Animals

What began as a way to give his sons some breathing room has grown into one of South Africa’s top-performing Bonsmara studs. Boeram Venter shares how a focus on cattle genetics and a hands-off approach to succession has helped secure the future of Venter Boerdery.

Few beef breeds match the proven track record of the Bonsmara in South Africa. David Cock of Tempevale Bonsmaras and Gawie Nel of Gawie Nel Bonsmaras give practical guidance for producing fertile, adaptable Bonsmaras for commercial and stud markets.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept in livestock breeding. Benefits are already being seen in the speed and accuracy of selection programmes, bringing improvements in longevity, efficiency, and welfare.

Albert Kemp has turned a childhood fascination with fish into a sophisticated, year-round aquaculture enterprise on a smallholding owned by himself and his wife Alicia in Baardskeerdersbos near Gansbaai.

The Drakensberger cattle breed has been part of the South African landscape for ages. So-called black indigenous cattle existed in South Africa as early as the 15th and 16th centuries and formed the foundation of the current Drakensberger beef cattle breed.

Zimbabwe’s goat industry is steadily growing, moving towards a structured, traceable, breed-standard-driven system. Farmer, Sifiso Ndlovu Agbetorwoka discusses the industry’s progress, South African training programmes, and how her farm is helping to shape commercial goat production in Zimbabwe.

The Romagnola cattle breed has the inherent quality to increase beef production in South Africa markedly, according to Marnus Lessing, owner of the JML Romagnola stud near Lindley in the Free State, who succeeded in pushing up weaner weights considerably through crossbreeding Romagnolas with Brahmans.

A one-size-fits-all diet for pigs can lead to overfeeding or underfeeding, producing varying results, and lost production. Instead, JD Mostert, independent swine nutritionist, advocates for a stronger focus on digestible amino acids to get the most from feed rations.

Zimbabwean farmer Mark Hook has revived dormant Boran and Nkone cattle societies, growing registered herds from a handful to thousands. He spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about his role in reshaping the country’s cattle industry.

Ascites is one of the most economically damaging conditions in broiler production. It often becomes visible late in the production cycle but starts much earlier, and once clinical signs appear, there is no treatment, thus producers must remain vigilant.

Disease outbreaks, high maintenance costs and a fluctuating market remain constant risks for piggeries. As a result, farmers may experience losses and production delays. Jan Streicher, manager of the Riversdale Piggery, spoke to Henning Naudé about maintaining profitability through strict biosecurity measures and an efficient feed programme that capitalises on a waste product.

Giel Swiegers’s Boer goats aren’t the farm’s main income, but by grazing once-unused slopes, they play a vital role in keeping his farm, Witrivier, resilient and productive.

Modern goose farming faces several challenges, including competition from cheaper poultry alternatives like chicken, declining demand for products such as feathers, and ethical concerns surrounding practices like force-feeding to produce foie gras.

Ankole genetics were introduced into South Africa by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2004 after he visited Uganda. In 2016, farmers had the chance to buy offspring from the imported embryos to test their viability. Early investor Nico Lerm speaks about how he has since expanded his herd.

South African Merino wool thrives in global luxury markets thanks to centuries of selective breeding, environmental stewardship, evolving export systems, and increasingly transparent and technology-driven supply chains. We take a look at the local industry.

Zimbabwe once ranked among the world’s top exporters of ostrich meat and leather. Decades later, only a handful of breeders remain.

Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys are growing in popularity as pets in South Africa due to their sweet, affectionate nature, says Free State breeder Angelique du Preez, who runs her donkey herd as part of the family-run Collett Farming business.

Octavia Avesca Spandiel spoke to Wayne Porter, former president of the Brahman Breeders’ Society of South Africa, about the history of Brahman cattle in the country and their role in commercial and communal farming.

Dorper breeder Christo van Deventer believes the breed has a bright future, with growing interest in the ‘veld rams’ produced by him and a select group of breeders in the Northern Cape. He spoke to Sabrina Dean about the importance of selecting based on performance data.

The trend towards cage-free eggs presents an opportunity for farmers to tap into a valuable niche market. But with higher production costs and limited scope for market growth, the business requires a delicate balance to remain viable.