The impact of predation on a sheep enterprise in the Free State region

1. The impact of predation on a sheep enterprise in the Free State region • Andries Strauss1, • Prof. H.O. de Waal2 & Dr. N.L. Avenant3 • 1 Agricultural Research Institute, Private Bag X01, Glen 9301, South Africa, andries@glen.agric.za • 2Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa. • 3 Department of Mammalogy, National Museum, POBox 266, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.

2. Introduction Canis mesomelas Canis familiaris Caracal caracal Most livestock Losses in SA (Avenant et al., 2006; De Waal et al., 2006). Glen Agricultural Institute (Glen AI) Private sheep farms,SA

3. Introduction Free State Wool Sheep Project Started in 1998 A total of 280 Merino Ewes Allocated to four (4) system treatments

4. Aim of FS Wool Sheep project1998 To Develop and wool farming systems on the resource (veld & pastures) combination of Glen AI sustainable profitable

5. PROBLEM

6. PREDATION Merino shearing flock & Dorper flock (De Waal & Combrinck, 2000) FS Woolsheep project 4 Merino flocks Included in Analysis

7. New study developed: Aim: To determine the impact of Of the Merino and Dorper flocks over a 9 year period from 1999 – 2007 at Glen AI Reproduction Predation Production Economy

8. Test population Started in 1998 with 1130 sheep Four(4) treatment flocks of FS Wool Sheep project Merino shearing flock Dorper flock 552 Sheep in 2007

9. Research process Comparison between four categories of losses: • Predation • Diseases • Metabolic disorders / accidents • Theft Calculations included: • Direct financial costs • Veterinary and shearing costs • Lick and labour • Pastures

10. Data Collection • Analysis of small stock death certificates

12. Annual post-weaning losses and mortalities (Merino flocks & Dorper flock) over a period of nine years at the Glen AI

13. Annual post-weaning losses as a percentage of all sheep (Merino and Dorper) flocks over a period of nine years at the Glen AI

14. Direct financial implications of losses and mortalities (Merino & Dorper flocks) over a period of five years at the Glen AI

15. Total financial expenditure due to fruitless expenses (Merino & Dorper flocks) at the Glen AI

16. Annual financial losses for the Merino flocks and the Dorper flock at the Glen AI

17. Conclusion (R9 843/year) Theft 6% (R35 299/year) Metabolic disorder & Accidents 20% (R129 562/year) (R4 337/year) Predation 72% Diseases 2%

18. Total Merino and Dorper flock size 1130 A loss of 747 suckling lambs Over 9 year period + A loss of 1422 post-weaned lambs = Total lost to Predation 552

19. Due to Predation some of the ewes in the Merino flocks and Dorper flock at the Glen AI could not raise one lamb in a six year production cycle

20. Aim of FS Wool Sheep project1998 To Develop and wool farming systems on the resource (veld & pastures) combination of Glen AI sustainable profitable

21. The R647 814 lost due to predation is very high if considered that the data was collected on a relative small number of sheep in the Merino and Dorper flocks at the Glen AI. • The genetic losses due to predation are estimated as considerably more than the direct financial losses.

23. 64 days pregnant Den Own territory Shedding Teeth Mating Weaning 1999-2007 2008-2011

24. References • Avenant, N.L., De Waal, H.O. & Combrinck, W.J., 2006. The Canis-Caracal Programme: A holistic approach. In: Proceedings of a workshop on Holistic Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Agricultural Sector of South-Africa. Ganzekraal Conference Centre, Western Cape, South Africa. pp. 23-25. • De Waal, H.O. & Combrinck, W.J., 2000. The Dorper - its nutrition and a perspective of the grazing ruminant on veld. Small Ruminant Research 36, 103-117.