Animals

Aquaculture

Tilapia farming: Untapped SA market holds opportunity for growth

David Fincham has more than 30 years’ experience in aquaculture and is one of South Africa’s foremost tilapia specialists. Through his business in Muldersdrift near Johannesburg, he has supplied 450...

A word of warning for start-up producers

Prospective fish producers should consider all the hurdles that stand in the way of making a profit.

Southeast Asia’s formula for top ornamental fish

To produce quality ornamental fish, a breeder must establish a habitat that is as natural as possible, with food sources such micro-algae and insect larvae.

Sheep & goats

Starting a Boer goat stud on a 10ha farm

Sheep farmer creates her own work and success

Kalahari Red goats: A solid reputation built on great genetics

Sheep farming: the best ways to reduce lamb losses

Partnerships prove a winner for new mohair producer

Pigeons

Breeding a million-dollar bird

Pigeon breeding and racing remains a popular pursuit, with some fanciers aiming for the ultimate goal of turning their hobby into a career. Sabrina Dean visited brothers Daniel and Justin...

PIGS

Animal welfare: Raising stress-free pigs

Raising stress-free pigs makes business sense, as it results in better growth of animals and fewer problems caused by disease. Dr Peter Evans of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation...

Horses

How to ‘pony’ a horse

Leading one horse while riding another is a useful skill that can be hard to learn, says Dr Mac.

Plough for more

News

Food shortages unlikely during coronavirus outbreak

Fears about potential disruptions to global supply chains due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak have raised questions about whether South Africa could experience food shortages in the short to...

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark to visit SA

The Danish embassy in SA has announced a visit by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark to South Africa in November. He will be accompanied by Denmark’s Minister for Environment and...

Coronavirus pandemic brings flower industry to a standstill

The South African and international flower industries are in dire straits due to market closures and limited international flights as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic.

DA calls on Zokwana to restore SA’s ‘export reputation’

The DA has called on newly appointed agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana to act swiftly to rectify the damage caused by the failings of his predecessor, Tina Joemat-Pettersson.

Good harvests lead to 9% increase in farm jobs

In the second quarter of 2021 (Q2) South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to its highest level since Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) started publishing its Quarterly Labour Force Survey...

Palm oil alternative investments could help save rainforests

Players in the international biotech industry have been working on a synthetic alternative to palm oil in an attempt to replace natural palm oil in various products.

Business

Secure health, secure profit

Biosecurity plays a vital role in ensuring maximum profitability for poultry farmers. Because of the high mortality rate in chickens, hygiene, stocking density and the immediate environment all need to...

Ludwig’s Roses: For the love of the rose

German-born Ludwig Taschner is SA’s best-known rose grower and breeder. Mike Burgess visited his nursery, Ludwig’s Roses, north of Pretoria, to learn about the building of a business that defines...

New dairy export era as EU quotas end

The phasing out of the EU quota system and rising global demand for milk offer export opportunities for the Netherlands. Despite differences in demographics and production circumstances, this country has...

Collective farming at its best

Despite having limited farmland, Chris Venter is a top pepper supplier to a Gauteng supermarket chain. By contracting six other farmers to share the production, he has spread his risk...

Managing for drought conditions

The drought during the past summer grain production season could result in cash flow restraints for grain producers. At the same time, livestock management has become increasingly important for mitigating...

Traceability systems in the SA food industry

If the South African food industry wishes to compete successfully on a global scale, a viable and workable traceability system must be introduced and adopted, says Anné Calitz, research assistant...

Lifestyle

Yes, it is supposed to be black

Cajun chicken

A unique ‘glass house’ design

Christine and her husband want to build a three-bedroom home on one level, with open-plan living rooms surrounding an atrium with glass roofs.

North African chicken worth waiting for

Attempting unfamiliar cuisines often means encountering unknown or unavailable ingredients. In the case of food from North Africa and the Levant, preserved lemons are an absolute must. One downside: they...

A functional fisherman’s lodge

I received a request from Andrew in the Swartberg, KwaZulu-Natal, for a fisherman’s lodge that he and his father had conceptualised.

Pad thai Bangkok’s sizzling street food

I guess there are 10 million versions of this national dish. This one gives you the basis to experiment while simultaneously amazing your friends with your Thai-flavoured expertise.

A farmhouse on an estate

Dear Jonno My wife and I want to build a retirement home on a 810m2 plot we bought recently in an estate in the Midlands. It must be a ‘Natal...

Animals

Award-winning Holsteins: ‘Success lies in sire selection’

Holstein farmers, Brett and Grant Puttergill, have proven that sire selection and selective breeding are crucial to a dairy operation’s viability.

The Bradburys’ racing methods

Last week I wrote about the champion stock of Bradbury Lofts, and this week's article focuses on their racing methods.

Cape Town fanciers 1st and 2nd

Albert Lingenfelder and André Mills have again made their mark, this time in the inaugural Western Cape Classic, says Thomas Smit.

Treating colds and flu in horses

Herbs can help deal with a variety of coughs, says Kim Dyson.

Aquaponics: how to get plumper, healthier fish

If you want to grow plants and decent-sized fish, the first step is to get rid of those plastic circular bins.

Farmers finding common ground

By forming a good working relationship, nine farmers from Mmakgabetlwane village in North West have found a way to farm on communal land. Peter Mashala visited them.

Crops

Managing no-till soil acidity and fertiliser requirements

No-till may be a sustainable and cost-effective crop production system, but it comes with challenges of its own. Guy Thibaud, veteran soil scientist with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and...

Sharing market information

To ‘communicate’ is to impart or share knowledge. In this latter sense, communication between producer and market agent is crucial when it comes to determining price on a market floor.

Bats: the answer to macadamia pests?

Despite being well known for their pest control abilities, bats remain understudied and misunderstood, and their numbers have been on the decline for various reasons. Now research is showing that...

Preparation and planting of green beans

Beans are a quick, easy crop – provided all the precautions are taken.

Insight into the fresh produce sector

Occasionally I deviate from the norm and try to give readers some insight into the wider world of fresh produce.

Top Young North West farmer’s secrets of success

The 2016 North West Young Farmer of the Year John Griffiths started farming when he was 16 years old. Pieter Dempsey visited him on his farm near Brits.