**4. Conclusions**

*Livestock Health and Farming*

*3.3.2 Veld reinforcement*

good for veld reinforcement*.*

*3.3.3 Rangeland fertilisation*

times not readily available.

*3.3.5 Range rehabilitation*

rangelands [45, 46].

*3.3.6 Strategic destocking*

*3.3.4 Control of undesirable plants*

utilisation by animals. This is important as too long periods result in overgrazing, while too short periods cause underutilisation which leads to top hamper and consequently reduced plant vigour. Stocking density refers to the number of animals that is kept on a given unit of area [41]. This has a direct relationship to the carrying capacity of the range. For instance, understocking causes selective grazing, which depletes palatable grass species. On the other hand, overstocking may degrade the range. For high stocks of reserve biomass, and for farmers with a relatively low degree of risk aversion, an "opportunistic" strategy is optimal, which matches the stocking rate with the available forage in every year [42]. On the other hand, the "resting in rainy years" grazing management strategies are recommended in which a lower stocking rate is applied in years in which current rainfall exceeds some threshold, and in years with

current rainfall below this threshold, full stocking is optimal [39, 42–44].

Veld reinforcement is the introduction, to the rangeland, of new grass or legume

species in order to improve both the quantity and quality of the natural vegetation. Legume forages such as *Desmodium uncinatum*, *Macroptilium atropurpureum*, *Stylosanthes guianensis*, and *Cassia rotundifolia* can be used, while grass species including *Cynodon nlemfuensis*, *Paspalum notatum*, and *Panicum maximum* are also

Rangeland fertilisation is the application of fertilisers such as ammonium nitrates on the rangelands in order to increase the quality and quantity of forage. However, this method is not highly recommended as fertilisers are expensive and at

Undesirable plants are not readily utilised by animals and may cause rangeland degradation. They include invasive species (e.g. *Dichrostachys cinerea)* and poisonous species (e.g. *Lantana camara* and *Solanum incanum*). They may be removed by stumping, ring barking, and application of chemicals such as arboricides, using hot prescribed fires or mechanical means like bulldozers, motorised saws, and brush

Range rehabilitation is the restoration of the veld using such methods as gulley filling and planting grass lines. However, it is more feasible at small scale. Both communal and private enclosures have also been successfully used to rehabilitate

In the SEL, deterioration of rangeland productivity during prolonged dry season characteristic of the area is worsened by deliberate increases in cattle numbers by farmers who use the high cattle numbers as a hedge against losses during drought [6]. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers should adopt strategic destocking programmes that promote fattening of animals during periods of feed abundance and disposal while they are in good enough body condition to fetch high prices.

**110**

cutters.

Livestock production in semi-arid areas is hampered by shortages of feed, especially in the dry season when the grazing resource becomes limiting. During this time, browse species play an important role as the most abundant and nutritious feed. Although crop residues are also a likely supplementary feed, they are of poor nutritive value. Potential technologies to improve such feedstuffs include urea treatment and ensilage. However, they are also not readily adopted by farmers due to lack of knowledge among other factors. It is therefore important to promote such innovations with the view to improve livestock production and hence rural livelihoods.
