A practical guide to managing pigs through the phases
Dr Dorothea Mostert, veterinarian at CSVet, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about practical strategies for managing pigs from weaning to finisher phases, highlighting nutrition, environment, and welfare as key drivers...
The Dorper: a home-grown meat sheep
The Dorper breed is valued for its adaptability, fertility, and meat quality. Eastern Cape farmer Shane Scorgie spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about why this South African success story is...
The 2025 AfrikaPro ends with a thrilling finale
This annual AfrikaPro Premier One Loft Series, owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, wrapped up its fourth season with Race 10, the grand finale, held on 10 October at his Phala...
Starting a poultry business on a budget
Breaking into the poultry industry doesn’t have to mean millions in start-up costs. While large-scale commercial operations remain out of reach for most beginners, small-scale farmers are showing that it’s...
Why our locally bred goats are gaining global popularity
There are over 650 registered members with the South African Boer Goat Breeders’ Association focusing on three distinct breeds: the Boer goat, the Savanna and the Kalahari Red. Association secretary...
How the SA Saddlebred has built a global reputation
How would you describe a Saddlebred horse in terms of the breed standard? The American Saddlebred is known for its refined beauty, proud presence, and...
Tompi Seleka agri college: training farmers and supporting communities
In Limpopo, about 30km from the mining town of Marble Hall and surrounded by citrus orchards, fertile farmland, and maize plantings, lies the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, South Africa’s...
Meet South Africa’s only herd of iconic Murray Grey cattle
Johannes and Marijke Botha’s herd of the Australian Murray Grey cattle is the only one of its kind in South Africa.
Desert cattle operation reaps rewards of regenerative agriculture
Kalahari farmer Willie Storm has used regenerative agriculture practices to improve his cattle stocking capacity from the area norm of around 21ha per large stock unit (LSU) to 5ha/LSU.
Hampshire Down: mutton sheep fast gaining in popularity
Hennie Jonker, an award-winning Hampshire Down stud breeder from Kroonstad, describes this sheep breed as a topmost mutton producer that provides sterling terminal sires for commercial and crossbred flocks. Annelie...
Afrikaner – a hardy breed making its mark in feedlots
The Afrikaner cattle breed is prized for its indigenous hardiness, natural resistance, high fertility and ease of calving. Sabrina Dean found out more about the breed from Julian Balt, who...
The financial realities of showing livestock
Despite rising costs and stricter disease control, Moorreesburg stud breeder Franco Koch of Kochbo Santas believes livestock shows remain an essential part of South Africa’s stud industry.
Genetics and breeding pave the way for Bessiesfontein’s success
Dohne Merino sheep are renowned for their dual-purpose capabilities, excelling in both wool and meat production. In addition, the breed is known for its adaptability to a variety of climates...
Nguni: the legacy of the land
In South Africa’s diverse and often unforgiving landscapes, one cattle breed continues to prove its worth: the Nguni. Known for its adaptability, resilience, and cultural heritage, the breed has stood...
Dormer sheep: proven performer in SA’s meat market
Dormer sheep continue to dominate commercial meat systems with their fast growth, high weaning weights and impressive carcass yields. Agricultural economics lecturer and Dormer breeder Dr Mariëtte Geyser spoke to...
Pigs of the future: genetics shaping a more resilient herd
Advances in pig genetics are rapidly changing breeding and herd management. With digital phenotyping and artificial intelligence, breeders can now select pigs not just for growth and efficiency but also...
A top horse stud’s breeding philosophy
The Bridgewater Stud in Hekpoort, owned and run by Garland Poil, has gone from strength to strength since its establishment more than 40 years ago, and offers horse owners and...
Cape Lob Ears flourish under exacting conditions in the Northern Cape’s Sneeuberg
Ronel Retief, a Cape Lob Ear indigenous veld goat stud breeder, runs her top-performing Klawervlei flock high in the Sneeuberg mountains near Richmond. The flock flourishes under extreme conditions, with...
Bird flu then and now: the ongoing battle against avian influenza
Highly pathogenic avian influenza strains, such as H5N1, are threatening poultry and even mammals, forcing industries and governments to rethink biosecurity and vaccination.
CRE Brahmans: where structure meets performance
Since its inception in 2004, the CRE Brahmans stud’s motto has been ‘performance meats integrity’. Studmaster Ampie Rossouw told Annelie Coleman that one of the cornerstones of the operation is...
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