As climate variability and changing weather patterns continue to impact South Africa’s natural pastures, livestock producers can no longer rely on unsupplemented grazing alone to maintain production. Dr Josef de Villiers van Wyngaard, technical manager at Voermol Feeds, joins the podcast to unpack how farmers can shift from passive veld dependency to an actively managed grazing system.

In this episode, Van Wyngaard breaks down the essential distinctions between supplementation, substitution, and concentrates, providing clear guidelines on how to stimulate rumen microbes and improve fibre digestion without causing animals to stop grazing. He explores how shifting rainfall and elevated carbon dioxide levels reduce forage quality, particularly in sourveld areas, and shares practical insights into using a structured, three-phase lick programme to meet seasonal livestock requirements.

Van Wyngaard also details how to monitor lick intake as a direct indicator of veld quality, optimise rotational grazing systems, and leverage targeted Voermol products to extend grazing cycles without over-exploiting the land.