Overview of the Group-Camp Approach
The group-camp approach is a way in which a grazing system is implemented
The group-camp system as it is commonly known is not strictly a system, but it is a way by which almost any system can be applied. The old conventional way was to divide the stock on a farm into different flocks, for example, a ewe flock, a weather flock, and so forth, and to allocate certain camps to each flock. This usually meant that there would be two or three camps in which the ewe flock could rotate and the same for the other flocks. Systems like these were inflexible and had many disadvantages. It is often also mentioned as one of the main reasons for the slow acceptance and application of veld management systems by farmers.
By using the group-camp approach the camps on a farm are divided into several groups (if there are enough camps) following the camp system that is preferred. For example, for a three-camp system, there must be three groups, for a four-camp system, four, and so forth.
With the division of the camps into groups, the following requirements must be complied with as far as possible:
- Try to get a proportional distribution of all the different vegetation types within each group.
- The grazing capacity (size) of the different groups must be more or less the same.
- Make sure that conveniently situated camps suitable for lambing, weaning, and so forth, occur in each group.
With the allotment of the camps into the different groups, the following procedure can be followed. Mark all the camps that should receive special treatments, for example, water course veld which is grazed only during winter, erosion camps which are withdrawn, camps with drought fodder crops, lands, and so forth. These camps are normally not included in the grouping of the camps for the camp system. The remaining camps are now grouped as follows. Start with the camp with the biggest grazing capacity, (the camp that will carry the most stock) and allot it to Group A, for example. The camp with the second biggest grazing capacity is allotted to Group B, and so forth (Write down the size of each camp next to its number.) Repeat this procedure until each group has one camp. For the allotment of the second camps, the order is reversed to that the last group will receive the camp with the biggest grazing capacity, and group A will receive the camp with the smallest grazing capacity of the second camps. This procedure is repeated until all the camps are allotted. If the total size of each group is now determined, it should be more or less the same, unless extraordinarily good and poor camps occur in different groups. At this stage, the distribution of the vegetation types, the size of the groups, the distribution of camps suitable for lambing, and so forth, are checked. If any maldistribution occurs, camps of more or less equal size or grazing capacities can be exchanged until the desired combination is obtained. If the desired combinations cannot be obtained, different systems can be used. If there are for example only two or four small camps that are suitable for lambing, while the farmer wants to run a three-camp system, these two or four-camps can be grouped separately and put under a two-camp system. This will increase the number of groups. Another way is to group the superfluous camps into a separate group, known as occasional or opportunity camps. These opportunity camps are then used according to the needs and the discretion of the farmer. This is however a dangerous practice which must be avoided as far as possible. Watercourses, erosion camps, and camps with fodder crops and lands are also grouped as separate groups.
Strategic camp designs and allocations will take into consideration the different vegetation and terrain as well as the access to water and areas which require special attention. (Adapted from Beef Research.CA)
The application of the approach is very simple and can be explained as follows, with a three-camp system as an example. Instead of giving certain camps to certain flocks, in which they can rotate, a whole group of camps is available for all the flocks of the farm. As the system goes on the next group of camps becomes available from time to time. Within the group of camps that are available for a certain period, the farmer can manipulate his stock as it suits him best. He can group his animals into large flocks and try to follow a non-selective grazing approach, or he can try to follow a controlled selective grazing approach. The more camps there are in each group the more flexible the system becomes.
It is also possible to apply a large number of special treatments by the manipulation of the stock. Examples of such special treatments include the following: the intensive grazing of karoo bush veld that is much grown out; preferential treatment of certain animals or camps; special rest periods for camps that need it; withdrawal after rains, especially if just a part of the farm has received rain; prevention of plant poisoning occurring during certain times in certain camps, and so forth.
It is therefore clear that a large flexibility can be obtained by the group-camp approach, even for simple conventional systems. A further advantage of the group-camp approach, if it is used in the place of a multi-camp system, is that a definite rest pattern is built into the system. It can therefore be regarded as a multi-camp system ‘buffered’ with a conventional system. It will therefore be more difficult to make unnecessary mistakes as a result of ignorance.
An example of a farm plan where you can practice your camp grouping follows.
An example of a disc chart on which the system can be filled in also follows. If the different camp groups are indicated by certain colours on the farm plan and the corresponding colours are also used on the disc chart, it gives a simple and effective way to practice systematic veld management. A system or disc chart can be started at any point, but the point is usually chosen in such a way that the best veld receives the most grazing during the first season.
An example farm plan for group camping
An example disc chart
Example of a farm plan