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Niel Viljoen Predation Management Programme
Rondloperhonde: Dingo's van die ooskaap
Tisha Steyn het ‘n artikel vir Pro Agri geskryf oor die feit dat rondloperhonde ‘n al groter las vir skaap- en bokboere op kommunale lanbougrond in die landelike gebiede van die Ooskaap word. Haar waarneming kom uit Niel Viljoen se nuutste verslag “Livestock & Predation Management – Monitor farms to assess management tools in support of predation management training in South Africa”.
Lees die volledige artikel hier.
16 YEARS OF USING MONITOR FARMS IN PREDATION MANAGEMENT
Report: Livestock & Predation Management – Monitor farms to assess management tools in support of predation management training in South Africa.
This report (the longest continuous predator research and monitored project in South Africa’s history) gives feedback on the findings and results formulated over the past 16 years, since the project started in 2008.
The importance of adaptive management skills is supported by a toolbox of available methods. Call and shoot of damage causing predators was directly influenced by above average wet conditions, as was experienced during 2022. This, again, confirms the importance of every single control method, lethal and non-lethal, underlining the fact that all methods have a legitimate and valuable place in the toolbox of management approaches.
Long-term results recorded on monitor farms is a very important source to inform and update predation management training provided to livestock managers, -owners and -farmworkers. Training and improving the skills and knowledge of those participating in the programme involving responsible predation management also supports sustainable production practices.
These practices are audited and certified as required conditions contained in the Sustainable Cape Wools Standard (SCWS). Certified wool from these farms is recognised internationally and improves the demand for wool produced in SA under this certification, also resulting in higher wool prices for the producer.
The financial support significantly contributes towards improving the knowledge base on responsible predation management, as well as the skills and knowledge of livestock managers and -owners participating in the training initiative. Monitor farms were selected to represent the most important extensive farming areas in SA, where livestock losses are a serious threat to rural livelihoods, also threatening food security. It is estimated that livestock losses in SA is valued at more than R2.0 billion per annum. The following organisations are hereby acknowledged and thanked for their financial contribution towards the programme:
* AgriSETA
* All 27 monitor farms, farmers, managers and their co-workers
* Communal monitor farm at Mount Fletcher
* Red Meat Producers’ Organisation of SA (RPO)
* National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) (Eastern Cape & Communal Branches)
* Predation Management South Africa (PMSA)
Report: Livestock & Predation Management – Monitor farms to assess management tools in support of predation management training in South Africa.
This report (the longest continuous predator research and monitored project in South Africa’s history) gives feedback on the findings and results formulated over the past 16 years, since the project started in 2008.
The importance of adaptive management skills is supported by a toolbox of available methods. Call and shoot of damage causing predators was directly influenced by above average wet conditions, as was experienced during 2022. This, again, confirms the importance of every single control method, lethal and non-lethal, underlining the fact that all methods have a legitimate and valuable place in the toolbox of management approaches.
Long-term results recorded on monitor farms is a very important source to inform and update predation management training provided to livestock managers, -owners and -farmworkers. Training and improving the skills and knowledge of those participating in the programme involving responsible predation management also supports sustainable production practices.
These practices are audited and certified as required conditions contained in the Sustainable Cape Wools Standard (SCWS). Certified wool from these farms is recognised internationally and improves the demand for wool produced in SA under this certification, also resulting in higher wool prices for the producer.
The financial support significantly contributes towards improving the knowledge base on responsible predation management, as well as the skills and knowledge of livestock managers and -owners participating in the training initiative. Monitor farms were selected to represent the most important extensive farming areas in SA, where livestock losses are a serious threat to rural livelihoods, also threatening food security. It is estimated that livestock losses in SA is valued at more than R2.0 billion per annum. The following organisations are hereby acknowledged and thanked for their financial contribution towards the programme:
* AgriSETA
* All 27 monitor farms, farmers, managers and their co-workers
* Communal monitor farm at Mount Fletcher
* Red Meat Producers’ Organisation of SA (RPO)
* National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) (Eastern Cape & Communal Branches)
* Predation Management South Africa (PMSA)
14-YEAR JOURNEY WITH PREDATION MONITOR FARMS
The annual report by Niel Viljoen, which culminates 14 years of findings and formulated results on 27 monitor farms, situated across 6 provinces, covering a total area of 136 214 hectares, has established itself as the longest continuous predator research and monitored project in South Africa’s history.
