Carrying capacity / stocking rate

[Wayne]

I was wondering what the different areas stocking rates were in each area. We work on 1:1 small stock (SSU) and 1:6 large stock (LSU).
This obviously influences the farm size needed for a family to earn a fair living. As I see it at present we need more ground than our Grand Parents needed or you have to diversify and mechanize which could lead to over capitalization of a small piece of ground.
What are your thoughts?

[johans]

hier by ons is dit dieselfde wayne

[BeesBreet]

Wayne I farm in the kzn Midlands. Good rainfall but very sour veld. I run into 1:2LSU here. But I do constant monitoring and do have "liquid" stock such as dry cows or oxen that I can sell quick instead of buy food. Which area are you and what is your grazing management scheme or plan?

[Wayne]

BeesB
I am in the Eastern Cape, Queenstown. I also run oxen. use them to clean up behind cows, rather try use grass than have to burn it. I have agriculture as well, so am able to run a lot more sheep than would normally, ewes are mated on the veldt, lamb in the lands and wean lambs off the lands into a feed lot system. Cattle are extensive, try use good licks to utilize grass as best as we can as well as improve production.

[BeesBreet]

Have you heard of the grazing for profit course by rcssa. Good licks to utilise all grass as well as grazing plans. I try to stay away from burning but do use it in camps after a growing season rest. If used correctly it can be an effective tool. I run extensive beef, and sheep on veld and pasture.

[Wayne]

Have not heard of course, but have found too many of those giving the courses or becoming cattle / sheep specialists are broken down farmers, now they try tell us how to do what they could not do, so I do not go to too many courses. Prefer to learn from the older farmers in my area - steal with my ears and eyes.
To get back to my topic - surely there are more farmers on the forum to give us feed back... come on, don't be shy, I am not asking you for your financials.....

[Wayne]

OK, so no one wants to add. The reason I wanted to put this on is that I am often told how smaller framed animals eat less and therefor more profitable etc. But when I ask the same person what his stocking rate is, he quotes the going rate of his area, he does not say, if I run ?? Cattle I can run 1 LSU to 4 Ha when his area is a 1:6, he will still use the 1:6.
And, I was also interested to see what the carrying was in the different areas.