to mid-July - 400 g Voermol 450/d • to mid-Aug – 600 g Voermol 450/d • prior to calving – 1.2 kg production lick/d • after calving – 1.5 kg production lick/d Yr 2 & 3 • to end July – 400 g beef sheep lick/d • to mid Aug – 500 g beef sheep lick/d • to spring grazing - 1.5 kg production lick/d

  5. Results

  6. Lick + hay cost Overwintering on sourveld has cost benefits and does not affect weaner weights or apparent fertility

  7. Overwintering early summer lambing ewes on sourveld • Traditionally lambing occurs in autumn • Veld gp vs fescue gp • 40 ewes per treatment (some lost to theft & dogs) • fescue grazing commenced end July

  8. Licks on veld • All sheep on rested veld – May, June & July • Fed 150 g Maxiwool /d (35 % CP) during mating in May to mid June • mid June to mid Aug – 65 g Maxiwool/d • mid Aug to mid Oct – 400g Maxiwool production lick/d (28 % CP) • mid-Oct – summer lick (P12 + salt)

  9. Results

  10. Costs:Licks on veld R 16.11/eweFescue + licks R 32.41/eweOverwintering ewes on veld holds cost advantages. Poor lamb weaning weaning weigh is only a problem if hamels are to be sold

  11. Finishing young oxen on summer veld • 15 Hereford & 15 Nguni yearling steers • Implanted with Ralgro in October • Fed a production lick on veld • 1.2 kg maize meal added in February • 1.2 kg supermol/d in early summer

  12. Results * Costs included interest on capital, hay, lick, growth implant and dip

  13. The Nguni were overfinished relative to the Herefords – could affect profitability Stocking rates for Nguni would be higher – will affect profit per ha

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