It summarises the extraordinary results that have been accomplished from the integrated livestock predation management programme and the impact of management on both livestock and predators.
Livestock losses due to predators were drastically reduced from 2008, when the number of losses on all the monitored farms equaled 3 320. This number of losses were reduced over the 14-year period to 1 150 in 2021. This indicates a decline of 2 169 less losses or an improvement of 65,3%. The programme started with a total national average loss of 13.2% and with the implementation of sound predation management practices through this programme, resulted in average livestock losses of below 2.5%.
One of the graphs confirmed that the primary predator responsible for the biggest number of livestock losses in SA is the Black backed Jackal. Another interesting fact is the number of caracals removed over the past 6 years, have been relatively stable and much lower than for jackal. The intense drought of the past number of years could be the main reason for this.
Predation management is therefore not about eliminating all predators (generally referred to as predator control), but rather predation management, which involves utilizing all available methods, including lethal and non-lethal methods, implying to first manage livestock and then to control and manage predators.
The objective of the programme is to assist farmers to minimize losses due to predation, increase weaning percentages and consequently financial benefits, which then contribute to a financially viable farming enterprise.
The National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) and Red Meat Producers’ Organization (RPO) are thanked for their financial support.
Na aanleiding van verslag wat 2020 gelewer is, het Landbou.com op 23 Junie 2021, die volgende artikel geplaas hoe die monitering op plase ‘n daling van veeverliese teweeggebring het.
REAKTIEWE ROOFDIERBEHEER TEENOOR PREDASIEBESTUUR - watter tipe boer is jy ?
Deur Niel Viljoen, Predasiespesialis
Reaktiewe optrede (tydelike verligting) Jy boer nog met gister se plan op vandag se program
| Predasiebestuur (permanente volhoubare oplossing) Voorkom verliese en hou finansiele voordele in
| ||
Gebrek aan kennis aangaande roofdiere | Jy maak staat op die aantal jakkalse & rooikatte wat verwyder word. | Deeglike kennis van jou plaas se biodiversiteit. | Jy maak staat op die aantal lammers wat gered word voordat jakkalse en rooikatte noodsaaklik word om te elimineer. |
**Lae speenpersentasie | Jy verstaan waartoe jou geweer op 100 m, 200 m & 300 m in staat is. | ***Geïntegreerde bestuursplan wat beweidingstelsel, kudde- en roofdierbestuursplan deurlopend evalueer en aanpas. | Jy ken en verstaan die biologie en gedragspatrone van onderskeie predatore |
| Jy is oorgehaal vir optrede nadat die eerste lam gevang is | Krities dat tyd en aandag eweredig oor die hele spektrum van bestuur versprei word. | Jy is oorgehaal vir doelgerigte seisoenale bestuurspraktyke wat roofdiere insluit |
| Enige verlies bly ‘n roofdier die oorsaak. | Verliese word deeglik ondersoek en oorsake bevestig. | Jy doen moeite om te leer en aan te pas. |
| Voortslepende veeverliese. |
| Finansiele voordele |
| Jy dink jy verstaan |
| Jy verstaan |
** Die beste speenpersentasie is direk gekoppel aan die boer se vermoë om vroegtydig die mees onvoorspelbare en veranderlike element in sy bestuursplan – die gedrag van rooijakkalse – te identifiseer.
*** Geïntegreerde bestuursprogram:
- Roofdierbestuursprogram: begin by die begin, nl. Kernareas van roofdiere.
- Indien roofdiere se voorkeurhabitat geidentifiseer is, kan verskeie beheermaatreels toegepas word.
