The Whole Concept of livestock management

The Whole Management concept

Behind Johann Zietsman and Whole Management

Johann has a B.Sc (Agric) cum laude degree in Animal Science from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He spent time with the Department of Research and Specialist Services in Zimbabwe during which Beef Carcass Grading was researched. Subsequently, a classification scheme was developed that was adopted by the national Cold Storage Commission in Zimbabwe. Subsequent to his formal research he embarked upon a career in ranching with particular interest in breeding veld-adapted cattle and using them to improve the veld and increase carrying capacity.

" What placed me at an advantage over my colleagues in formal research and universities was the fact that I was in a practical farming situation working with the many interacting forces."

Initially his efforts focused on breeding cattle for productivity under commercial ranching conditions of limited supplementation, conservative stocking, no dosing and strategic tick control. The result was a functionally efficient herd of Beefmaster cattle calving from the age of 2 years, weaning calves up to 75% of cow weight and achieving reconception rates in excess of 80% in a 42 day breeding season (21 days AI, 21 days natural service). Unregistered, performance recorded bulls were sold for an average of US$4000 each over a 15-year period until political instability took its toll.

Adapted cattle genotype An example of adapted genotype cattle. A Veldmaster cow (370kg) and her calf (215kg) at the end of the dry season in Zimbabwe. These cattle were carried at treble the recommended stocking rate. The calf also calved at 2 years of age.

Recognition and Exposure

Over the years many interested individuals and groups have visited Johann's ranches in order to gain knowledge and insight about his leading livestock management research.

Groups such as the Grassland Society of Zimbabwe and local commercial and communal farmers as well as many visitors from the USA, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Namibia and South Africa have made regular study trips. Many articles have been written by these visitors subsequent to their visits to the ranches. Johann has addressed many local meetings, field days and presented papers at a number of conferences — a number of which, as in Namibia, Australia and South Africa — have been by special invitation. In 1999 he received the Grassland Society Award and was made an Honourary Life Member.

Beefcor, one of the largest beef operations in South Africa, has adopted Johann's management system in a highly successful endorsement of his methodology. Under Johann's guidance, Beefcor grazes cattle under very high stocking rates and densities before entering the feedlot.

Adapted cattle genotype Cattle being moved to a new camp at Beefcor in South Africa. Beefcor runs 20 herds with ±500 weaners each using only 8 labourers.

In the 2003/2004 season 25000 weaners were run on 1500ha. They received 4-5kg supplementary feed in winter and 1-2 kg in summer.

Johann has the theoretical and practical knowledge and experience to not only reverse land degradation but to significantly increase productivity, cheaply and sustainably. The system is based on the mimicking of natural systems and stands in stark contrast to conventional livestock management systems. Rather than reducing animal numbers, greater animal numbers are required. Even "overstocked" communal areas do not require a reduction in numbers in order to reverse environmental degradation.

In order to be sustainable, management is based on the concept of Whole Management — a system that ensures social, economic and ecological sustainability.