El Niño could put game farmers on feeding alert

El Niño could bring hotter, drier conditions to South Africa. Learn how game farmers can manage grazing, choose supplementary feed and protect wildlife health.

 

South Africa’s forecast hot, dry summer could leave game with less grazing and poorer-quality forage, making supplementary feeding an important consideration on some game farms. Planning ahead and managing feed correctly can help game farmers protect animal condition without introducing unnecessary feeding risks.

For game farmers, these forecasts are a reason to assess grazing availability, water supplies and supplementary feed requirements before conditions deteriorate. If the expected rainfall shortfall materialises, grass growth could be limited, veld recovery may be delayed and the nutritional value of available grazing could decline.

El Niño does not guarantee drought in every region, and conditions can differ considerably between properties. Nevertheless, preparing for the possibility of a difficult summer is sensible wildlife management.

WHEN SHOULD GAME BE FED?

Free-ranging herbivores depend on the natural vegetation available to them, but the quantity and quality of that forage can change considerably with the seasons. When good summer grazing fails to develop or the veld dries out earlier than expected, some animals may struggle to obtain sufficient nutrients from their normal diet.

Supplementary feeding may then be necessary, depending on the species, stocking rate, condition of the veld and nutritional requirements of the animals. Ranchers should assess their properties individually rather than assume that all game needs additional feed simply because an El Niño event is forecast.

Keeping wildlife numbers in balance with the veld’s carrying capacity is equally important. The Department of Agriculture has urged livestock farmers to avoid overstocking, implement sound veld-management practices and provide additional feed and watering points where necessary. These principles are also relevant when managing grazing pressure on game ranches.

Before introducing supplements, ranchers should evaluate the available grazing, monitor animal condition and seek advice from an animal nutritionist with wildlife experience. The objective is to address nutritional deficiencies without making abrupt changes to the animals’ diet.

CHOOSE FEED CAREFULLY

Not all feeds are suitable for every species or situation. When purchasing cubes, pellets, meal, licks, hay or raw materials for self-mixed rations, use a reputable manufacturer or distributor that can provide consistent quality and technical support.

Raw materials such as maize, sunflower oilcake, soya oilcake, wheaten bran and dry brewers’ grains should also come from reliable sources. Where possible, obtain a certificate of analysis to help establish their nutritional composition.

Supplements and self-mixed rations should be formulated according to the needs of the particular animals and the conditions on the property. Advice from an animal nutritionist familiar with wildlife is especially valuable when deciding on the appropriate feed type and intake.

Keep records of the products used, including manufacturing or bagging dates and batch numbers. Retain bag tags so that a product can be traced if a quality concern arises. Older feed should be used before newly purchased stock, following a first-in, first-out system, provided it remains suitable for feeding.

STORE FEED PROPERLY

Feed quality can deteriorate if products are stored incorrectly. Pellets, meals and other dry or semi-dry feedstuffs should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated storeroom or container, away from direct sunlight.

High temperatures and moisture can encourage fungal growth and the production of mycotoxins, which may pose a risk to animal health. Feed delivered on hot days under waterproof tarpaulins can also be exposed to condensation. After delivery, bags should therefore be moved into suitable storage rather than left in a hot, enclosed vehicle or container.

Storage areas must be protected against rodents, insects and birds. Feed bags should be placed on pallets or similar raised surfaces to prevent direct contact with damp floors and walls.

Hay also needs careful handling. Mouldy or dusty hay can contribute to respiratory and digestive problems. Poor-quality hay should not be fed in large quantities to rhinos, as inadequate digestion can lead to impaction and potentially colic.

CHANGE RETIONS GRADUALLY

One of the most important considerations when supplementary feeding begins is the need to allow animals time to adapt to a new diet.

According to Craig Shepstone of Wildlife Nutrition Services, a consultant to Epol with a background in animal science, adaptation to supplementary feed should take place slowly over approximately four to five weeks.

Abrupt dietary changes can contribute to digestive disturbances, including acidosis and the condition commonly referred to as red gut. Severe cases can be fatal.

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Shepstone cautions against automatically switching from a cube or pellet containing 16% crude protein to one containing 12% crude protein when the seasons change. Red gut is not prevented simply by reducing the protein percentage. Highly fermentable starch and the energy component of a ration can also play an important role in digestive disturbances.

Where a change of product is necessary, the new feed should be introduced progressively over about five weeks. One approach is to replace approximately one-fifth of the old feed with the new feed each week, until the transition is complete. The precise approach should be guided by the animals’ needs and appropriate professional advice.

MAKE ROUGHAGE A PRIORITY

Good-quality grass hay should form the largest proportion of the diet of grazing herbivores when hay is required as supplementary roughage. However, the type and quantity of hay must suit the species being fed.

Where grass hay is low in crude protein, Shepstone recommends adding 10% to 20% legume hay, such as lucerne, to help meet protein requirements. Ideally, hay should be analysed by a laboratory to establish its nutritional composition and help determine the appropriate proportions for a ration.

Browsers have different dietary requirements from grazing herbivores. A mixture of grass and legume hays, in a ratio ranging from approximately 50:50 to 75:25, can help mimic aspects of their natural diet. The appropriate balance will depend on the species and the nutritional quality of the available forage.

Ranchers should avoid relying exclusively on lucerne or small-grain hay for herbivores, as an unsuitable diet can contribute to mineral imbalances, colic and diarrhoea.

PREPARE BEFORE THE VELD DETERIORATES

With the 2026/27 summer outlook favouring warmer and drier conditions across much of South Africa, game farmers should monitor local rainfall forecasts, grazing conditions, water availability and animal body condition throughout the season.

Supplementary feeding may be necessary on some properties, but it should form part of a broader management plan that includes appropriate stocking rates, veld management and access to water. Feed should be selected for the animals’ nutritional needs, stored correctly and introduced gradually.

El Niño is not a guarantee of drought, but planning early gives ranchers more time to assess risks and make informed decisions if grazing becomes inadequate.

Source for feeding guidelines: Craig Shepstone, Wildlife Nutrition Services cc, article ‘Practical pointers for feeding wild herbivore’ which appeared in the March 2018 article for SA JAGTER/HUNTER.