Farming for Tomorrow

Immunisation is not always effective. Dr Jan du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan examine the reasons for this.

The decreasing profitability of livestock farming means that producers must improve the biological and productive efficiency of their operations. This was the message animal scientist Dr Jasper Coetzee delivered at the 2015 Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation in Windhoek.

Even a single incidence of off-road driving can cause lasting damage. To protect the veld, stay on the track, Roelof Bezuidenhout cautions.

Technology is the key to the future of agriculture, often in ways we do not expect, according to Jason PH Brantley, managing director of John Deere: sub-Saharan Africa. He spoke to Gerhard Uys about recent trends.

The poultry sector is growing and traditional poultry feed is failing to meet demand. As a result, alternative protein sources for poultry feed are being researched.

Radically innovative approaches are needed to address challenges in the agriculture sector, says Dr Saskia von Diest of Stellenbosch University.

Millennials, born between the 1980s and the early 2000s, are more finicky consumers than any of their predecessors. Mary Shelman, director of the Agribusiness Programme at Harvard Business School in the US, speaks about their effect on the farming sector.

No matter the age, sex or breed of cattle, all are susceptible to pneumonic pasteurellosis, and the disease can account for up to 50% of mortality under feedlot conditions. Dr JH du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan discuss its development, symptoms and control measures.

Botulism is a pathological condition causing complete or partial paralysis. It occurs mainly in cattle, although other organisms may also be affected. Dr Jan du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan discuss its cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and control.

Bovine tuberculosis is a centuries-old, chronic and highly contagious disease. Dr JH du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan discuss its dangers, transmission, symptoms and treatment.

Baobab seeds hold promise as a low-cost supplement, says Prince Chisoro of the University of Fort Hare.

This is one of the dairy industry’s most important erosion diseases, and can lead to significant financial losses, according to Dr Jan du Preez and Dr Faffa Malan.