A comparison between the diets of small and large stock on mixed karoo veld¹

Abstract

The botanical composition of the diet of oesophageally fistualated Dorper and Merino sheep, Boer goats and Afrikaner cattle, grazing a mixed Karoo veld, was determined quarterly. The botanical composition of the diets were determined by means of a microscope point survey. The large stock concentrated mainly on the grass component and the small stock mainly on karoo bushes, herbaceous plants and to a lesser extent on grass. The largest degree of similarity in the diets of the groups was during spring (approximately 35%), and the largest differences during summer and winter (approximately 28% similarity). Animal unit equivalents, incorporating dietary overlap are calculated for the four animal types.