Veld Condition Scoring System
The Walk-and-Score Method
Frequency: Quarterly walks, same routes each time. Mark waypoints on your phone.
What you need:
- Notebook or phone
- Camera for reference photos
- 30-50m measuring tape (optional but helpful)
Step 1: Visual Cover Estimation
Walk a representative section of each camp. Stop every 50-100 paces and look at a 10m radius around you.
Estimate percentage cover by eye:
- 0-5% = Scattered individual plants
- 5-25% = Patches, lots of bare ground visible
- 25-50% = Half covered, half bare
- 50-75% = Mostly covered, some bare patches
- 75-100% = Dense cover, little bare ground
Tip: Your hand at arm's length covers roughly 5-10% of your field of view. Use it as a reference! ✋
Step 2: Species Composition Scoring
For each stop, estimate the percentage of:
- Decreasers (D)
- Increaser I (I1)
- Increaser II (I2)
- Invaders (Inv)
- Bare ground (B)
These should add up to 100%.
Example: “D=30%, I1=25%, I2=15%, Inv=5%, B=25%”
Step 3: Calculate Veld Condition Score
Use this simple formula:
Veld Score = (D × 10) + (I1 × 5) + (I2 × 1) + (Inv × 0) - (B × 2)
Or use this table:
| Decreaser % | Increaser I % | Increaser II % | Invader % | Bare Ground % | Condition Rating | Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| >60% | <25% | <10% | <5% | <20% | Excellent | 500-700+ |
| 40-60% | 25-40% | 10-25% | <10% | 20-35% | Good | 350-500 |
| 20-40% | 30-50% | 25-40% | <15% | 35-50% | Moderate | 200-350 |
| <20% | >40% | >40% | >15% | >50% | Poor | <200 |
Step 4: The Quick-and-Dirty Method
No math? No problem. Just answer these:
1. Can you easily name 5+ palatable decreaser species within 10m?
- Yes = Good sign ✓
- No = Warning
2. Is bare ground less than a third of what you see?
- Yes = Acceptable
- No = Erosion risk
3. Are bitterbos, rhinobush or other Increaser II species dominant?
- No = Good
- Yes = Overgrazed
4. Do you see pedestalling? (Plants on little soil mounds with erosion around them)
- No = Good
- Yes = Serious erosion happening
5. Dung and browse evidence - is it evenly distributed or concentrated?
- Even = Good rotation
- Concentrated = Camps too large or rotation poor
Simple scoring:
- 4-5 “good” answers = Veld in good shape
- 2-3 = Needs attention
- 0-1 = Urgent management change needed
Recording Tips
Take photos from the same spots each quarter:
- Mark GPS coordinates
- Take 4 photos (N, S, E, W) from same point
- Include a reference object (stick, rock) for scale
- Date and label everything
Track trends, not absolutes. You're looking for:
- ↑ Decreasers over time = winning
- ↓ Bare ground = winning
- ↑ Increaser II = adjust management NOW
Klein Karoo Specific Notes
Seasonal adjustment: Your veld will look different post-rain vs. drought. Score at same time each year for comparison (e.g., always in April after autumn rains, or lack thereof).
Rainfall variability: In semi-arid systems, one bad score isn't disaster - it's the trend over 2-3 years that matters.
Your goats' behavior tells you: If they're walking past plants to find others, you're running low on decreasers. If they're browsing happily and bedding down contentedly, you're in the sweet spot. 🐐