Bush-feed gives exceptional growth rates in cattle
Bush-feed gives exceptional growth rates in cattle

Bush-feed gives exceptional growth rates in cattle

Survey: 12 producers, 6 regions
Ronelle Rademeyer
In a 2016 survey done by the Support to De-bushing Project, twelve bush-feed producers from six different regions shared their experiences on encroacher bush feed production. The survey aimed at capturing current bush-to-feed practices and identifying key challenges to assist in the development of suitable interventions with regard to the production, effective use, storage and future commercialisation of encroacher bush feed.

Bush-feed is made by mixing milled encroacher bush with additives. The earliest documented production of bush-feed dates back to 1972 but its use has been rising in the past decade. Farmers use it not only as a drought emergency feed but 50% of the respondents also use it as a supplement feed throughout the year or as a feedlot feed. Farmers testified that bush-feed production reduces pressure on the range-land and grazing. It also allows for maintaining the herd size during times of fodder shortage. The majority of respondents provide bush-feed to their cattle and sheep. However, some also use it as feed for their goats, pigs, donkeys or game with excellent results. Farmers have tried different bush-based rations depending on the availability and cost of supplements. The use of local pods and drought resistant fodder crops, such as camel thorn pods and spineless prickly pear, as supplements are found to be suitable options to enhance the nutritive value. Commercial supplements like Rangeland Grower and HPC30 have given positive results. Molasses is used as an affordable source of energy and to enhance palatability and reduces dustiness in feed. Sixty percent of the farmers dry the milled bush, store it and only mix it with supplements shortly before feeding. Other farmers mix the milled bush right after harvesting. To further enhance storability, one respondent makes pellets from the mixtures. None of the respondents is ensiling, but it is has been reported as a promising technique.

Hermann Bayer is the earliest bush-feed producer among the survey respondents starting in 1972. During regular hunting trips by horse, he realised that every time it got harder to ride through the encroaching bush. Although there was little awareness of bush encroachment at that time, he instinctively thought of thinning out the bush. He bought a bulldozer and developed the idea of using bush for animal feed. Today Hermann believes that tackling the encroachment problem in its early stages has saved his farm.

Practices for success

1. Use drought resistant fodder crops

The use of drought resistant fodder crops, such as spineless prickly pear and old man saltbush, as supplements to the milled bush has been the key for the success of various bush-feed productions. Spineless prickly pear has shown to give results comparable to maize crops as energy source. Old man saltbush is a good source of protein, salt and minerals. Planning and synchronising the fodder crop production with the yearly bush-feed production is essential. Using swales or furrows (a long, narrow, shallow trench made in the ground by a plow) to retain the water is advised when planting drought resistant fodder crops.

2. Feed according to nutritional requirements

Exceptional growth rates of up to 7 kg a week in cattle and 1,5 kg a week in sheep were obtained by farmers who fed animals with bush-based rations. The respective farmers had made the effort to send samples of their milled bush and prepared bush-based rations for laboratory analyses to the ministry of agriculture’s laboratory so that the nutritional value could be tested and ideal rations be determined. Such practices help to avoid unnecessary expenses caused by excessive use of nutrients and avoid animal illnesses caused by their lack.

3. Follow the harvesting and production process

Some farmers are able to produce 10-15 tonnes per month. The total production output does not only depend on the technical equipment used for cutting, chipping and/or milling, but also on the set-up and management of the operation. Most farmers prefer the combination of a wood chipper and a hammer mill over the use of a combined all-in-one machine. The high labour intensity of bush harvesting is a major obstacle and keeps 42% of the respondents from expanding their production. Machines such as chainsaws and brush cutters are more efficient options than pangas. Planning the production time is the key, echoed several farmers. Ideally the bush should be cut during the peak of its nutritive value in the rainy season. This reduces the amount of required supplements. The milled bush can be dried and stored for the dry periods. Pelletising and ensiling not only enable the storage of the feed mixture but also add value to the mixture.

*The survey was conducted by the Support to De-bushing Project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with the UNDP NAFOLA Project. For more information, please contact the De-bushing Advisory Service at 061 429256 or visit www.dasnamibia.org.

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European Championships Qualifying: Millwall FC 1 vs 1 West Bromwich Albion | Bristol City 1 vs 0 Leicester City English Championship: Millwall FC 1 vs 1 West Bromwich Albion | Bristol City 1 vs 0 Leicester City Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.8 | EUR to NAD 20.35 | CNY to NAD 2.61 | USD to NAD 18.87 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.39 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1303.34 | USD to ZAR 18.88 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53%