- In die geval van rooijakkalse, hanteer kernareas altyd asof die diere daar teenwoordig is (alhoewel jy dalk die teelpaar verwyder het, mag nuwe toetreders jou dalk net verras).
- Beplan vee- en weidingsbestuur maandeliks daarvolgens.
- Mensgemaakte strukture soos jakkalswerende- en elektrifiserende drade bly verseker ‘n hindernis in hierdie diere se daaglikse beweegroetes. Beskerm jou veekuddes, span lamareas toe, span jakkalse uit of span jakkalse se kernareas uit jou jaarlikse beplande veebestuursprogram.
- Gebruik deurlopend met afwissing, die totale roofdier gereedskapsbestuurskis tot jou voordeel.
2. Kuddebestuursprogram: kies lamtye noukeurig met inagneming van die veranderlikes in die voedselbehoeftes van predatore.
3. Beweidingstelsel: vermy kernareas tydens lamtye.
Niel se beste advies:
- Hou predasiebestuur by die topbestuur van jou besigheid.
- Indien jy delegeer, word dit tweedehands hanteer.
- Kennis is mag, maar onthou die rooijakkals het die slag. Wie die vinnigste gaan aanpas, het beslis die meeste mag !!
BOERE...... BEWAARDERS EN HOEKSTENE VAN GESONDE BIODIVERSITEIT
Predasiespesialis Niel Viljoen het met die draai van die eeu die dertiende jaar van navorsing en studies op moniteringsplase betree. Wat oorspronklik begin het as eksperimentele plase waar roofdierbestuur en beheermetodes getoets, vergelyk en aangepas is, is hierdie plase toonbeelde van sukses wat baie meer na vore gebring het as net suksesvolle roofdierbestuur.
Hy staan verstom oor boere se integriteit, kennis en passie vir die voortbestaan van hulle bedryf; ook hulle diepe afhanklikheid van en respek vir die stuk aarde waarop hulle ’n bestaan voer. Die samewerkingsooreenkoms en verstandhouding tussen boer en Moeder Natuur is ongelooflik.
Biodiversiteit en ons moderne Suid-Afrikaanse boere
Seker die belangrikste doel vir die voortbestaan van alle lewe op aarde is ’n goeie engesonde biodiversiteit. Dit kan eenvoudig opgesom word as biologiese diversiteit, wat ook verskeidenheid beteken, en dit sluit alle vorme van lewe op aarde in: organismes, plante, diere; die hele spektrum van ekostelsels en ekosisteme in alle denkbare geografiese streke van ons planeet. Dit is ’n ineengeweefde, ingewikkelde wisselwerking tussen ’n verskeidenheid van spesies.
Biodiversiteit is Moeder Natuur se goed geoliede masjien om haarself te beskerm, ’n gesonde balans te handhaaf en alle versteurings in enige van haar ekostelsels so spoedig moontlik te identifiseer, te verwerk en weer te balanseer. ’n Gesonde biodiversiteit is die mensdom se kern van oorlewing. Ons daaglikse lewensnoodsaaklike bronne (voedsel, klerasie en water) is direk afhanklik van biodiversiteit. Daarom is dit so belangrik dat ons moderne produseerders (kommersiële boere) nooit biodiversiteit uit die oog mag verloor nie. Onlangse studies in Suid-Afrika het getoon dat biodiversiteit op kommersiële landbougronde baie gesonder is as in sommige van ons parke. Dis ’n pluimpie vir kommersiële produsente.
Die grootste struikelblok vir ’n gesonde biodiversiteit is ongelukkig een van die spesies wat ook deel uitmaak van hierdie totale prentjie van ons planeet: die mensdom, ek en jy.
Net meer as ’n derde van ons planeet se beskikbare grondmassa word vir kommersiële landbou gebruik. Bykans 80% van Suid-Afrika se grond is beskikbaar vir een of ander vorm van landbou. Gegewe hierdie syfers is dit duidelik watter ontsaglike groot rol landbouers speel in die handhawing van ’n goeie en gesonde biodiversiteit.
