South Africa

Smallholder poultry farmers are worried that the current cold weather will increase the risk of their chickens contracting infectious bursal disease, also known as Gumboro.

Potatoes prices have reached record levels for the year and are trading at 77% higher than a year ago. This week, the prices again increased, reaching R81,67/10kg, Johnny van der Merwe, managing director of AM Trends, reported.

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced on Thursday that the repo rate would hold steady at 8,25% and the prime lending rate would remain at 11,75%.

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Thoko Didiza recently responded in writing to various questions about efforts to improve Onderstepoort Biological Products’ (OPB) services and address vaccine shortages.

Farmers are in for a tough August due to an under-recovery of about 48c/ℓ in the diesel price, according to unaudited mid-month fuel data of the Central Energy Fund.

Ten Beefmaster semen straws achieved a South African record price for the breed of R20 000 each at the recent national Beefmaster auction in Parys, Free State.

Brazen attacks on South Africa’s trucking industry have prompted the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on all major routes in the affected provinces as of Thursday, 13 July.

An analysis of smallholder wool farmers in the Thaba ‘Nchu and Botshabelo districts of the Free State shows that not only are 93% of the farmers inefficient, but that poor extension services and poorly managed farmers’ associations increase their inefficiency.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) urgently called on farmers and members of the public to report unusual deaths of wild hares and domestic rabbits to the trust and their nearest state veterinarian after the second outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) was confirmed earlier in July.

Farmers have been advised to take extra care to prevent livestock losses during the icy weather that has recently hit large parts of South Africa.

A Bonsmara bull recently set a new South African record when he was sold for R4,4 million. The bull, LAR 19 373, was characterised by outstanding conformation, a strong head and exceptional depth, said Louis Steyl, CEO of Bonsmara SA.

While the potential loss of international trade agreements could disrupt South Africa’s trade balance, domestic issues are in fact far more serious, according to Dr Mmatlou Kalaba, commodity market analyst at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy.

The World Health Organization estimated that there are over 200 known types of zoonoses, with these diseases comprising a large percentage of new and existing diseases in humans.

Exports of beef could be increased from the current 4% of local production to 20%, according to Koning Scholtz, newly elected chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Northern Cape (RPO Northern Cape).

Zimbabwean exemption permit holders can breathe a little easier for the next 12 months, thanks to the Gauteng High Court finding the minister of Home Affairs’ decision to terminate these permits unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

South Africa has to legalise the trade in rhino horn to save rhino populations from poaching, according to Pelham Jones, chairperson for the Private Rhino Owners’ Association.

A new South African record price was recently achieved when R255 000 was paid for the SA Mutton Merino ram 1038 TOP. The sale of the ram underlined that demand for the breed was significantly on the rise, according to Jan Vosloo, president of the SA Mutton Merino Breeders’ Society of South Africa.

The highly pathogenic H7 bird flu has spread to Mpumalanga over the last week, necessitating the culling of 1,8 million layer hens. The virus is believed to be contained but fears that wild birds will continue to spread the virus remain.

The latest crop production forecast shows an increase in maize yield, mostly attributed to favourable weather conditions that boosted the crop towards the end of summer.

In yet another devastating blow for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a tornado ripped through parts of Durban on the afternoon of 27 June, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.