Regenerative Farming | Farm Pommernhagen

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Farm Facts

DESCRIPTION

Central Sandveld/Kalk.

ENTERPRISE

Adapted cattle and sheep with limited game.

PROPERTY SIZE

5031 ha.

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF AREA

Frost controls bush; non-aggressive bush thickening; no bush control needed.

AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL AND VARIABILITY

Average: 250 mm; lowest: 36 mm, highest: 750 mm.

ELEVATION

1350 metres above sea level.

OWNED OR RENTED

Owned; full-time management.

MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE AND APPROACH

When the family fi rst settled on the farm in 1972, they believed that if they managed the farm correctly, the perennial grasses would return.

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MAIN INNOVATION

High density selective grazing, fast rotation with well-adapted sheep and cattle, and a sustained focus on achieving good animal performance.

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Before, the farm was dominated by annual grasses. After 10 years of applying high density selective grazing, the veld is now dominated by perennial grasses.

Forage for animals: The average amount of available grass and browse in kilograms per hectare is 692 and 269, respectively, giving a total of 962 kg/ha of available forage to the livestock.

Tree density: The average woody tree density is 604 TE/ha.

Biodiversity: The grass and bush component is made up of 7 and 4 perennial species, respectively. The Biodiversity Index of the farm is a medium value (0.5), which indicates that some species are starting to dominate the grasses and shrubs growing on the farm.

Key Results

Average of 87% cattle calving and 100% lamb weaning throughout the ten-year period.
Sustainable stocking rate improved from 20 kg/ha to 30 kg/ha.
Throughout the ten-year period, the kilograms live weight produced per hectare was 11 kg/ha.
Considerable reduction of input costs.
Core herds of cattle and sheep were brought successfully through the 2019/20 drought.
Achievement of financial resilience due to drought resilience and good performance and fertility of the animals.
Reduced predator-related losses of sheep and calves due to a regularly patrolled electrifi ed perimeter fence.

Farm Pommernhagen

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In 2012, Thorsten and In 2012, Thorsten and Ursula Lüsse adapted their Ursula Lüsse adapted their grazing approach to achieve grazing approach to achieve grazing approach to achieve rangeland improvement and rangeland improvement and increased animal performance. In increased animal performance. In 1972, when the family first arrived on 1972, when the family first arrived on the farm, there was only one perennial grass tuft. Now, the veld is dominated by perennial grasses and the Swarthaak trees are dying off naturally.

Key Tips

Average of 87% cattle calving and 100% lamb weaning through out the ten-year period.
Sustainable stocking rate improved from 20 kg/ha to 30 kg/ha.
Throughout the ten-year period, the kilograms live weight produced per hectare was 11 kg/ha.
Considerable reduction of input costs.
Core herds of cattle and sheep were brought successfully through the 2019/20 drought.
Achievement of fi nancial resilience due to drought resilience and good performance and fertility of the animals.
Reduced predator-related losses of sheep and calves due to a regularly patrolled electrifi ed perimeter fence.

Approaches

RESILIENCE OF THE FARM

Ecological and fi nancial resilience during and after the 2019 drought. No destocking of the core cattle and sheep herds occurred and a 30 kg/ha stocking rate was maintained.

MONEY-MAKING POTENTIAL OF THE FARM

An average of 87% cattle calving and 100% lamb weaning was maintained throughout the ten-year period. The live weight produced on the farm during the ten-year period was 11 kg/ha. Both of these factors indicate a healthy, viable business. Note the drop in kg/ ha production the year after the 2013 and 2019 droughts.

CHOICE OF ANIMAL/S

Well adapted, low input and early-maturing animals: Dorper/Damara sheep crossbred with Meatmasters (which have three breeding seasons) and Bonsmara cattle. Rams and bulls with quality genetics have been introduced to the herds.