Regenerative Farming | Farm Krumhuk

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Farm Facts

DESCRIPTION

Central Highland Thornveld.

ENTERPRISE

Diversifi ed organic and biodynamic farm; main extensive land-based activities are cattle using the planned grazing and combined herding (PGCH) approach with game.

PROPERTY SIZE

8500 hectares (of which only 4000-6000 ha are
used by cattle due to steep mountainous landscapes).

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF AREA

Escarpment with plains and hills; frost conditions.

AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL AND VARIABILITY

Average: 427 mm; lowest: 172 mm; highest: 1015 mm.

ELEVATION

1850 metres above sea level.

OWNED OR RENTED

Section 21 Company – Not for gain; full-time
management.

MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE AND APPROACH

The severe impact that the 1980s drought conditions had on the farm (as well as nationally) stimulated the farmers to look at new ways of increasing their farming resilience and of building a community of practice.

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MAIN INNOVATION

Planned grazing and combined herding with livestock guarding dogs; mobile overnight kraals to enable
safety; using regenerative, organic and biodynamic principles.

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Above: Illustrates the eff ect of collected bush being used to slow and redirect the fl ow of water.

Forage for animals: The average amount of available grass and browse in kilograms per hectare is 651 and 256, respectively, giving a total of 908 kg/ha of available forage to the livestock.

Tree density: The average woody tree density is 519 TE/ha.

Biodiversity: The grass and bush component is made up of 23 and 13 species, respectively. The Biodiversity Index of the farm is a good value (0.7), which indicates little dominance of the grasses and shrubs growing on the farm.

Above: The distinctive green area signifi es a trial electric-fenced overnight kraal erected in June 2018, where 500 head of cattle were kept overnight for seven days (still visible today in 2022). The herd provided a high dung and urine impact as well as hoof impact to the soil. The increased carbon and nutrients to the soil resulted in an explosion of diversity as well as an increase in the quality of available forage for the livestock. This successful trial re-enforces the need to promote the practice of animal impact in order to improve the land, especially in heavier clay soils.

Key Results

Predator losses have decreased from 40 calves to 1-2 calves per year as a result of using planned grazing and combined herding, Anatolian dogs, and mobile overnight kraals.
Calving percentage is an average of 72% since the onset of planned grazing and combined herding and bulls remaining with the herd all year round.
Reduced input costs by only providing block salt to the animals due to low phosphate needs on this farm.
Noticeably improved resource base, with improved ground cover and a reduced fl ow into gullies and dams.
Direct market to the public and to organic market outlets in Windhoek enables good prices
Human-livestock interactions are calm and stress free.
The building of a community of knowledge and practice.

Farm Krumhuk

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Clemens and Ulf-Dieter Voigts say that it is important to caringly observe nature as well as the people around you to fi nd answers for your management questions. This is as important as all the charts, measurements and records needed to measure your success.

Key Tips

Cows with the right potential will adapt to the area.
Move the herd fast in the growing season and slower during the dry season. The daily focus must be on animal performance to ensure a good calving rate as well as good quantity and quality of meat for sale.
Losses to theft and predators must be minimised. In areas with game, herd livestock with dogs and use small mobile electric-fenced kraals at night.
Herders’ needs must be met.
Daily, monthly and annual bonuses for the herders are important to ensure that the job is well done.
Diversify your income sources.
Follow your mission. Farm Krumhuk’s mission is to transform the traditional Namibian way of farming into a modern community-based farming business with a strong focus on social development.
Get the people to know and trust your brand.

Approaches

RESILIENCE OF THE FARM

Ecological and financial resilience during and after the 2019 drought. Destocking of the core cattle herd was necessary (from 23 kg/ha to 6 kg/ha) due to a high congregation of game on the farm, but numbers are recovering fast.

MONEY-MAKING POTENTIAL OF THE FARM

An average of 72% cattle calving has been achieved over the ten-year period. The live weight produced on the farm since 2015 is 4 kg/ha.

CHOICE OF ANIMAL/S

Although farming began with Simmentaler breeds, it was later shifted to using Nguni with Bonsmara bulls. Currently, only Nguni bulls are used.The Nguni bulls remain with the single herd all year round, which results in two natural calving seasons. The majority of calves are born between January and March and a second, smaller number are born in June and July each year. High losses to predators resulted in the adoption of a planned grazing and combined herding approach, with 80x80-metre electric-fenced mobile overnight camps, herders with mobile accommodation, and Anatolian dogs to assist with deterring predators further.

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