Maximise profits with precision livestock farming
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.
Why off-track driving is bad news for the veld
Even a single incidence of off-road driving can cause lasting damage. To protect the veld, stay on the track, Roelof Bezuidenhout cautions.
How technology can help the farmer
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.
New protein sources for poultry feed
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.
Exploring intuitive farming
Radically innovative approaches are needed to address challenges in the agriculture sector, says Dr Saskia von Diest of Stellenbosch University.
Millennials: getting ready for the next generation of consumers
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.
Pneumonic (lung) pasteurellosis in cattle
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 in livestock
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
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.
Unlocking the baobab’s feed potential
Baobab seeds hold promise as a low-cost supplement, says Prince Chisoro of the University of Fort Hare.
Three-day stiff-sickness
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.
Rural conservation agriculture success story
High-Value Crop (HVC) production could potentially make the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo district municipality self-reliant in terms of food, according to Joseph Sello Kau, an agricultural economist at the ARC.
Night Riders
Bats are of enormous value to urban and rural people, and may be the answer to pest problems in macadamia orchards
How to make a firebreak suited to local conditions
Firebreaks are essential to wildfire management, yet ironically, the burning of firebreaks can itself be the cause of fires. Fire ecologist and Working on Fire International associate, Prof Winston Trollope and his wife Lynne explain how to make a safe, effective firebreak.
A new era for nematicides
With the advent of integrated pest management, safer nematicides are being developed.
Pollination management for macadamias
There is more to pollinating macadamias than simply placing a few bee hives
near the orchards.
Keep it clean, treat it right
Citrus farmers lose thousands of rand annually to fungal diseases. At a recent Citrus Research International workshop, Dr Arno Erasmus, Charmaine Christie and Catherine Savage discussed ways to reduce these losses.
Trait selection and horn heritability in game animals
Maintaining focus on horn size can be risky if breeders lose sight of other traits such as mature weight and disease resistance. Trait selection affects overall quality of the animals, says Nan Smith.
A spraying strategy for CBS
In addition to understanding fungicide spray application in treating citrus black spot, producers need to implement the methodology correctly.
Affordable SA bio-digester powers local dairy farm
A Western Cape dairy has invested in a unique SA-designed bio-digester to generate electricity for its own consumption. Developed by a local engineering company, the plant is fuelled with cattle manure and yields affordable independent power.
