Feed Resources for Sustainable Buminant Livestock Production in Southern Africa

Abstract

The availability of feed resources for ruminant livestock production in Southern Africa, and how these can be strategically managed and improved for long term economically and environmentally sustainable ruminant animal production, is reviewed. Ruminant livestock production in Southern African can be broadly divided into (a) intensive and (b) extensive production system. Classification of production systems is influenced by the land tenure system and by the level of livestock husbandry and management practices. Within systems, the level of livestock nutrition is a fundamental determinant of productivity. The level of animal nutrition is directly and indirectly influenced by socio-economic and managerial abilities of the farmer and more importantly by pedological, vegetational and environmental factors of the location. The stability and reliability of the livestock nutrition base, which predominantly is the natural pasture, has direct and indirect implications on animal production in Southern Africa.