BALANCING ELEMENTS

In the first two issues of Wildlife Ranching this year, I explained what terminology ecologists, nutritionists and other scientists use as baseline arguments in determining/calculating the edible component of the foliage available on a game farm, livestock farm and/ or game reserve. This article focus on what management on the farm can do to improve game-farming and game reserve systems, ensuring maximum plant and animal yield over time.

“Animal numbers are normally controlled by hunting, live sales, culling or, if the game reserve is big enough, a combination of hunting and predation by carnivores.”

INTRODUCTION

Having one’s own piece of Africa is probably one of the biggest reasons for game farms and reserves coming into existence: the romantic dream of owning a piece of the continent where animals can still roam freely, ensuring the survival of ecosystems and species.

This was and still is a beautiful thought, but if not managed properly, this piece