The effect of introducing stylo (Stylosanthes guyanensis) into veld on animal production in the Middelveld of Swaziland

Abstract

Previous research had shown that the introduction of stylo (Stylosanthes guyanensis) into veld brought about a considerable increase in herbage production and an improved herbage quality. In order to investigate the effects on beef production, of sod-seeding veld with stylo, weight gains of steers in two treated four-acre camps were compared with those in two untreated camps. No differences were apparent during the first season, but in the second season weight gains per acre were about 64 per cent higher in the treated than in the control camps. It is concluded that sod-seeding with stylo is promising as an economical method of raising animal production off veld in sub-tropical areas of good rainfall.

Keywords: herbage quality|treatments|steers|weight gains|seeding|animal production|beef production|subtropical habitats|herbage production|Middleveld|veld|stylo|plants|introduced species|research