Biodiversity conservation and pastoralism—reducing herd size in a communal livestock production system in Richtersveld National Park

Performance, management and objectives of cattle farming on communal ranges in Namibia

“…Hence, the production objectives in Okamboro differed sharply, cropping was not possible, and emphasis was given to herd size development, possibly in order to cope with the erratic climate and consequent production risk. Hendricks et al (2007) confirmed the rationality of building herd size in harsh environments, arguing that no clear advantages have been demonstrated in favour of smaller herds.…”

Impact of rangeland degradation on the pastoral production systems, livelihoods and perceptions of the Somali pastoralists in Eastern Ethiopia

“…The pastoralists also confirmed that after the droughts, they are left with too little or no breeding stocks for post-drought restocking or remain with total changes of the herd structure making readjustment difficult. Hendricks et al (2007) also reported that droughts in the Richtersveld of South Africa often change the sex, age and species ratios of a herd in a dynamic fashion. Whereas Donaldson (1986) observed that individual herd size did not affect herd production by droughts in Leliefontien of South Africa, for reasons that the livestock keepers were unwilling to increase their herd they believe is above a manageable size (Debeaudoin, 2001).…”

Sustainable land use in Namaqualand, South Africa: Key issues in an interdisciplinary debate

“…Richardson et al (2007) present their findings for a model of the coupled forage-livestock production system in Paulshoek and show that sustained heavy grazing is predicted to affect off-take negatively in the long-term and even moderately transformed land will take decades to recover from such impacts. Hendricks et al (2007), however, suggest that herd production and mortality is not influenced by individual herd size in the Richtersveld, even during drought. This suggests there is no obvious incentive to reduce herd size, although Debeaudoin (2001) found that livestock keepers in Leliefontein were unwilling to increase their herds above a size they deemed manageable.…”