VERSLAG WERP MEER LIG OP PREDASIE-NEIGINGS / REPORT OUTLINES PREDATION TRENDS
VERSLAG WERP MEER LIG OP PREDASIE-NEIGINGS
Predasiebestuur Suid-Afrika (PMSA) het ‘n verslag oor lewendehawe- en predasiebestuur gepubliseer vir die periode 2008 tot 2023.
Die inisiatief om met verskillende lewendehawe- en predasie-bestuurstrategieë te eksperimenteer en daarvan te implementeer, is tydens 2008 onder leiding van die Nasionale Wolkwekersvereniging (NWKV) in werking gestel.
Die doelwit was om werkbare en bestuurbare strategieë te vind en te formuleer wat betrekking op beide pedatore en lewendehawe het. Die navorsingsplatfom het 27 plase geïdentfiseer wat oor die land versprei is en 136 214 hektaar beslaan, waar aanpasbare bestuurstrategieë ge-evalueer word. Dit behoort volhoubaar en werkbaar onder Suid-Afrika se unieke kommersiële plaastoestande te wees. Die monitorplase sluit die meeste van die provinsies in, sowel as verskillende ekologiese gebiede in verskillende reënvalgebiede.
Provinsiale resultate
- KwaZulu-Natal
Ongeveer 55% van predasie vind op volwasse skape plaas. Veebestuur speel ‘n kritiese rol en dit sal ‘n groot impak hê as skape van beskermde gebiede na minder beskermde gebiede (soos bo in die berge) geskuif word. Dit sal vir die rooijakkals, wat ‘n gemiddelde liggaamsgewig van ongeveer 9kg het, baie moeilik wees om ‘n dier neer te fel wat tussen 50kg en 60kg weeg. Dié verliese bewys dat jakkalse ook in troppe mag jag.
- Wes-Kaap
Veeverliese weens predasie kom meestal op lammers voor (van pasgebore lammers tot speen). Dit dui daarop dat predasiesyfers onder beheer is. Predasie-aanvalle op vee vind daarom net plaas wanneer die diere weerloos of blootgestel is.
- Vrystaat
Die Vrystaat ervaar ook verliese van jonger vee (van pasgebore lammers tot speen). Statistieke toon dat die grootste verliese deur predatore veroorsaak word in 75% van lammers en 17% van speenlammers.
- Noord-Kaap
Predasie kom ook meestal by pasgebore lammers en speenlammers voor. Predatoor-getalle word by wyse van ‘n dodelike metode beheer (roep en skiet). Aangesien dié gebied semi-droog is, is ‘n ekstensiewe, natuurlike lamseisoen die mees algemene praktyk.
- Oos-Kaap
Predasie kom meestal tydens die eerste paar maande ná gebore tot en met speen voor. Topografiese verskille het ‘n groot uitwerking op die praktiese gebruik van roep en skiet. Predasie neig weg van die rooijakkals en meer na die rooikat.
Opsomming
Lewendehawebestuur by wyse van lamhokke en lamkampe het ‘n positiewe uitwerking op die beskerming van vee teen predatore. As jong- en klein vee dié beskermde gebiede verlaat, is hulle die hoofprooi vir hoofsaaklik die rooijakkals. Dit is noemenswaardig dat daar ‘n effense toename in die verliese van volwasse skape en teelooie is wat dikwels die prooi van die rooijakkals is.
Die getalle van die predatore en bevolkingsdigtheid is verantwoordelik vir bykans dieselfde aangepaste gedrag soos wat in KwaZulu-Natal gesien word, waar die predatore as ‘n trop optree en groter diere neerfel as wat normaalweg die geval is.
Mnr Niel Viljoen : NWKV
REPORT OUTLINES PREDATION TRENDS
Predation Management South Africa (PMSA), released a report on livestock and predation management for the period 2008 to 2023.
The initiative to implement and experiment with different livestock- and predator management strategies, had its origin in 2008 under the guidance of the National Wool Growers’ Association of South Africa (NWGA).
The objective was to find and formulate workable and manageable strategies that involved both predators as well as livestock. The research platform involved various farms distributed nationally, including most of the provinces, and covering different ecological areas in different rainfall regions.
In 2008 a total area of 136 214 hectares (27 farms) were identified for evaluating adaptive management strategies, which should be sustainable and workable under the unique South African commercial farming conditions.
Provincial results
- KwaZulu-Natal
Around 55% of predation occurs on adult sheep. Livestock management plays a crucial role and by moving sheep from protected areas to less protected areas (i.e., up in mountains), will have a huge impact. For the black backed jackal, with an average body weight of about 9kg, to bring down an animal weighing 50 to 60kg will take some effort. These losses are proof that jackal may also hunt in packs.
- Western Cape
Livestock losses due to predation mainly occur on lambs (from new-born up to wean). This indicates that predator numbers are under control. Predator attacks on livestock consequently only occur when these animals are vulnerable and exposed.
- Free State
The Free State is also experiencing livestock losses on younger sheep (new-born to weaning age). Statistics show that 75% lambs and 17% weaned lambs are the main losses due to predators.
- Northern Cape
Predation again mainly occurs on livestock ranging from new-born to wean. Predator numbers are controlled by means of a lethal control method (call and shoot). Due to this area being semi-arid in nature, an extensive, natural lambing season is the main practice.
- Eastern Cape
Predation occurs mainly during the first few months after birth up to wean. Topography differences have a huge impact on the practical use of call and shoot. Predation trends lean away from the black backed jackal and more towards losses due to caracal.
Summary
Livestock management by means of lambing pens and lambing camps have a positive effect on protecting livestock from predators. When young and small livestock leave these protective areas, they become the main prey for mainly black backed jackal. Notably is a slight increase in losses on fully grown sheep and breeding ewes that often fall prey to black backed jackal. The numbers of these predators and population density are responsible for almost the same adaptive behaviour as in KwaZulu-Natal, where these predators operate as a united pack, bringing down larger prey than the prey normally attacked by these predators.
Mr Neil Viljoen, NWGA
