JARACAL

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?

hier by ons is dit dieselfde wayne

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?

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.

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.

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.....

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.