Moeder Natuur kan haar bes doen vir biodiversiteit, maar met 80% daarvan in die hande van landbouers, mag dit dalk ’n risiko wees, en sy het hulp nodig. Te danke aan mense met ’n passie, goed ingeligte en opgeleide bewaarders en boere, kry Moeder
Natuur meer as haar deel van gesonde biodiversiteit vanaf kommersiële landbou. Wat is hierdie hulpmiddel, die anker wat kommersiële boere in Suid-Afrika gebruik om biodiversiteit ’n hupstoot te gee? Die antwoord is voor-die-hand-liggend: biosekuriteit. Wat is biosekuriteit? Dit is ’n stel voorkomende voorsorgmaatreëls wat ontwerp word om biologiese bronne te beskerm en die risiko van verspreiding van siektes en peste oor die hele landbousektor, diere, plante en ook die mens in enige vorm te voorkom. In kort, om my en jou lewensomstandighede te beveilig, te beskerm en te verseker. Dit is die beskerming van die totale prentjie van gesondheid.
Wat beteken dit vir die landbouer of in hierdie geval, die veeboer?
Absolute risikobeheer en -bestuur op jou plaas en jou werksomgewing. Een van die grootste bedreigings vir biosekuriteit is ongelukkig die mens self, wat in menige geval die draer en/of die verspreider van kieme, parasiete en virusse is. Vir die boer is dit sy veldskoene, voertuie en vragmotors, of die plaaslike veearts, landboukundige, bankbestuurder of buurman wat besoek aflê, wat die skuldige kan wees.
Dit is opmerklik hoe boere die afgelope paar jaar bewus geword het van die beperking en/of vermyding van vreemde bewegings op sekere dele van hulle boerdery.
- Elektroniese hekke beperk grotendeels ongewenste toetrede van ongemagtigde persone.
- By menige veekrale word ingang tot die kraal geweier en by intensiewe stelsels, soos byvoorbeeld lamhokke en voerkraalstelsels, is dit slegs die persone wat daar werk wat die perseel mag betree. Dan is die was van hande en deurloop by die voetpad ’n vereiste. Die inkoop van vee, hetsy van ander boerderye of veeveilings is seker een van die grootste risiko-areas wat biosekuriteit bedreig. Kwarantynkampe of -krale raak ’n bekende gesig op veeplase. Dit is egter nie net die mens self of sy vee wat biosekuriteit bedreig nie. Daar is nog ’n ander kommerwekkende factor wat baie min of geen aandag kry nie. Wilde trekdiere wat oor plase beweeg en moontlike draers kan wees, is ’n risikofaktor; veral bobbejane, bosvarke, vlakvarke en selfs roofdiere soos rooikatte en jakkalse. Goed geïsoleerde plaasgrense, hetsy met jakkalswerende en/of kragdrade, is ’n aanwins vir biosekuriteit. Die bedreiging vir hierdie sekuriteitsmaatreël is die vernietigende invloed wat bosvarke en vlakvarke daarop het. Die natuurlike deurvloei en selfs verskuiwing van wild bly ook ’n risiko, selfs ten opsigte van dooie diere. Professionele roofdierjagters jag op een plaas, verskuif na ’n ander plaas met die geëlimineerde roofdiere op hulle voertuig en laai dit dan op ’n ander perseel as die oorspronklike af.
Biosekuriteit is boere se verpligte aandeel tot ’n gesonder biodiversiteit, maar boere alleen is nie die enigste rolspelers wat hierdie doel moet help verseker nie. Biosekuriteit vereis ook betrokkenheid en samewerking van wetenskaplikes, beleidmakers en wetstoepassers.
Monitor farms a source of good advice on predation management
The extensive training program conducted by predation specialist Niel Viljoen through Predation Management SA (PMSA) to train livestock producers, farm workers and professional predation management specialists, surely had its challenges under extreme drought conditions, with predators continuously changing and adapting their hunting preferences and consequently cause harm to livestock. The monitor farms established by the NWGA had a crucial role to play by constantly evaluating the effectiveness of different management tools that inform farmers through training to ensure the survival of their livestock and off-course the farming community as a whole.
