Bush encroachment is probably the biggest threat to Cattle and Game farming, especially in countries with a lower rainfall such as South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

Due to sporadic seasonal droughts, overutilisation of the grass layer and the lack of fires, the ideal situation was created for bush areas to become overgrown. Trees / bush have a well developed root system and can absorb ground water deeper and more effectively than grass roots which are mainly concentrated in the upper 30-cm of the soil. As the bush becomes denser year on year, less moisture is available for grass production, which resulted in a lower carrying capacity per live stock unit and grazing ground is reduced.

Even during average and above average rainfall seasons, drought effects become more intense. This vicious circle just gets bigger and bigger, until it reaches a point where it is no longer economical to farm with cattle or game.

To restore the carrying capacity of the land, bush control must form part of the farm management plan. Bush control can be done:

• mechanically – uprooting the trees by using a bulldozer
• chemically – ground applied non-selective chemicals or selective systemic chemicals
• or a combination of mechanical and chemicals – selective cutting of problem bush where after a systemic chemical is applied on the cut edge: - The BOSCUT process.

The BOSCUT is a three wheeled hydraulically powered, mobile machine specifically designed to work in confined areas of dense bush. Mounted on the front of the machine is a 2-metre long boom with a hydraulically powered tungsten tip blade. The boom operates up and down to set the cutting height, preferably as close to ground level as possible, whereafter the boom is moved to the left or right to create the cutting action. With a single one side cutting action, stems as thick as 120 mm diameter can be cut. If the stem is cut from the left and the right side, up to 300 mm diameter stems can be cut. A systemic chemical must be applied as soon as possible on the cut edge.

To prevent punctures, the tyres are filled with a polyurethane mix to form a rubbery solid inside the tyre.

The comfortable cabin is so designed that the operator has at all times a good view on the cutting blade for maximum control of the cutting action to enhance productivity

The BOSCUT is powered by a 404 D-22 Perkins diesel engine supplied by Barloworld Power  Perkins, South Africa.