Cattle

Poultry

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

Pigeons

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

Young pig farmer shares lessons learnt during her first five years

Award-winning piggery owner Khulile Mahlalela says that to maximise profits, a farmer must get the pigs market-ready as rapidly as possible, and produce a low-fat carcass with tender meat.

Horses

Inbreeding, outcrossing, line breeding and hybrid vigour

Horse breeding is a complicated matter, with many variables to consider, says Dr Mac.

Plough for more

News

North West’s Naledi aims to shine in 2017 solar challenge

The Faculty of Engineering at North-West University (NWU) launched Naledi, a solar car, which will be competing in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in early October in Australia.

Hunters want qualified head of permits appointed urgently at KZN Wildlife

Hunters in South Africa, and especially in KwaZulu-Natal, are urging provincial conservation organisation, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, to prioritise permanently filling the post of Manager: Hunting and Permits within the organisation...

First fracking exploration rights approved in KZN

The first rights to explore for oil and gas have been approved in KwaZulu-Natal.

Zimbabwe boosts livestock production with pig imports from SA

Zimbabwe is finalising arrangements to import 230 Large White Landrace and Duroc pigs from South Africa as breeding stock, as part of a US$45 million (about R630 million) EU-funded project...

Vaccine shortages problematic

Farmers are apparently struggling to obtain various vaccines that should be manufactured and distributed by government’s Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).

Cash-strapped consumers ditch luxuries

A recent trading update by the Distell Group has indicated that consumers are tightening their belts and looking for value for money.

Business

US poultry imports – the facts

Much controversy has surrounded South Africa’s poultry imports from the US. Freelance journalist, Peter Fabricius, examines this thorny issue and attempts to clarify some misconceptions.

Calling women entrepreneurs in agriculture!

Are you a South African woman entrepreneur in agriculture or related sub-sector?

Practical tips for starting a rabbit farm

While rabbit farming can be fairly lucrative, it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Glenneis Kriel spoke to Karoline Steenekamp about the do’s and don’ts when starting a rabbit enterprise.

Building a family farming legacy

The Toyota New Harvest of the Year finalist for 2015, Koena Jack Moradu, has a simple yet sensible vision: to leave a legacy that will allow his children and his...

Empowerment in the Kalahari

In the semi-arid region of the Kahalari, under the desert sun, the Berekisanang farming project is bustling with activity. Jaco Visser reports on this citrus and table grape farm.

Land reform: Joint venture between seller and community pays off

When Tomahawk Farm was sold in a land claim, the owners faced a crossroads: up and leave, or stay and help. With the future success of the farm and the...

Lifestyle

Strawberry custard slice

Some call this dessert millefeuille but I never cook anything I can’t pronounce. But custard slices? There’s a joyous childhood memory! Try this classic version, culled from some good friends’...

Ginger and honey cake

Baking is complex or simple, depending on how you’re feeling on the day. The food I cook is mostly very simple. Baking, on the other hand, is full of mysteries....

Jerked chicken

Jerked chicken, for the inexperienced, means coal-black, Caribbean-style, spicy chicken that’s usually cooked on an open fire. Here’s a way to produce a braai-style finish without the smoke, dust and...

How to make a perfect cup of coffee

‘Oh, give me a cup of that marvellous stuff’, goes the song. Without it nothing – not even this story – would get written on time …

Going traditional or modern

Enquiries from our rural folk are usually for traditional, farm-style homes that blend in with the environment.

Sizzling red-hot fish braai

There comes a time when the amateur braai mechanic realises that not all protein is red nor are all steaks beef. Here’s a magnificent fish braai procedure that I learnt...

Animals

Sheep on pasture in Clanwilliam

Rooibos tea is currently selling at record levels of about R46/kg, but prices were below R5/kg only six years ago. To reduce his exposure to the volatility of the market,...

Tuli stud cattle flourish in Karoo small-stock environment

Tuli breeder Ben Raath believes his indigenous cattle hold their own against top feedlot breeds in terms of profitability on a weight per hectare basis. Sabrina Dean visited his farm...

Indijon firefighting trailer – quick to deal with veld fires

Self-contained, rapid response, firefighting unit - these terms are used to describe the new Indijon fire-fighting trailer. SABS-approved, this unit is giving larger firefighting tenders a run for their money....

The Tankwa feral goat: a unique genotype

Is there a place for the hardy Tankwa feral goat in smallstock production? Roelof Bezuidenhout investigates.

It’s Million Dollar Pigeon time again!

Thomas Smit previews the 19th South African Million Dollar Pigeon Race.

Transporting your horse

Dehydration, stress and injury during long-distance road travel can be avoided with a little planning, explains Dr Mac.

Crops

Managing soil mineral ratios

It is essential that farmers understand the importance of mineral balance in their soils, says Graeme Sait, CEO of Nutri-Tech Solutions in Australia. He visited South Africa this year to...

Putting old ideas to pasture

How we can use grasses as an intercrop to improve water-use efficiency and yield stability in semi-arid conditions. Rohan Orford reports.

Defeating the cabbage moth – biologically

Nearly everyone who has ever grown brassicas has had a problem with the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Small wonder it is also called the ‘cabbage moth’.

Are market agents relevant?

Those who believe that market agents are no longer relevant remind us that more than 50 years ago, when supermarkets started buying directly from farmers, markets and market agents did nothing...

The importance of side dressing

Many vegetable crops fail due to a lack of nitrogen. Side dressing is a safe way of ensuring that plants get enough of this element, says Bill Kerr.

Pest control with benefical insects

If allowed to flourish, predators and parasitoids can control certain pests almost entirely.
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