Learning from experience and valuable information gained on these monitor farms over the past twelve years shows that training is extremely important to keep farmers well-informed. Training also empowers farmers with this ongoing process of not only adapting to predator behaviour but to implement pre-planned management strategies to reduce livestock losses.
Through this initiative of the PMSA, farmers can now look back on the achievements on monitor farms and learn by example, as management strategies are tested and evaluated on an annual basis. The valuable information gained on these monitor farms put livestock producers in a far better position than ever before to decide on the correct predation management program, combined with the different management strategies for that specific farm.
It is important to take into consideration the extremely harsh conditions experienced in livestock farming over the past four to five years, especially considering weather conditions and extreme drought in some parts of our country that farmers had to deal with. Monitor farms was a leading example of adapting to not only livestock and predator management strategies, but also the new challenges arising from outside the boundaries of the farm. The challenge surely was to try and keep a stable predation management plan in place no matter the impact of the drought. Stability through these extreme conditions was the key factor for financial benefit and a continued profitable enterprise. Losses other than predation especially from the drought have escalated to levels far more than expected. This had a ripple effect on some of our predators like the Black backed jackal, which by nature is a scavenger. The smell of dead animals in the air every night seems to have triggered this scavenger to more than normal hunting behaviour, leading to more casualties amongst livestock.
The drought had an indispensable effect on other animals not normally classified as predators that are causing damage to livestock. Forced by nature and the scarcity of their normal natural food source and driven by instinct, these animals had no other choice then to turn to a much easier prey, livestock. Examples of these animals that did have a direct effect on livestock losses are animals like the baboon, seagull, bush pig, Cape fox, African wildcat, Black eagle, Marchelle eagle and the biggest culprit of them all the honey badger. With all these new culprits threatening the livestock industry the challenge is up for even further improvement on training and management strategies.
With all these new challenges facing the livestock industry, the NWGA monitor farms remain of strategic importance to inform the content of the training program and advice on predation management to always be prepared to protect, secure and invest in a good and healthy biodiversity.
The financial support from AgriSETA, Wool- and Red Meat Industry is herewith acknowledged with appreciation
Boer met 'n plan (Niel Viljoen Bestuursprogram)
“As jy roofdiere suksesvol wil beheer en bestuur, moet jy hulle verstaan en hul gewoontes ken”, sê Niel Viljoen, bekende roofdierkenner. In dié artikel gee hy praktiese riglyne vir die bestuur van roofdiere. Dit is ‘n uittreksel uit ‘n DVD oor sy bestuursprogram waarmee hy reeds groot sukses behaal het. Die DVD is by die NWKV beskikbaar.
Isolasie waarborg 'n verhoging in speenpersentasie
Train for gain
The National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) started an integrated predation management programme in 2007. Part of the NWGA’s strategy to improve predation management in SA is training farmers and farmworkers in predation management and using so-called monitor farms where best practice predation management is demonstrated. Since 2008, a total of 30 monitor farms have been used in South Africa, covering an area in excess of 155 000 ha. Article by Niel Viljoen as appeared in the December 2016 Wool Farmer.
Kennis is mag
Vir doeltreffende predasiebestuur is die boer se gereedskapskis, met al die metodes van beheer en bestuur ‘n goeie vertrekpunt. Daarmee saam is die kennis van die lewensiklus en gedrag van predatore net so noodsaaklik. Sekere hulpmiddels in die gereedskapskis werk beter in sekere fases van ‘n roofdier se lewensiklus as in ander tye. Die regte bestuursmetode op die regte tyd gee die beste resultate. Net so moet die boer se vee-, kudde- en veldbestuur by roofdiere se lewensiklus probeer aanpas om die minste moontlike verliese te ly.
Goeie begin is half gewin
Indien enige vorm van afskrikmiddels gebruik word, moet die boer steeds voluit voortgaan met ‘n roofdierbestuursprogram.
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